Blue Zones Project
Blue Zones Project® by Sharecare has officially concluded their Kickoff Month in Durant, Oklahoma. Since April 10th, Blue Zones Project team members and community members have been working with all sectors of the community including restaurants, grocery stores, worksites, schools, churches, and other organizations to host a series of community events to celebrate the organization’s “community kickoff” in Durant. These fun events have been focused on bringing the community together to learn about Blue Zones Project and what it means for the future of Durant.
“During our Kickoff Month we have been able to successfully engage hundreds of people to help them learn how Blue Zones Project is making a difference in our community. Our goal was to show people how Blue Zones Project works in different sectors of the community to help make healthier choices easier,” said Sarah Shores, who is the Blue Zones Project Policy Lead in Durant.
Blue Zones Project has been working diligently this month to organize many events in Durant, with the main event being a Drive-In Movie Experience at Durant High School on April 17th. Other events throughout April have included Downtown Art Activities, Restaurant and Grocery Store Involvement, Cooking Demonstrations, Purpose Workshops, Downtown Yoga, a Disc Golf Tournament, an Earth Day Event, and the Launch of the Blue Zones Project Walking Moai Program.
“Our Drive-In Movie Experience was a huge success,” said Ashton Gabbart, who is the Marketing & Engagement Lead for Blue Zones Project. “We had the opportunity to showcase a series of BZP Videos before playing the original Footloose film on the big screen at the Durant High School Parking Lot. It was a really great experience, and we were excited to be able to bring so many people together here in Durant. It was definitely a night that people will not forget!”
Each week of Blue Zones Project Kickoff Month was themed around the four pillars of the original Blue Zones areas that have proven to help people live longer, healthier lives: (1) Move Naturally, (2) Eat Wisely, (3) Right Outlook, and (4) Connect. These events have been focused on bringing people in the community together to demonstrate the ways Blue Zones Project works in the community. The team hopes to help inspire people in Durant to adopt the Blue Zones Pillars to start increasing their overall well-being.
“Community leaders and volunteers have worked hard over the last several months to help prepare for this official launch of this project within our community,” said Kara Byrd, Director of Imagine Durant. “Durant residents have an opportunity to work together to create sustainable well-being improvement, and we are excited to kick off the Blue Zones Project here in Durant.”
With the Blue Zones Project Durant kickoff month complete the organization will continue work with the community to engage with the organizations, and individuals within the community. There are many ways for people to get involved like attending a Purpose Workshop, joining a Walking Moai, volunteering or signing the BZP Pledge to “Live Longer, Better.”
“Blue Zones Project aims to bring people together to help create a stronger community. We know that the people are what make Durant great, and for our efforts to be successful, we have to be able to bring people together to be a part of something bigger,” said Brandon Martin, who is the Blue Zones Project Community Program Manager in Durant. “This is a grassroots, community led movement, with many partners coming together across the community because we all care about the future of Durant. We believe that if we all come together, Durant will become a healthier, happier place to live, learn, work, and play.”
