Achieving long-term behavior change is a tough nut to crack. Anybody who has struggled to keep their weight in check, to exercise regularly or quit a bad habit can attest that it’s not easy. In Crow Wing county, community leaders recently gathered at the annual Health and Wellness Summit hosted by Crow Wing Energized to redouble their efforts to fuel positive behavior change.

Celebrating successes

Crow Wing Energized has made significant contributions to the health of the community in recent years.

At the summit, the organization was presented with a Trailblazer award from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota for its collaborative grass roots efforts, including its success with the Lifestyle Change Program designed for people at risk for diabetes.  Read the Crow Wing Energized Trailblazer award story here.

Tackling persistent challenges 

Keynote speaker, cultural anthropologist Christine Chastain, spoke about creating change by responding to human-centered insights.

“Understanding the problem with an emphasis on empathy is vital to creating solutions that actually move the needle,” guided Chastain.

The remainder of the day was dedicated to facilitated brainstorm sessions to identify opportunity spaces within each of the goal groups identified by Crow Wing Energized.

Read the Lakeland PBS coverage of the event here.

Stay informed and get involved 

Crow Wing Energized offers regular opportunities to get involved, including resiliency seminars, film screenings, balance classes and local coalitions. Sign up for the Crow Wing Energized newsletter to learn more about future events.