On November 21, the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative (SDCOI) participated in the 2024 Live Well Advance & School Summit at the San Diego Convention Center! This inspiring event brought together leaders, organizations, and community members to discuss innovative strategies for advancing health, wellness, and safety across San Diego County. Attendees explored engaging breakout sessions, networked with peers, and roamed the Connection Hub where various organizations, including SDCOI, showcased their initiatives to create a healthier and more connected San Diego.
At the SDCOI booth, Gabriel (Community Health Project Manager) and Kaitlyn (SDCOI intern) promoted our 5210+ campaign, which encourages families to adopt daily healthy habits: 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 hours or less of recreational screen time, 1 hour or more of physical activity, 0 sugary beverages (drink more water), and 8-14 hours of sleep depending on age. Our booth featured colorful signs of the campaign’s characters, offering attendees the chance to take fun photos while learning about the initiative.
In addition to our booth, SDCOI presented the breakout session titled Walk It Out! The Importance of Partnerships in Creating Safer, Healthier Communities. Presenters Kristin Haukom (Alta Planning + Design), Rachel Forseth (SANDAG), Regina Moreno (SDCOI Community Council) and Jackie Resnick (SDCOI Sr. Program Manager) emphasized the value of working together to make neighborhood more pedestrian friendly. We highlighted our shared goals of collecting community feedback and influencing the Vision Zero Action Plan (VZAP), which identifies areas needing safety improvements to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. SDCOI’s role in this effort was to mobilize community members who conducted 12 walk audits in neighborhoods across the county. These audits allowed residents to share observations about road safety where they live, work, play, and learn. SANDAG contributed its expertise in identifying high-priority safety locations, while Alta Planning + Design brought extensive experience in city planning and walk audits. Together, we demonstrated how collaboration can amplify community voices and provide actionable data for decision-makers. The insights gathered through walk audits have been incorporated into the VZAP, helping prioritize infrastructure projects and other safety improvements across the region.
Looking ahead, SDCOI will continue to bring communities and local leaders together to create safer streets across the county by conducting walk audits, sharing data with legislators, and encouraging decision makers to make lasting improvements. Additionally, SDCOI will soon have all the walk audit resources available to community members on our website on the Tools and Publications page.
The Live Well Advance Conference was a testament to the power of collaboration and grassroots efforts in driving meaningful change. Together with our partners and community members, we’re making strides toward a healthier, safer, and more connected San Diego County.
To learn more about our work or get involved, visit our COI website or contáctanos. today.
