By BECKY THOMAS
Staff Reporter
The Let's Move, Cheney coalition could be entering a new era just over a year after its birth.
The coalition, inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move program to encourage physical activity and healthy living to kids, has hosted two Bike to Work weeks, a trail run, a back-to-school health rally and joined several health-related organizations since it was founded in April 2010. In its first year Let's Move, Cheney was funded through several small grants totaling $3,450.
With this month's $18,400 allocation from the Empire Health Foundation, there's lots more to come for Let's Move, Cheney.
Parks and Recreation director Paul Simmons was central in the creation of the coalition and has continued to lead its monthly meetings, but he said the coalition's success is thanks to its members.
“While this was initiated by the city, community members are really stepping up,” Simmons said. “Several different folks are taking on different projects.”
Ruth Galm, executive director of Eastern Washington University's grant and research development department, has been at nearly every Let's Move meeting, Simmons said.
“Her goal was to write a significant grant for the organization,” he said. Galm applied for the EHF's Responsive Grant, a one-time grant aimed at boosting regional health initiatives. Let's Move, Cheney was one of 32 organizations awarded funds out of more than 100 applicants.
The grant will fund several things, but the most significant item may be the formation of a five-year strategic plan for the coalition.
Simmons said that while the coalition has worked this past year to create a vision and goals to advance healthy living and exercise in Cheney, it's time to use those plans to create real change.
“Right now there's not kind of an end vision or goal, a common place that we're working toward,” he said. “The strategic plan will create a vision with a little bit more tangible outcomes.”
Simmons said the coalition would use grant funds to hire a consultant who would host public meetings, conduct research and gather input from coalition members to create the plan. Simmons said the plan would likely create a structure within which the coalition could launch long-term advocacy projects as well as putting on small health-focused events throughout the year.
The EHF grant will also fund the purchase of a salad bar for joint use by the Cheney School District and the city's after-school program as well as a long-awaited expansion of the Cheney Community Garden and signage for the wetland trail behind the city's wastewater treatment plan.
Simmons said the grant, along with continued partnerships with EHF, Action for Health Kids and other organizations, will all help take Let's Move, Cheney to the next level.
“I think there's a lot of momentum behind it,” he said. “We're to the part where we're implementing stuff rather than figuring out who we are.”
Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected].
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