The National League of Cities (NLC) is recognizing Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski for recent completion of key health and wellness goals for Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC). LMCTC is a major component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s comprehensive Let’s Move! initiative, which is dedicated to solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation.

“Local elected officials play a critical role in addressing childhood obesity in our country and communities, and we commend those leaders being recognized for their achievements in taking action to improve healthy eating and physical activity in their communities,” said NLC President Marie Lopez Rogers, mayor of Avondale, AZ.

One gold medal was awarded to Allentown for action taken to improve access to healthy affordable food and increase opportunities for physical activity. The medal was awarded because of Allentown’s achievements in having at least 80% of public schools participating in the School Breakfast Program, and at least 75% of public elementary and middle school students and at least 65% of high school students participating in the National School Lunch Program.

“We have been working diligently to reduce the childhood obesity rate in the city,” Pawlowski said. “The breakfast and lunch programs provide nutritionally balanced meals for the students.”

All LMCTC sites have the opportunity to earn up to five gold medals, one for each actionable goal they commit to as part of the initiative. The five goal areas are:

• Goal I: Start Early, Start Smart: Promoting best practices for nutrition, physical activity, and screen time in early care and education settings
• Goal II: My Plate, Your Place: Prominently displaying MyPlate in all municipal or county venues where food is served
• Goal III: Smart Servings for Students: Increasing participation in school breakfast and lunch programs
• Goal IV: Model Food Service: Implementing healthy and sustainable food service guidelines that are aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Goal V: Active Kids at Play: Increasing opportunities for physical activity

Medal recipients are being honored at a celebration event on Thursday, November 14, during the National League of Cities’ (NLC’s) annual conference in Seattle, WA.

The National League of Cities (NLC) is the lead collaborating partner on this initiative, working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Association of Counties, and other nonprofit organizations, in assisting local elected officials to implement policy and environmental changes to prevent childhood obesity. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded NLC a grant to provide technical assistance to local elected officials working to create healthier communities and prevent childhood obesity, including sites participating in LMCTC.

More than 370 cities, towns and counties are participating in LMCTC. Each month, NLC recognizes local elected officials who achieve key benchmarks for the five LMCTC goals. To date, NLC has awarded 1,274 bronze, silver, and gold medals to recognize local elected officials across the country for their progress.

For more information about LMCTC and Allentown’s accomplishments, visit www.HealthyCommunitiesHealthyFuture.org.

The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. 
 
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