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Far-Reaching Approaches to Encourage Active Living

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is funding eight communities across the state to plan for and implement a comprehensive approach to support active living, with a focus on environmental and policy change. Conducting their work through interdisciplinary partnerships, communities will assess assets and barriers, connect stakeholders around a common vision and develop a 5P action plan (preparation, promotion, programs, policy, and physical projects) to increase active living. By increasing organizational and community capacity and readiness, partnerships will advocate for environmental changes that help make physical activity a routine part of daily life. 

Funded communities:

• Clay County (Moorhead)
• Beltrami Wellness Education for Long Life (Bemidji)
• Dakota County
• Douglas County
• Hennepin County
• La Crescent Area Healthy Community Partnership
• City of Pipestone
• Rochester-Olmstead County (Rochester)

2008 Active Living Events

Blue Cross supported the following conferences in 2008 to elevate active living principles among planners, engineers, developers and other influencers of community design and bike- and walk-ability.

Urban Land Institute (ULI), Oct. 8 in Minneapolis. Blue Cross sponsored Chris Leinberger, a metropolitan land strategist and developer with the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. Leinberger discussed "The Option of Urbanism," addressing the economic sustainability to be realized in walkable communities. The event sold-out to about 100 participants.

St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, Coffee with Chris Leinberger, Oct. 8 in St. Paul. Blue Cross co-hosted this event with the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce to further engage St. Paul stakeholders in their goal to work on downtown revitalization. Cosponsors also included Ecolab, St. Paul Travelers, and Securian.

Minnesota Chapter of the American Planning Association (MnAPA), Sept. 22-24 in Duluth. Blue Cross sponsored a keynote speaker who discussed “Regionalization of Community Development and Planning," with an emphasis on walk-ability and transit as contributors to more active, healthy lifestyles.

Minnesota's Municipal Planning Organization Conference, Aug. 12 in Duluth. Blue Cross helped prepare the agenda, recruited Peter McLaughlin (Hennepin County Commission and Counties Transit Improvement Board Chair) to provide a keynote opening presentation, and sponsored two speakers who discussed land use/transportation decisions, specifically calling out the merits of bike- and walk-ability. 

Urban Land Institute (ULI), July 1 in Minneapolis. Blue Cross was the sponsor of this ULI event that featured Barbara McCann, president of the National Compete Streets Coalition.

National Complete Streets Planning Coalition, June 30-July 1 in Eagan. Blue Cross hosted approximately 15 of the nation's leading thought leaders on "Complete Streets" policy as they discussed strategies for advancing this issue nationwide.