Richfield Plants Chalkboards to Gather Community Input

Editor's Note: The following news release comes from do.town, an initiative between the cities of Edina, Bloomington and Richfield and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

This past week, Richfield community members started seeing chalkboards pop up in some unusual places, as the do.town project works to engage residents and provide them with an opportunity to tell city leaders what an even healthier Richfield looks like. do.town is a collaborative initiative of the cities of Bloomington, Edina and Richfield, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) that works to improve the health of each community by making changes that support healthy eating and active lifestyles.

"The goal of do.town is to help communities make the healthy choice the easy choice for residents. So asking citizens for their ideas and involving them in the discussion is a key to bringing about healthy changes that benefit everyone – from healthier food in concession stands, to more walkable, bikeable streets for all ages and abilities, and worksite policies that support employee wellness," said Katherine Bass, Blue Cross senior project manager for do.town. "These chalkboards in gathering places throughout Edina will provide a unique platform to learn what matters most to people."

The chalkboards, which measure five feet tall and six feet wide, will be placed this weekend at the Richfield Ice Arena, Richfield City Hall and Municipal Center, and Village Shores Senior Community. Volunteers will collect ideas that residents provide on the chalkboards and share them with city leaders, including Mayor Debbie Goetell and City Manager Steve Devich. Throughout the spring and summer, the chalkboards will be moved to different locations in Richfield and a variety of questions tied to the health of the community will be posed to residents.

"We’re facing a real health crisis as kids today may have shorter life expectancy than their parents due to chronic diseases caused by obesity, unhealthy eating and sedentary lifestyles," said Dr. Marc Manley, Chief Prevention Officer for Blue Cross. "Sustainable changes within communities are urgently needed and the best way to support people in making the healthy choice the easy choice."

The do.town initiative launched in September 2011 and is supported by Blue Cross. This 18-month pilot project to improve the health of citizens in the participating cities, focuses on preventing illness caused by unhealthy eating and physical inactivity, which combined are the second leading cause of death and disease in Minnesota. Learn more about do.town by joining us at do-town.org, or you can find us on Facebook and Twitter.