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The small city of Coppell, Texas has been in the lead in their Community Challenge bracket since day one. They have everyone in their city involved in the Challenge from local businesses, to local schools, to their incredibly fit (and wonderfully photogenic) group at the local Senior Center! The key to their success: Coppell’s mayor created the Living Well in Coppell initiative last year, which brings the community together to focus on health all year long, not just during the Community Challenge. Living Well in Coppell Co-Chair Sally McCurdy talked with us about the group’s commitment to the Challenge and their strategies for year-round success!

The Living Well in Coppell Crew! 

“Our Living Well in Coppell leaders are dedicated to encouraging and enabling health and wellness in our community. The Challenge provides us with the next major opportunity to engage our constituents in achieving our vision of making healthy living integral to daily life for all who live, work, learn, or play in Coppell,” Sally explained. “We conducted a survey in the summer of 2014 asking our citizens which areas of focus are most important to them in enabling the health and wellness of our community. We received over 2400 responses! We are using these insights to prioritize our focus for infrastructure, education and advocacy plans/actions.” This is music to IT’S TIME TEXAS’ ears. She added, “We also plan to leverage already scheduled/planned events through the Parks & Recreation Department, Coppell Senior Center, Farmer’s Market, BioDiversity Center, Community Gardens, and Clean Coppell to drive participation in the Challenge.”

Friends Working Out at the Coppell Senior Center!

Class at the Coppell YMCA!

Coppell in truly uniting all of the sectors to create a healthier culture. “Our Steering Committee is comprised of leaders/representatives from many sectors across our community including a school board member, PE Coordinator for all CISD elementary schools, Parks & Recreation board members, a Senior Center board member, YMCA Executive Director, Health and Wellness business leaders, Sports focused business leader and Chamber of Commerce representative, Planning and Zoning board member, City Administrative liaison and a Consultant who specializes in helping facilitate city focused initiatives. The Living Well in Coppell Steering Committee has developed a vision, strategy and goals for 2015, one of which is participating in the H-E-B Community Challenge.”

This is what the Community Challenge is all about: Texas communities of all sizes coming together around health in a way that sticks far beyond the duration of the Challenge.

Principal Hilton Signed His Pledge While Getting a Jump Rope Session In!

The Living Well in Coppell group hosted a pledge-signing event yesterday where Mayor Hunt, the Coppell City Council members, School Board President, City Manager, Chamber President and many more notable community members pledged their commitment! The Living Well committee is also planning a huge citywide celebration during Healthy Texas Week (April 6th-12th)!