Kentucky

Planning for Kentucky's Leadership for Healthy Communities project began in the fall of 2002. The initiative is being shaped with the assistance of two Leadership for Healthy Communities partners – The International City/County Management Association and the National Governor's Association – along with the Kentucky League of Cities. A group consisting of 20 individuals representing state and local government, public health, higher education, parks and recreation, and the development community serve as an advisory board for the project. The first advisory group meeting was held in the winter of 2002 in Lexington, Kentucky. A second advisory meeting was held on March 2003. To introduce Active Living concepts to Kentucky leaders, officials, and interested community members, Leadership for Healthy Communities coordinated a statewide workshop.

The workshop, Active Living: Leadership in Kentucky was held on May 8 2003, in Louisville, Kentucky. Close to 100 people attended the event, including local and state elected officials, representatives of local and state health departments, local planning and community development officials, state transportation officials and others from a variety of disciplines and sectors. In addition to educating leaders on active living, the workshop fostered new momentum and energy for creating a broad and multidisciplinary coalition of leaders to promote Leadership for Healthy Communities initiatives in Kentucky. Speakers included Lieutenant Governor Stephen Henry, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, Rich Killingsworth (Director of the national Active Living by Design initiative), Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Rice Leach and other local and state leaders. Case studies of successful active living strategies in Kentucky communities were a highlight of the event.

ICMA is currently working with several local communities to assist them in engaging in active living strategies. NGA is also available to provide free technical assistance, such as expert training or sample best practices, to Kentucky's state leaders upon request.

Latest news in Kentucky Local Leadership for Healthy Communities Initiatives in Kentucky

Presentations from the Kentucky Leadership for Healthy Communities Leadership Conference May 8, 2003

For more information contact:

Nadejda Mishkovsky, ICMA
nmishkovsky@icma.org
202.962.3582

Tracy Westfield, NGA
twestfield@nga.org
202.624.5300