Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties White House Celebration Recognizes Jackson Tennessee, Mayor Jerry Gist Joins First Lady Michelle Obama
[Washington, D.C.] – Mayor Jerry Gist joined First Lady Michelle Obama and representatives from the National League of Cities (NLC) and several federal agencies at the White House today for a celebratory event honoring the achievements made by local elected officials participating in the Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC) initiative.
The First Lady announced that 500 cities, towns and counties, including Jackson, Tennessee, have committed to the five goals in the LMCTC initiative since July 2012. LMCTC is a key part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative and helps local elected officials, their staff and communities ensure all children grow up healthy and have the ability to reach their full potential. NLC works in partnership with Let’s Move! and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide assistance to local elected officials.
Jackson, Tennessee is part of a growing national movement to build healthier communities and ensure that the health and well-being of young people today and that of future generations is a priority.
The Task Force recommendations focus on the five pillars of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative:
1. Creating a healthy start for children
2. Empowering parents and caregivers
3. Providing healthy food in schools
4. Improving access to healthy, affordable foods
5. Increasing physical activity
Medals are awarded based on achievement of integrating all five pillars into a community. The city of Jackson was recognized with 3 Gold Medals in Pillars 1, 3, and 5; and 2 Silver Medals in Pillars 2 and 4.
Mayor Jerry Gist states, “Through Jumpstart Jackson, the city of Jackson has initiatives dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation. Children born today will have access to healthier food and know how to make healthy food choices while also enjoying more active lifestyles.”
At today’s event, the First Lady also recognized the 52 communities, including Jackson, Tennessee that have achieved gold medals in each of the five goal areas, which include providing healthy school meals, opportunities for physical activity during and outside of school, and healthier early care and education programs.
“This groundbreaking milestone of reaching 500 communities brings us closer to the goal of providing every American with the opportunity to live in a community that prioritizes the health and well-being of their residents,” said National League of Cities President Ralph Becker, mayor, Salt Lake City, Utah. “These local policymakers, representing small and large communities from across the country, are transforming their communities into healthier places.”
The 500 cities, towns and counties honored at today’s event come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. To date, approximately 80 million Americans live in a city, town or county participating in LMCTC.
For more information on the achievements by LMCTC communities, visit www.healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org/spotlights/.
