I was a “free-range” kid before that term existed. In the rural Southeast, neighbors’ homes lay miles beyond pastures and tracts of forest. I was a serial trespasser on other folks’ property, but we were all spread so far apart that no one seemed to notice. I followed cow paths to creeks and swam in […]
As a member of Active Living By Design’s (ALBD’s) inaugural National Advisory Committee (NAC) from 2002-2005, Dan Burden helped us understand what it takes to create activity-friendly communities for everyone. Over the years, Dan has collaborated with residents, policy makers and practitioners in more than 3,500 communities across the world. And today, he is Director […]
I have the “honor” of being the oldest person at Active Living By Design and one of only two Baby Boomers in a sea of Gen Xers, Gen Ys and Millennials. Despite our age differences, we remain a cohesive group, thanks in part to our office culture of staying physically active at whatever life stage […]
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Philadelphia’s 87-acre Hunting Park has had a miracle resurgence thanks to community activists and a broad-based coalition. Established in 1856, Hunting Park’s neglected facilities fell into disrepair in the 1960s. By the mid-1980s, the park that was once recognized as a neighborhood asset was better known for prostitution, […]
This document offers a range of insights that challenge business as usual, and explores lessons learned about investing in healthy community change to help funders of all sizes leverage their investments, achieve their goals and sustain their results.
Kane County, IL branded its integrated suite of health-oriented long range plans “Quality of Kane”, and used terms such as “promise”, “prosperity”, “quality of life” and “for everyone”.
What happens when a community partnership embraces its power? Can community-driven change really lead to broad scale policy change? When I think about the recent success of the HKHC East Chattanooga Leadership Council’s efforts to increase places for children in their neighborhood to be physically active, I am reminded of the phrase “Faith is the […]
The Fit Together Grant Program was established to support five rural North Carolina community partnerships to improve community health and increase physical activity utilizing Active Living By Design’s Community Action Model.