tribute their time, energy and ideas. Why are Blue Zones just coming to light now, rather than 20 years ago? There’s been an increasing appreciation for how much our environment affects our individual health. Research on Blue Zones confirmed that in communities with a culture of walking, nutrient-rich food and tight-knit friends and family, making the healthy choice is the easy choice. When it’s the path of least resistance, more people do it. How does the valley’s history as an industrial giant and coal mining hub contribute to its Community Well-Being Index score? Communities depending on natural resource extraction are always at risk for boom and bust periods. The region’s long economic contraction created a mindset that the forces that made lives difficult were out of residents’ control. It obscured the fact that people can always make a difference on a community level with leadership, vision and commitment. Which societal and economic factors contribute to Lackawanna County’s low score on the Community Well-Being Index? Valley in Motion’s website mentions higher rates of tobacco and alcohol use, but what led to a collective lower score? On the Community Well-Being Index, we score worst on the Community measure. Residents also say they don’t have a strong sense of purpose. These attitudes are vestiges from economic decline. According to our analysis, depression and food insecurity strongly correlate to low community well-being. Now that our region is growing again, we need to shed those zerosum-gain attitudes. We need new narratives. Change is good. There are
opportunities for everybody. Everybody should have a say in what we want our communities to be. I like where I live! What goals do you hope to achieve with Valley in Motion in the next five to ten years? Our goals are connected to the Community Well-Being Index, because it best mirrors our mission to foster community and quality of life. We want to see a ten percent improvement in our region’s Community measure in five years. This requires partnering with many community organizations, helping us succeed collectively. Regarding different ways communities can benefit from obtaining Blue Zone status, which possibility excites you most? I like the idea that our towns can return to their original functions as centers for community life. Neighborhoods should be walkable. Street traffic should be slower, supporting safe biking opportunities. Nutritious, locally-grown foods should be accessible to everyone. These changes require good planning and investment at a fraction of the cost we spent to make our lives so starved of time and car-dependent! What drives you to continue bettering our region? I love the people here. I’m biased because I grew up here, but I love the self-effacing sense of humor, the friendliness, the knowledge that we all have weaknesses. I get inspired when new residents get involved,
Valley in Motion is a non-profit organization fostering community and quality of life in the Lackawanna Valley. Their initiatives work to improve community pride, civic engagement and learning from one another. Valley in Motion is leading a coalition to make the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton area a “Blue Zone,” an area of exceptional health and wellness. Other projects include Valley Murals, Oral Histories and streetscape improvements around the Scranton Iron Furnaces. Valley in Motion partners with individuals and organizations committed to improving quality of life in the region. contribute new ideas and make a difference. Having worked overseas, I appreciate the generosity extended to me when I was a stranger. I want people to feel welcome in my home and to help create a place where anybody can live their American dream. How can residents improve quality of life for everyone? Get involved! Join a neighborhood or community group, follow your interests and contribute your talent, energy and ideas. Every local group appreciates someone willing to turn talk into action. H
45