Access to Exercise Opportunities Work Group

Co-Leaders and Members

Co-Leaders:

Name	Title	Organization	Role for 2024-2025
Alice S. Ammerman, DrPH	Director, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention	University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill	Co-Leader, Organization
Kristie Hicks, MPH, CHES, PMP	Health Educator	Poe Center for Health Education	Co-Leader, Community
Tish Singletary, MA	Branch Head	NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Community and Clinical Connections for Prevention and Health Branch	Co-Leader, NCDHHS

Work Group Members:

Name	Title	Organization
Amber Chapman	Clinical Partnership Advisor	North Carolina Center for Health Wellness at UNC Asheville, Healthy Aging NC initiative
Pam Cook	Transportation Engineer, Winston-Salem MPO & Burlington-Graham MPO Coordinator	North Carolina Department of Transportation, Transportation Planning Division
Mike Edwards, PhD	Associate Professor	NC State University
Katie Harmon	Research Associate	UNC Highway Safety Research Center
Kelly Kavanaugh, MPH, CHES	Built Environment and Early Care and Education Coordinator	NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Community & Clinical Connections for Prevention & Health Branch
Harrison Marshall	Community Studies Lead Planner	North Carolina Department of Transportation
Leah Mayo, MPH, MCHES	Interim Assistant Dean Community Engagement & Health Equity, College of Health & Human Services	University of North Carolina Wilmington
Sabrina Golling McGee, MSW	Partnership Manager	MDC Rural Prosperity and Investment
Michelle Nance	Senior Director	Centralina Regional Council
Rachel Pohlman, MPH, RD, LDN	Nutrition Director	Poe Center for Health Education
Alex Rotenberry, AICP	Planner II	North Carolina Department of Transportation
Laura Sandt	Interim Co-Director	UNC Highway Safety Research Center
Dianne Thomas	Built Environments for Active Living Supervisor, Office of Chronic Disease Policy & Prevention	Mecklenburg County Public Health
Jason Urroz	Director	Kids in Parks
Kenneth Withrow	Senior Transportation Planner	The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization

Revised: January 31, 2025

Priorities

Planning healthier communities with access to key destinations (e.g. schools, medical facilities, food sources, parks, retail, work).

Past Priorities

2022 NC SHIP Report

What Could Work to Turn the Curve*

2022-2023 Priorities

(Identified by Work Group)

2023-2024 Priorities

(Identified by Work Group)

Adopt “Complete Streets” policies based on NC Department of Transportation guidelines
Design “First and Last Mile Connections” and ADA-complaint shelters to support safe access to public transportation
Expand transit services to increase access to places for physical activity
Increase number of accessible community parks, particularly in rural areas
Increase number of biking trails and lanes, walking trails, and greenways
Increase the number of joint use/open use policy agreements for school playground facilities
Increase opportunity for exercise for school children including active recess, physically active classrooms, school-based physical education enhancements, Walking School Buses, Safe Routes to School
Maintain safe and well-lit sidewalks
Promote mixed use development
Provide public access to municipal recreation facilities
Rethink prioritization measures for improvements, such as crash data, identification of marginalized populations, and infrastructure needs for vulnerable communities

Increase the number of safe and well-lit sidewalks, bike trails and lanes, walking trails, and greenways to improve connectivity and accessibility
Promote, improve, and maintain the number of safe and well-lit sidewalks, bike trails and lanes, walking trails, and greenways to improve connectivity and accessibility
Promote, sustain, and expand multimodal transportation options to increase access to places for physical activity

Planning healthier communities with access to key destinations (e.g. schools, medical facilities, food sources, parks, retail, work).

*Many proposed policies were initially outlined in HNC 2030: A Path Toward Health and further suggested during the 2021 review of the North Carolina State Health Improvement Plan (NC SHIP) through Community Council Sessions and Stakeholder Symposiums (July-September 2021). Additional policies are featured in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s “What Works for Health” Evidence Library. Refer to the 2022 NC SHIP Report for more information.

Action Plan

Meeting Schedule

2024-2025 Access to Exercise Opportunities Work Group Meeting Schedule:

Friday, September 27, 2024, 1:00 to 2:00 pm, Microsoft Teams
Next meeting to be determined.

Meeting Notes

Work Group Meeting, Friday, September 27, 2024, 1:00 to 2:00 pm, Microsoft Teams

Attendees: Kristie Hicks, Kelly Kavanaugh, Harrison Marshall, Tish Singletary; Staff: Ashley Rink

Readings/Listenings

Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.