Community Connections

Photo: Steps to a Healthier Austin

Steps to a Healthier Austin – "I Thrive"

Austin is one of only a handful of communities around the country selected to participate in Steps to a HealthierUS, an initiative that advances President George W. Bush’s goal of reducing the burden of chronic diseases.

The local initiative – Steps to a Healthier Austin – is coordinated by the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department. KLRU is one of 23 local partners, including Austin and Pflugerville ISDs, Seton Hospital, local non-profit agencies, the City of Austin, and Capital Metro.

The groups coordinate and conduct local interventions, activities and events to address chronic diseases – diabetes, asthma and obesity – in specific low-income neighborhoods. The local partners’ individual and collectives voices reach people where they live, work, and go to school and deliver a clear message: a healthy lifestyle is achievable. See more [link to www.ithriveaustin.org]

KLRU’s efforts have focused on raising awareness of the impact of obesity on individuals, families and the community.

Events in 2004-05 included:

  • KLRU and Steps to a Healthier Austin co-hosted an innovative media and dialogue initiative that brought together print and broadcast journalists and the community to talk about the impact of obesity on all of us. The discussion was designed to open new lines of communication between local news organizations and their diverse communities.
  • A second forum was convened with additional journalists and community members to focus specifically on childhood obesity and the impact families, schools, and the media can have in delivering messages about good health habits.
  • KLRU hosted a family event at Highland Mall that celebrated the Good Health of children and their families. Community partners created booths that promoted physical activity and healthy food choices.
  • KLRU’s award-winning series Austin Now introduced the Steps initiative to Central Texas in a Special that included local experts discussing how we can help create supportive environments to sustain individual efforts for change.

    KLRU’s participation in Steps to A Healthier Austin will continue over the next several years.

    Interested in Knowing More?

     Contact outreach@klru.org.