It’s been three years since First Lady Michelle Obama introduced Let’s Move! to America. 
In that time, the nation has seen a concerted effort to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation through a wide range of initiatives and partnerships formed to improve the health of America’s children.
To celebrate, the First Lady is taking a two-day nationwide tour to highlight achievements and announce new opportunities for continued success.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Mrs. Obama, along with TV personality Rachel Ray, will visit Clinton, Mississippi to spotlight the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. This 2010 legislation has given 32 million children daily, regular access to healthy food.
This Community Commons Starter Map shows the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced school lunch in Clinton, MS. A similar map can be created for your own community by following these easy steps.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The First Lady will begin her day in Chicago where she will speak about Bringing Physical Activity Back to Schools. She will be joined by dignitaries, accomplished athletes, teachers, and students at the event hosted by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
It is expected that Mrs. Obama will make a significant announcement and will call on leaders to work together to support schools’ efforts to ensure that all kids get the physical activity they need to stay healthy.
Firsthand Reaction: “The many partners coming together today aligned with the First Lady is a sign that America cannot continue on the same course of physical inactivity, producing the chronic diseases that follow in its wake”, said Tyler Norris, vice president of Total Health at Kaiser Permanente. “The commitment we saw in Chicago today demonstrates the emergence of a new normal where we can all lead and live healthier more active lives.”
CHNA.org, nested within Community Commons, is designed to help everyone better understand the needs and assets of their own communities. The following sample report was created to show the rate of access to recreation and fitness facilities in Chicago’s Cook County.
This easy to use, web based platform uses county level data to pinpoint where communities should to focus their efforts. To create your own report, watch a short tutorial video.
The First Lady will also visit Springfield, Missouri on Thursday to highlight the success of Walmart’s Nutrition Charter. In 2011 the company made five commitments to improve access to healthy food: reducing sodium, sugars, and trans fats in packaged foods; making healthy foods more affordable; developing a “Great For You” package seal; increasing charitable support for nutrition programs; and opening nearly 300 new stores in food desert areas by 2016. The Let’s Move! tour will visit a Walmart built specifically as part of this commitment.
The following CHNA report shows that inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables in Springfield’s Greene County is above state and national averages.
Other Let’s Move! celebration events include:
Thursday, February 28, 2013 A previously taped airing of The Dr. Oz Show on which the First Lady and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan talk about how physical activity affects both children’s health and academic success.
Monday, March 4, 2013 11:10 ET Mrs. Obama will participate in a Google+ Hangout. The Fireside Hangout will be streamed live on LetsMove.gov, the Let’s Move! YouTube Channel and the White House Google+ Page
Wednesday, March 6, 2013 The First Lady will answer questions about her Let’s Move! initiative using her office’s @FLOTUS twitter account.
Read the official press release.
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