Fort Worth Community Update: December 2015

Here’s a round-up of highlights for December 2015:

Worksites
Congratulations to our newest Blue Zones Project Approved™ worksites: the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Tarrant County College!

In addition to completing a series of well-being checklist items on the Blue Zones® Worksite pledge, the Chamber of Commerce hosted the Better Health Through Economic Opportunity Forum last month in an effort to make healthier work places and healthier, wealthier communities. All six campuses of Tarrant County College (including the district office) are now Approved worksites. To reach this impressive designation, TCC implemented a variety of best practices, including hosting engagement activities at each campus such as cooking demonstrations, Walking Moais, and Purpose Workshops.

Many other worksites are working toward Approval status, including Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, which kicked-off their Blue Zones Project efforts during their Connect and Engage Events for employees, and Bell Helicopter, which also held a successful kick-off event last month.

Food Policy
Last month, Blue Zones Project hosted the first Equitable Systems Food Summit, in partnership with the Tarrant County Food Policy Council and City of Fort Worth. Key community leaders involved in providing food or feeding others gathered to explore solutions and strategies for the redistribution of fresh produce to underserved areas in Fort Worth.

Built Environment Policy
The City of Fort Worth has joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities to prepare for the rapid aging of the U.S population. Blue Zones Project is partnering with AARP and City of Fort Worth on this important initiative which focuses on the environmental, economic, and social factors that influence the health and well-being of older adults.

Restaurants
Congratulations to the newest Blue Zones Project Approved restaurants: Café Modern, FW Market + Table, Terra Mediterranean Grill, Snappy Salads, and Plant Sub. Stay tuned for upcoming celebration dates next month to mark these tasty accomplishments. With 20 restaurants now Approved, it’s easier than ever to make healthy choices when dining out. Click here to see the complete list and view the Restaurant Guide that details Blue Zones Project menu items at each location.

Schools
The Schools Team has been busy! To promote healthy eating and moving naturally, Blue Zones Project partnered with Fiesta and Carnival to provide healthy snacks for students in Trinity River Vision’s Schools on Skates program at Panther Island Ice.

Blue Zones Project is encouraging students to incorporate Blue Zones principles from around the world by making small changes in their day-to-day lives. Bruce Junek and Tass Thacker, husband-and-wife explorers and teachers who explores some of the world’s most exotic places, recently presented their “Images of the World” program to a number of Fort Worth ISD schools. Students from Mary Louise Phillips, De Zavala, M.H. Moore, W.J. Turner, C.C. Moss, Diamond Hill, South Hills, Versia Williams, Lily B. Clayton and Westcliff elementary schools were delighted to hear about Bruce and Tass’ journeys. 

Last month, the culinary arts students from Polytechnic High School prepared a Blue Zones-inspired Thanksgiving dinner for approximately 30 guests from all areas of the city. All dishes met the Healthy Dish Guidelines and wowed the very thankful recipients.

With so much going on, the Schools Team is fortunate to have the help of three interns this semester. Interns include Breanna LaMarca, a communications graduate of Southern Methodist University; Krystal Thatcher, a student at the University of Texas at Arlington working toward her Master of Public Administration; and Mayra Serratto, majoring in business management at Texas Wesleyan University. Among their many projects is researching grants and resources to support the School Pledge.