City Recognized for Addressing Childhood Obesity

The National League of Cities (NLC) has recognized Mayor Carlo DeMaria and the City of Everett for recent completion of key health and wellness goals for Let’s Move! Cities, Towns, and Counties (LMCTC).   LMCTC is a major component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s comprehensive Let’s Move! initiative, which is dedicated to solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation.

“Local elected officials play a critical role in addressing childhood obesity in our country and communities, and we commend those leaders being recognized for their achievements in taking action to improve healthy eating and physical activity in their communities,” said NLC President Marie Lopez Rogers, mayor of Avondale, AZ.

Three medals were awarded to Everett for action taken to improve access to healthy affordable food and increase opportunities for physical activity. These medals were awarded because of Everett’s achievements in having an active interagency collaboration on early care and education programs, for having at least 60% of public schools participating in the school breakfast program, and for identifying all food vendors and contractors for municipally or county- owned or operated venues that serve food, along with the dates when their contracts can be amended or renegotiated.

“I am extremely proud of this achievement,” states Mayor DeMaria, “for the past several years my administration, including the Board of Health, the Recreation Department, the Energize Everett Program, and the School Department have worked diligently toward the common goal of getting and keeping our children and families healthy and active.  Receiving these awards is a great tribute to all our efforts.”

All LMCTC sites have the opportunity to earn up to five gold medals, one for each actionable goal they commit to as part of the initiative. The five goal areas are:

Goal I: Start Early, Start Smart: Promoting best practices for nutrition, physical activity, and screen time in early care and education settings

Goal II: My Plate, Your Place: Prominently displaying MyPlate in all municipal or county venues where food is served

Goal III: Smart Servings for Students: Increasing participation in school breakfast and lunch programs

Goal IV: Model Food Service: Implementing healthy and sustainable food service guidelines that are aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Goal V: Active Kids at Play: Increasing opportunities for physical activity

The National League of Cities (NLC) is the lead collaborating partner on this initiative, working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Association of Counties, and other nonprofit organizations, in assisting local elected officials to implement policy and environmental changes to prevent childhood obesity.  The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded NLC a grant to provide technical assistance to local elected officials working to create healthier communities and prevent childhood obesity, including sites participating in LMCTC.

More than 330 cities, towns and counties are participating in LMCTC. Each month, NLC recognizes local elected officials who achieve key benchmarks for the five LMCTC goals. To date, NLC has awarded 1,019 bronze, silver, and gold medals to recognize local elected officials across the country for their progress.

For more information about LMCTC and Everett’s accomplishments, visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.HealthyCommunitiesHealthyFuture.org” www.HealthyCommunitiesHealthyFuture.org.

The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities.  Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, NLC serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns it represents.

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