Workshop Will Focus on Building Healthy and Livable Communities

Building on the success of the first phase of the Think~Act~Be Healthy Communities initiative, the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF) is partnering with the Urban Land Institute-Central Florida and the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council to host a free workshop focused on building healthy and livable communities.

The event, called “Your Role in Building Healthy and Livable Communities,” will be held Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Enzian Theatre, 1300 S. Orlando Avenue, Maitland.

There is no charge for the workshop which is open to all interested participants with the afternoon sessions designed especially for planners, public health officials, developers and transportation professionals from throughout Orange County, Florida.

The nationally-known Orlando-based land planning firm of Glatting, Jackson, Kercher and Anglin (GJKA) will provide subject matter expertise at the workshop.

Featured speakers include Dan Burden, Executive Director of Walkable Communities, Inc. and Ian Lockwood, a Principal and Senior Transportation Engineer for GJKA, as well as Doug Kinson, Mayor of Maitland and Nancy Clutts, Mayor of Tavares, who have both been leaders in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

WPHF launched the Healthy Communities initiative in November 2007 in hopes of inspiring community projects that would change the environment and/or culture in ways that encouraged healthy behaviors. The Foundation invited individuals and groups to submit ideas promoting physical activity and healthy eating, and the community response was overwhelming. More than 100 ideas were submitted, and the Foundation ultimately awarded $300,000 in grants to support nine of them.

The idea to present this and other educational workshops grew out of the many submitted ideas.

For more information about the workshop and the Healthy Communities initiative, go to www.thinkactbehealthy.org