“You work nationally and are experts, and are always so responsive any time we have needs.”

Alamance Wellness Collaborative

Impact Alamance

For the last five years, Healthy Places by Design has co-facilitated a county-level group, the Alamance Wellness Collaborative, to support built environment changes that increase opportunities for community members to achieve their full health potential. In partnership with Impact Alamance and Healthy Alamance, our team leveraged its national network to identify technical experts and invite them to train local leaders on issues most aligned with residents’ priorities.

Healthy Places by Design consulted with the Wellness Collaborative on strategic policy targets, while also working one-on-one with governmental staff to advance municipal- and county-level goals.

In 2019, Healthy Places by Design led a process to help the Wellness Collaborative update its second Strategic Plan, which will be the group’s guiding document for 2019-2024. The group’s membership also grew in 2019, with members agreeing to take a more intentional approach to build community advocates and policies that reflect the Collaborative’s mission. In addition, Healthy Places by Design consulted with the Wellness Collaborative on strategic policy targets and worked one-on-one with governmental staff to advance municipal- and county-level goals.

As a result of these efforts, new infrastructure and plans are in place throughout Alamance County, including the following changes:

A tobacco-free policy in all Burlington, NC parks went into effect on April 1, 2019;
A new Greenway Plan was approved in Mebane;
The first-ever bike lanes were paved in Graham;
Construction started on a greenway connecting Burlington to Elon; and
A mobile recreation unit (shared across municipalities) and associated programming is now reaching underserved neighborhoods.

“We are so thankful to have Healthy Places by Design as partners. You work nationally and are experts, and we are fortunate to have you in our back yard. You are always so responsive any time we have needs.”

Marcy Green, Vice President of Programs, Impact Alamance