Live HealthSmart Alabama (LHSA) and the Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club are working together to make Birmingham a healthier and more sustainable city by promoting green spaces throughout the city.
The partnership between LHSA and the Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club arose from a shared goal of addressing green spaces in Birmingham. Green spaces directly impact the health and well-being of residents, leading to increased physical activity and a sense of hope in the community. The Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club aims to identify and address green spaces in the city, transforming them into valuable community assets.
Austin Creel, the Director of Community Service at the Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club, noted, "We believe that a healthy city is a green city. By promoting green spaces and reducing blight, we can improve the overall health and well-being of the community."
The partnership is important because it leverages the strengths of both organizations. LHSA focuses on creating sustainable communities and implements initiatives that encourages healthier behaviors and lifestyles. The Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club has a strong passion for addressing green spaces and have invested in related initiatives. Additionally, more than 130 dedicated volunteers have collectively contributed nearly 60 hours to assist in cleaning and planting trees in LHSA's demonstration neighborhoods of Kingston, Titusville, and East Lake.
Through collaborative efforts, the partnership has successfully created community gardens, green spaces, and other valuable community assets. Norman Jetmundsen, the President of the Birmingham Sunrise Rotary Club, emphasizes the impact of this joint endeavor, stating, “By working together, we can truly make a difference in the lives of the people in Birmingham. We have the opportunity to create a healthier, more sustainable, and vibrant city that we can all take pride in.”
By promoting green spaces, we are improving the health and well-being of the community while also making Birmingham a better place to live, work, and play.
