What is the Blue Zone Project?
Blue Zones Project® is a community-wide well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier. It does this by encouraging sustainable changes in our built environment and social networks throughout our community including worksites, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, faith-based organizations and neighborhoods.
The program is based on getting broad and committed buy-in at a community level. Specific tasks are required to be a participant at each level. Becoming a Blue Zones Community® requires:
At least 15% of citizens sign the Blue Zones Personal Pledge and take actions to improve their well-being.
Completion of the Blue Zones Community Policy Pledge around Built Environment, Living Streets, Tobacco policy, and Food Policy.
At least 50% of the top twenty community-identified employers become a Blue Zones Worksite.
At least 25% of independently or locally owned restaurants become a Blue Zones Restaurant®.
At least 25% of public schools become a Blue Zones School
At least 25% of grocery stores become a Blue Zones Grocery Store.
Well-Being improvement (measured by Gallup).
What does this mean for Klamath Falls and the residency?
On behalf of Oregon Healthiest State, Cambia Health Foundation, and Sky Lakes Wellness Center, the Blue Zones Project® has been invited to Klamath Falls. With its presence here we have an unprecedented opportunity to expose interested residents to the theory and application of community development and population medicine. Many residents have begun exploring the ways in which they can impact their community as well as their individual patients, and the Blue Zones Project® is making this even easier to do.
Find out more:
Visit the Blue Zones Project Oregon website or the Sky Lakes explanation page and peruse to your hearts content!
