As a member of the National League of Cities (NLC), Gist took up the 2008 Mayors’ Action Challenge to create a community wellness policy. To improve the overall health of the city and the region, Gist is working with NLC and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). NLC and AASA are grantees of the Leadership for Healthy Communities program.

Starting locally, he worked with Jackson-Madison County School Superintendent Nancy Zambito and received support from NLC and AASA to develop “Jumpstart Jackson,” a community-wide wellness initiative. The program works with local businesses to develop community gardens, promote healthy options at local restaurants and create additional recreational opportunities for children and families.

Getting up at 5 a.m. isn’t always easy. Wes Hare, city manager of Albany, Oregon,  acknowledges as much. Yet that is how he has begun his day for almost 15 years, with an early morning jog. Although he had fallen out of the habit for a time during his previous stint as city manager of La Grande, Oregon, Hare’s passion for running was reignited when a good friend who was into mountain climbing encouraged him to get back in shape so that they could do some climbing together.

Hare’s enthusiasm for exercise has heavily influenced his approach to local government management. For him, one of the city’s key functions is to create a safe environment for physical activity, and in Albany he has been instrumental in shaping initiatives to create a healthier community, especially for youth.

Mayor Darwin Hindman has transformed Columbia, Mo., from a town dependant on automobiles to a model for active living.

A well-known fitness enthusiast and long-time champion of healthy lifestyles, Hindman has adopted a number of land-use and transportation policies that encourage walking and bicycling. Under his leadership, Columbia was awarded a $25 million federal grant to develop nonmotorized transportation systems, which the city used to develop a comprehensive system of walkways and bikeways that connect businesses, shopping centers, schools, parks and other recreation facilities.