Oskaloosa Not Chosen To Be A Blue Zone Community

Healthiest State Initiative

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Mahaska Wellness Coalition has received notification that Oskaloosa has not been chosen to take the next steps in the process to make Oskaloosa a Blue Zone Community.

“The Mahaska Wellness Coalition has been working diligently to increase awareness for Oskaloosa to become a Blue Zone, however, at the forefront of our efforts has always been to make Mahaska County the healthiest county in the state of Iowa,” Brianne Fitzgerald, Executive Director at the United Way of Mahaska County stated. “While we were hopeful to partner with the Blue Zone Project, we will still continue to work toward making the ideals of the program a reality in Mahaska County.”

A Statement of Interest was submitted on behalf of the Oskaloosa community in October. 83 other communities across Iowa also expressed interest, all hoping for the chance to continue to the application phase of the project.

After the Statements of Interest were reviewed, select communities were asked to submit a formal, detailed application to become one of ten demonstration sites. Fitzgerald stressed that the Blue Zones committee was very impressed with Mahaska County’s efforts thus far. “The Project Coordinator was very complimentary of our community and all we have happening here. It just came down to needing to narrow the field. The conversation was encouraging and we hope to submit again during round two in the coming years.”

“The Mahaska Wellness Coalition formed initially because of the opportunity to become a Blue Zone Community, however we have always focused on the big picture when it comes to improving the health and well being of those in our community,” added Lea Rice, Dietitian at Mahaska Health Partnership. “We will be hosting monthly walks over the course of the winter months, and encouraging community members to attend. It’s a great time to get out of the office or home and come “Step Along with Us.”

Rice explained the “Step Along with Us” walks are one of many initiatives that are part of the overall Blue Zone concept. “The principals provide very valuable insight for living a longer, healthier life. We plan to put some of those in action right here in Mahaska County. The “Step Along with Us” walks are the first example. They will be held the first Friday of each month at noon. During the winter months, we will be holding our walks in Penn Central Mall. The first walk is scheduled for Friday, December 2nd, and all walks are open to the public. We hope to encourage people to form their own walking groups, and use this opportunity to not only get out and walk, but to think about making the healthy choice the easy choice in everything they do.”

“We welcome more people from the community to join or efforts,” Rice said. The next meeting of the Mahaska Wellness Coalition will be held Friday, December 2nd at 7am at the PAC Multipurpose Room at William Penn University. If you would like more information on how you can help, please contact Lea Rice at 672-3303, or Brianne Fitzgerald at 673-6043.