Keynote Address

The Concept of Place and Health - What it Means to Cities, Rural Areas and Regions (audio file)
Charles Royer, President
Institute for Community Change; Former Mayor, City of Seattle

Mr. Royer's keynote adrress focused on the power of place and the strategies and key elements for creating a sense of place for cities. He shared his experience working with cities and communities facing challenges and creating changes; how cities create civic leaders to overcome economic and racial adversity. He also shared his views on how cities must pay attention to their past, both the positive and negatives; specifically, cities must “confront the reality of a terrible past to ensure a promising future.” Lastly, he touched on having a real appreciation for the built environment. In the next 20 years, the growing population requires 213 billion new square feet of space. He tasked the audience to address whether cities continue to build as usual or to incorporate the strategies and lessons of healthy cities and communities. According to Royer, “The good news is that we know how to build good places.”

Plenary

Fostering Civic Engagement in New Ways for Diverse Populations

James Corless, Senior Transportation Planner
Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Blair King, City Manager
City of Lodi

The Honorable Suzi Picaso, City Council Member
City of Lindsay

Concurrent Sessions

Aging in Place: Communities Planning for Older Adults

Mary Anne Mendall, Administrator
Aging Friendly Services, City of Fremont

How Planning Standards Can Be Tools for Improving Community Health

Alex Hinds, Director
Marin County Community Development Agency

Julia Lave Johnston, Senior Planner
The Governor's Office of Planning and Research, State of California

s increased the risk of many serious health problems for children and adults. Healthy Eating, Active Communities (HEAC) is the California Endowment's four-year, $26 million initiative to help fight this growing threat in California. HEAC's objectives are to increase opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating for children and families, and to develop policy changes that will reduce obesity. Ms. Perrino's will discuss successes in California Healthy Cities and Communities, including innovative nutrition education and physical activity programs that empwer low-income residents to improve their health. Ms. Williamson will discuss the impact of the HEAC initiative, as well as current funding trends for obesity prevention efforts.

Making Plans for an Aging California
Joan M. Twiss, Executive Director, Center for Civic Partnerships
Theresa Marino, Manager, Long Beach Bureau of Public Health

The Center for Civic Partnerships recently released "A Healthy Community Perspective on Aging Well: New Ideas for an Older California." The brief describes the expected doubling of California's 65-plus population in the next 25 years, and the need for cities and other units of local government to begin planning for how this growth will impact their residents. This session will explore how strategic planning efforts can address the needs of older adults which, in turn, will positively impact the community at large. Ms. Twiss will discuss strategies for local government leaders and their partners to prepare for the aging population given the tools at their disposal. Ms. Marino will discuss the City of Long Beach's recently adopted strategic plan for older adults, the outcome of a broad-based collabortative task force of over 60 representatives.

Neighborhood Environments: Making them Healthier
The Honorable Maribel De La Torre, City Council Member, City of San Fernando
Alyssa Ghirardelli, Research Associate, Public Health Institute, Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section

A variety of innovative strategies are being employed to support individuals with living healthier lives.  This session will explore promising practices for improving neighborhood environments from both a city elected official and a public health perspective.  Ms. Ghirardelli will discuss the California Department of Health Services’ Communities of Excellence (CX3) program, an obesity prevention effort, and a unique planning process that uses local data to identify how communities can support healthier eating and physical activity.   Participants will learn how data collection tools are helping six pilot communities across the state set priorities for obesity prevention.  The Honorable Maribel De La Torre will discuss how the City of San Fernando is improving neighborhood environments through bicycle, parks and trolley master planning and the city’s walking program.

Building Support for Affordable Housing
Beth Steckler, Policy Director, Livable Places
Michael Woo, Los Angeles City Planning Commissioner; Board Chair, Smart Growth America; Adjunct Professor, USC School of Policy, Planning and Development (No PowerPoint)

As California’s aging population continues to grow, so too will the challenge of providing seniors with affordable housing.  Many seniors live on a fixed income and may need special services, making safe and affordable housing more difficult to locate for this population.  Speakers will discuss current housing trends and housing policy reform efforts, including the impact on older adults and low-income communities.  This session will engage participants with strategies for becoming affordable housing advocates in their own communities.

Quality of Life Indicatitors: Creating a Foundation for Civic Change and Engagement
Nancy Findeisen, CEO, Community Services Planning Council
Jean Armbruster, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Program, P.L.A.C.E. Unit, County of Los Angeles Public Health Department (No PowerPoint)

Quality of life indicators are measurement tools and data that can help civic leaders and residents assess the community’s overall health and long-term sustainability.  By measuring the health of a community through economic, environmental and social conditions, a clearer picture of community life emerges, enabling and inspiring community action and change.  Ms. Findeisen will discuss the following:
      •     Best practices in utilizing community indicators to assess progress toward a community vision
      •     How quality of life indicators are being used to inform action toward more livable communities
      •     How the community indicators field is growing nationally and internationally
      •     Practical tips on developing and implementing effective quality of life indicators     projects

Developing Intergernerational Services and Facilities
Belinda Jackson, Executive Director, Exposition Park and Intergenerational Community Center
Neelam Sharma, Program Director, Community Services Unlimited, Inc.

In the coming years, California will see a population explosion in both the over-50 and under-20 populations.  “Unlike the rest of the country, California will be in the unenviable position of providing services to a population that is becoming concentrated at both ends of the spectrum” (Sonya Tafoya and Hans P. Johnson, California Counts: Population Trends and Profiles, 2000).  As both ends of the age spectrum increase, cities will need to develop effective programs that bridge the generations and maximize resources.  Ms. Jackson will discuss the Exposition Park and Intergenerational Community Center (EPICC), a non-profit corporation in partnership with the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Recreation and Parks, including how this facility was created and renovated through public and private funds.  Ms. Sharma will discuss the award-winning intergenerational programs offered at EPICC that are bridging both ages and cultures alike. 

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