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Active Michigan Communities
"It is dishonest for to tell our citizens to walk, jog, or bicycle when there is no safe or welcoming place to pursue these 'life saving' activities."
—Dr. Richard Jackson, Director of the Graham Institute of Sustainability,
University of Michigan |
Click here to learn more about Active Community Environments
The Promoting Active Communities Program
Resources
Active Michigan Communities Coalition
The Promoting Active Communities (PAC) Program
 The Michigan Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health & Sports is dedicated to support healthy lifestyles in communities designed to support physical activity. Based on this vision, the Governor’s Council facilitates the Promoting Active Communities (PAC) Program to assist Michigan communities to create and support active living environments.
Purpose
The PAC program is like no other in the country. It recognizes communities that have made a commitment to become healthier places to live by following Active Living Community Principles. This unique program consists of:
- A FREE online self-assessment tool that a team of community members use to evaluate their community’s environments, policies, and programs related to promoting and supporting physical activity, and
- An award system to recognize innovative Michigan communities that are taking steps to make it easier for citizens to lead an active lifestyle.
Each PAC assessment section is scored and a personalized community report is created that can be used for planning purposes.
To access the PAC online self-assessment tool, visit http://www.mihealthtools.org/communities.
This unique online self-assessment tool was created in partnership with the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Michigan State University, and the Prevention Research Center of Michigan.
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| Photo courtesy of Dan Burden |
Benefits
There are many benefits communities receive when they participate in the Promoting Active Communities Program.
- Recognition: the resulting award brings recognition to the community for achievements in removing barriers to make it easier for people to be active.
- Planning: personalized community reports enhance the community planning process by describing strengths and potential for improvements.
- Partnerships: local leaders develop new partnerships as a result of working together to complete assessment.
- Awareness: media announcements increase awareness among residents about the community’s vision and assets related to active living.
- Marketing: communities use their award as another mechanism for promoting their hometowns.
Who Participates
Every City, Village, Township, or Charter Township in the State of Michigan is eligible to participate in the PAC Program, complete an assessment and submit it for award consideration. Communities may complete the assessment, but not submit it for award consideration. Communities located outside of Michigan may complete the assessment, but are not eligible for award consideration. Communities not eligible for award consideration, however, may want to submit their assessment so that they can receive a detailed final report.
Since the PAC Program’s creation in 2000:
- 88 Michigan communities from 43 counties have completed the PAC assessment at least once, and
- 30 Michigan communities have earned an award more than once, with many communities moving up an award level.
Click here to see past PAC program participants and award winners.
Tell us your story!
Has your community embraced active living? Click here to share your success with us. |
Resources
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Photo courtesy of Dan Burden |
Do you want to spark interest in active living communities in your hometown? Do you want to learn more about Michigan communities that are using innovative strategies to create and maintain active living environments? Keep reading to find out about resources that you can use.
Presentations & Community Stories
Pictures can speak louder than words. Download presentations to enhance your effort to advocate for active living. It’s easy, just follow these steps:
Step 1: Review the presentation instructions to help you decide which presentation(s)
will best suit your needs and to become familiar with how to use the presentations.
Step 2: Select and download presentations:
• Active Living Overview
Active Living Overview 30 minutes
Active Living Overview 15 minutes
• Community Feedback Report Results
• Community Stories
Promoting Active Communities Mentors
Would you like to talk with someone who has hands-on expertise with the Promoting Active Communities (PAC) Program and active living initiatives? Feel free to contact any of the following people to gain valuable insight into their experience with the PAC Program and to better understand what their communities are doing to become more active.
Ann Arbor
Wendy Rampson
Systems Planner
City of Ann Arbor
wrampson@a2gov.org
(734) 994-2802
Ypsilanti
Lily Guzman
Public Health Educator
Washtenaw County Public Health Department
guzmanl@ewashtenaw.org
(734) 544-2983
More mentors to come.
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Photo courtesy of Safe Routes to School |
Active Michigan Communities Coalition
The Active Michigan Communities (AMC) Coalition is a group of multi-disciplinary stakeholders that is working to raise awareness about active living communities in Michigan and the Promoting Active Communities (PAC) Program.
Vision
The Active Michigan Communities Coalition envisions Michigan communities that provide safe and convenient opportunities for residents to embrace active living, resulting in enhanced public and individual health, sustainable communities, and vibrant local and regional economies.
Mission
The Active Michigan Communities Coalition aims to increase the number of Michigan communities with adopted policies, programs and physical design that support active living.
Goals
Goal 1: To increase participation in the Promoting Active Communities Program and community progression through the award levels
Goal 2: To expand the resources/tools associated with the Promoting Active Communities Program
Goal 3: To advocate for state and local policy that embraces active living concepts
Goal 4: To ensure that the Active Michigan Communities Coalition has adequate resources, which enable us to accomplish our mission and goals and sustain the PAC Program.
AMC Coalition Members
| Katherine Alaimo |
Michigan State University |
| Debra Alfonso |
Michigan Department of Transportation |
| Ellen Bassett |
Portland State University |
| Trina Boyle-Holmes |
Michigan Department of Education |
| Andrea Brown |
Michigan Association of Planning |
| Patricia Carrow |
Office of Highway Safety Planning |
| Brad Garmon |
Michigan Environmental Council |
| Lisa Grost |
Michigan Department of Community Health |
| LeRoy Harvey |
Moving Our Community Toward Health Coalition |
| Cindy Krupp |
Michigan Department of Transportation |
| David Mendez |
University of Michigan School of Public Health |
| Jennifer Mosack |
Michigan State Uniersity |
| Sarah Panken |
Michigan Fitness Foundation |
| Trudy Rampy |
Michigan State Police |
| Bruce Ross |
Van Buren Township, Department of Recreation and Facilities |
| Jean Ruestman |
Michigan Department of Transportation |
| Rebecca Rynbrandt |
City of Wyoming, Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Janine Sinno |
Ingham County health Department |
| Risa Wilkerson |
Michigan Fitness Foundation |
For more information on Active Communities, please contact Sarah Panken, Active Communities Coordinator at (800) 434-8642 or slpanken@michiganfitness.org.
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