On June 26, the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention hosted a webinar highlighting the Move with the Mayor® (MWTM) Mental Health and Physical Activity Challenge.
The event featured inspiring success stories from three dedicated mayors who have used MWTM to foster healthier, more connected communities. The webinar opened with remarks from AAMA CEO Phyllis Dickerson, who emphasized the longstanding partnership between the association and the National Forum.
Over the past decade, MWTM has encouraged active, healthy living while strengthening community resilience against health threats. This year, the focus extended to mental health.
Here are some highlights from the webinar:
- Mayor Katrina Thompson of Broadview, Illinois, expressed her excitement about MWTM. “It’s an initiative that we all can participate in at some level, and it’s a good way to connect with our constituents,” Thompson said. “This year, we did something a little bit different. We partnered with our local churches. We call it our Faith Walk, and we walk every day, Monday through Friday, for one hour. And then, on Saturdays, I walk with the community. These events provide residents the opportunity to connect with Thompson so she can listen to their concerns and get insight into what they’d like to see in the community.
- Mayor Keith Sydnor of Laurel, Maryland, a military veteran who often worked out to relieve stress while deployed and continues being active to this day, says participating in MWTM is right up his alley. “We all know how important mental health is… especially in the African American community,” Sydnor says. “It’s always been something you don’t talk about.” To open the dialogue, Sydnor and the City of Laurel hosted several events to raise awareness. “The community was really engaged,” says Sydnor, who is proud of the community embracing MWTM and plans to continue hosting activities throughout the year.
- Mayor Sharon Weston Broome of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, described MWTM as one of her favorite initiatives, highlighting activities like public pickleball events and employee power walks. She also discussed community events like “Pedaling for Peace,” which combines physical activity with violence prevention. “It propels our community to better health,” Broome says of MWTM. She noted the importance of social connectivity, physical activity, and mental health in our overall well-being. “We have seen firsthand that movement is life, and we incorporate that into our daily lives here to have a healthier, more connected Baton Rouge,” she says.
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session and a call to action for continued community engagement. The success stories from these mayors underscore the power of MWTM in promoting health, well-being, and community connectedness.
For more details and resources from the webinar, visit bit.ly/Connect_With_MWTM.
