Dear Eat Smart, Move More NC Partners,
The holiday season and end of a calendar year is often a time for reflection. While 2020 has been an unprecedented year with unique challenges, there are things for which I am thankful.
I am thankful to live in a state with a strong public health system under the leadership of Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Her regular updates to the public, based on science and sound public health practice, have provided important and reassuring guidance to keep as many North Carolinians healthy as possible.
I am appreciative of my public health and professional colleagues, who have impressed me with the creative ways in which they have adjusted to new working arrangements, continued to serve and support their clients and community members while being physically distanced, and juggled work responsibilities and family care. Your Eat Smart, Move More NC Executive Committee has been a shining example of these qualities, being nimble in shifting partner meetings to a virtual platform and increasing the frequency of meetings to keep the movement thriving.
I am grateful to all of you, our partners in the Eat Smart, Move More NC movement. Since its inception in 2002, the movement has relied on voluntary time from its partners to make the state obesity prevention plans and other resources available across the state. We can be proud that our statewide movement to promote opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity wherever people live, learn, earn, play, and pray is still going strong after 18 years! Thanks to many of you who have attended our meetings over the past year. Moving to virtual meetings has enabled us to stay connected with longtime partners and engage new supporters from across the state.
While much remains unknown about the context in which we will be living and working in 2021, your Executive Committee remains committed to the Eat Smart, Move More NC movement and you, our partners.
We hope you will join us for our final meeting of 2020 on December 9 (see registration information below). In addition to learning about sleep, one of eight Eat Smart, Move More NC Core Behaviors for overall health, you will be introduced to new Executive Committee members and hear updates about our 2021 meeting schedule.
With gratitude,
Joanne Lee, MPH, RD
Chair of Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina
Collaborative Learning Director with Healthy Places by Design