NACDD Gears Up for its Third Annual Walkability Action Institute!

NACDD is poised to implement its third Walkability Action Institute for interdisciplinary state and regional teams in support of the US Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities. By applying the principle of involving multiple disciplines working cooperatively and pooling resources, NACDD is making it possible for teams to create healthy and active states, regions, and communities.

In two previous years, through a competitive funding process, NACDD provided travel assistance to 22 interdisciplinary teams, requiring team representation by public health, transportation, planning, and elected officials. In recent months, NACDD selected 10 additional interdisciplinary regional teams to participate in this year’s action institute project. These teams will do much more than participate in a course – they’ve committed to participate in pre- and post-course webinars, development and implementation of team action plans, and progress reporting and community of practice activities following course participation.

With funding support provided by the CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO), NACDD will host this year’s course in the City of Decatur, Georgia, April 3 – 6, 2017. Decatur is a small town in the Atlanta area that implemented some of the biggest built environment improvements over the last two decades, making active transportation through walking and biking a priority. Decatur’s real life examples, coupled with visible infrastructure improvement projects in progress, make this location ideal for teaching course participants from around the country how to make feasible active transportation improvements.

Participant teams will be guided through the four-day action institute by Lead Course Director Mark Fenton. Mr. Fenton is a national community and transportation design expert who assists NACDD and its Course Steering Committee with all content development for the course. Past participants view Mr. Fenton as “fun, enthusiastic, and inspiring!” NACDD is grateful for Mr. Fenton’s participation and leadership.

A diverse team of course faculty will help Mr. Fenton and NACDD throughout the four days with expert presentations, large group facilitation, roundtable topic discussions, and team action planning assistance. This Course Faculty Team will serve as leaders in outdoor walk audit and scavenger hunt activities focusing on aspects of the built environment that promote or hinder active transportation. Course participants will have full access to faculty members and will be able to sign up for individual faculty consultations throughout the course. This year’s team includes the following experts:

·  Phil Bors, Active Living By Design

·  Charles Brown, Edwards J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University

·  Ian Lockwood, Toole Design Group

·  Leslie Meehan, Tennessee Department of Health

·  Hugh Morris, National Realtors Association

·  Amy Rauworth, National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability/Lakeshore Foundation

·  Ian Thomas, America Walks

NACDD extends its great appreciation to the CDC DNPAO, members of the Course Steering Committee (Active Living By Design, America Walks, National Physical Activity Society), and members of the Course Faculty Team for their efforts at making this year’s Walkability Action Institute the best yet!

For more information on NACDD’s Walkability efforts, please contact Karma Harris at .

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