Brevard, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, is an exemplary Blue Zones Project that recently celebrated its anniversary. The community’s transformation serves as a model for the surrounding region and the entire nation.

 

In May 2019, Brevard began a daring journey to improve health and well-being for its 7,000+ citizens. What wasn’t foreseeable was the upcoming COVID-19 pandemic and the resilience developed from the Blue Zones Project that would help protect the community and many of those living there. Brevard is one of those rare jewels that boast a high quality of life and forward-thinking elected officials seeking ways to help improve the health not only of the city but its residents and visitors. Nestled between Pisgah National Forest and Dupont State Recreation area, Brevard is known for its proximity to the natural environment with over 250 waterfalls, great mountain biking, and even better trout fishing. Just as importantly, Brevard hosts the Brevard Music Center, Brevard College, and numerous arts organizations.

 

Celebrations typically mark significant life-cycle accomplishments such as birthdays, anniversaries, and other major milestones. Celebrations are a time of recognizing hard work and offer a moment for those attending to reflect on their own contribution and provide a time for all to express gratitude. Making Brevard’s event particularly special was the Brevard Music Center’s newly completed Parker Concert Hall outdoor patio where over 70+ high-energy community leaders and Blue Zone Project volunteers safely attended an outdoor event to celebrate their success.

 

Pisgah Health Foundation’s President Lex Green and his board had the charge, courage, and acumen to transform Brevard’s health and well-being. Through Lex’s due diligence, the board did their homework and made a measured decision, after listing pros and cons, to create and support the 50^th Blue Zones Project community. The “pros” won, and the rewards followed as evidenced by these objective Community Well-Being Index metrics:

• Overall Well-Being +5.1
• Community (liking where you live, feeling safe, having pride) +1.0
• Social (supportive relationships and love in your life) +1.9
• Purpose (liking what you do and being motivated to achieve your goals) +5.6
• Physical (having good health and enough energy to get things done daily) +7.8
• Financial (managing economic life to increase security and reduce stress) +2.5

Three professionals, Tammy Hopkins, Sarah Hankey, and Mark Burrows, working smartly and tirelessly while following their own purposes and passions, have:

• Engaged more than 2,000 individuals in Moais (teams of people) for walking, potluck healthy meals, purpose workshops, cooking classes, and educational events for all ages.

• Actively engaged over 30 organizations and approved two public schools, two restaurants, five worksites, and one grocery store as Blue Zones Project places.

• Helped to develop new City policies to decrease tobacco use, address affordable -workforce housing, provide water bottle-hydration units to all the public schools to combat sugary drink consumption, and collaborated with the City of Brevard, the Heart-of-Brevard, a Main Street Program, and local artist to create a safer crosswalk.

• Importantly the BZP-Brevard Steering Committee identified and is supporting the Ecusta Trail as their Marquee Project. This 19.4-mile-long rails-to-trail effort will eventually connect Brevard to Hendersonville and other existing multi-use trails.

Above: Local artist Billy Smith poses on the newly painted crosswalk in Brevard. Image credit: Sarah Siskind

Imagining an even better future for an already accomplished city is an altruistic goal. Implementing change and then celebrating the transformation is precious. Congratulations to Pisgah Health Foundation and Brevard on your successes as you lead the way for Western North Carolina and the nation on making healthier choices the easier choices!