Mayors nationwide hosted over 100 events this spring to raise awareness about the vital role of social connection and active living in promoting mental and physical health.
Over the monthlong Move with the Mayor® (MWTM) Mental Health and Physical Activity Challenge, 50 mayors led their communities in activities that encouraged daily movement while fostering social connection. Events included group walks, bike rides, dance classes, yoga sessions, and mental health awareness events.
“There’s an epidemic of loneliness, so one of the best things this program does is bring our community together,” said Mayor Heidi Lueb of Tigard, Oregon. “I think the mayor really sets the tone of how these activities work, and if we’re having fun with it, the community wants to join in too.”
The National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention facilitated the challenge in partnership with the American Public Health Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The initiative aims to address rising rates of mental health issues and physical inactivity in the United States by equipping local leaders with tools to engage their residents.
“I want to make sure that I relate to my residents,” said Mayor Leonardo Williams of Durham, North Carolina. “Programs like Move with the Mayor® are an arsenal of resources I can pull from… a warehouse of data I utilize to help inform some of the decisions that we’re making.”
Many participating mayors will continue their efforts to promote physical activity and social connectivity throughout the year.
“What I’ve learned is [the importance of] being consistent and intentional,” Mayor Lajan Cephas of Cambridge, Maryland, shared. “For example, if I’m concerned about our residents who feel lonely, then it means I need to take Move with the Mayor® to them. And that’s exactly what we did. This was just a wonderful experience. I’m so grateful for this platform.”
In addition to community events, mayors recorded public service announcements to extend the campaign’s reach. Thirteen cities completed “Connect, Move, Thrive: A Roadmap for Active, Connected Communities,” with seven cities achieving the gold level.
The Roadmap helps cities identify and strengthen programs, policies, and activities that foster social connection through movement.
Seven cities also completed partnership mapping exercises designed to help local leaders reflect on existing partnerships, identify gaps, and outline strategies to strengthen collaboration across sectors.
Research backs up the impact of these efforts. Social support interventions in community settings — like those led through MWTM — have been shown to increase physical activity by a median of 22% and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by 20–30%.
For more information about MWTM, visit natforum.org/connect-with-mwtm.
About Move with the Mayor®
Move with the Mayor® (MWTM) is an initiative of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. Mayors use MWTM to encourage active, healthy living while strengthening individual and community resilience. For 11 years and counting, mayors have been using MWTM messaging; program, policy, and infrastructure recommendations; and other tools to empower and protect community members from health threats and improve cardiovascular health and mental health for all. To learn more, visit natforum.org/mwtm.
Media Contact
Amanda Thomas
770-609-0674
amanda.thomas.ic@nationalforum.org
