NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Health Department’s Fit NOLA initiative, Whole Foods Market New Orleans and Rock and Roll NOLA announced Alexandra Marie Jones as the recipient of the September 2016 Healthy Hero award. A “Healthy Hero” is a New Orleanian dedicated to improving the physical and nutritional wellness of their community.
“Congratulations to our September winner who is joining us in taking action to reach our goal of creating a culture of health in New Orleans,” said Dr. Jeffrey Elder, interim director of the New Orleans Health Department. “Fit NOLA will continue to build cross-sector partnerships that identify and assist residents with connections to healthy options.”
Because Jones has a passion for photography and community wellness, she combined the two and created the Yoga4unity Instagram page and yoga challenge with a group of other black women in New Orleans to promote unity in the city. With Jones’s leadership, this group of women created and inspired a culture of fitness that is unique to New Orleans. As a photographer, a swimming instructor and an aspiring yoga teacher Jones brought specific strengths to this collective group. Jones plans to become a certified yoga instructor and teach in communities that are not exposed to all of the wellness opportunities this city has to offer. Yoga4unity is open to everyone, and Jones will continue to grow the organization and host yoga challenges and yogi meet ups (#popupandpose) in New Orleans throughout the year.
As the September Healthy Hero, Jones will receive recognition from the Fit NOLA partnership, a Whole Foods Market gift card paired with a healthy-eating tour of Whole Foods Market’s Broad Street location, and a complimentary entry into the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans marathon, Half marathon or 10K races.
Fit NOLA has relaunched the Healthy Hero initiative and the new deadline for entries is Monday, October 3, 2016.
