Celebrate Healthy North Georgia event set for this week

GAINESVILLE - A meeting in Cumming Thursday will celebrate the efforts of organizations that have helped people in northeast Georgia achieve a more healthy lifestyle.

Celebrate Healthy North Georgia, an initiative of Gainesville-based District 2 Public Health and partners from its 13-county area, will host the event from 8:30-12:00 on the Lanier Tech campus in Cumming. Twenty-one organizations that have implemented programs to improve the health of of people in northeast Georgia will be recognized.

Keynote speakers will be from the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Public Health. Afterward, workshops will be conducted on topics that outline tangible plans to improve health efforts for organizations and communities.

Workshop topics include: 1) Grant and funding sources for healthier communities, 2) Making policy decisions with health and wellness in mind, 3) Environmental planning decisions that improve the bottom line, 4) Creating healthier business assets for the short-and-long term, 5) Exploring healthy community policy tools, and 6) Building resilient communities to lessen the impact of disasters.

Representatives of business, government, nonprofit, academic, healthcare, faith-based and others are expected to attend. Registration for the event is $20 which includes breakfast. To register or to get more information, go to www.celebratehealthynorthgeorgia.org or call 770-535-5743.