NEW ORLEANS – Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the New Orleans Health Department’s Fit NOLA initiative recognized eight local organizations for their achievements in workplace wellness through the Fit NOLA Business Tool Kit Certification Program.
Humana Inc., Healthy Community Services, and higherpower Cycle|Yoga|TRX achieved Gold designations; Geaux Cycle achieved a Silver designation; and Café Reconcile, Top Box Foods-New Orleans, Jean Laffite and Jazz National Parks, and Footprints to Fitness received Bronze designations.
“Fit NOLA encourages New Orleans residents to make better choices that will help us build a healthier community,” Mayor Landrieu said. “From businesses and schools, to our recreation department and corporate sponsors, we have engaged our entire community to encourage healthier lifestyles.”
The Fit NOLA Business Tool Kit Certification Program is based on national worksite wellness models that help businesses move toward physical and nutritional fitness. This program recognizes businesses in the Greater New Orleans region that meet certain standards for worksite wellness such as: being physically active, eating fresh fruit and vegetables, providing lactation rooms in the office and having a tobacco-free workplace. Businesses that meet or surpass these standards receive a Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze award and public recognition from Mayor Landrieu.
In 2013, the Fit NOLA team developed the Fit NOLA Business Toolkit to help companies assess their current state of workplace wellness, and to identify opportunities to improve employee health and lower health expenses. The Fit NOLA business team is comprised of leaders from Fortune 500 companies and local non-profits and universities who champion employee health.
“Mayor Landrieu, the City Health Department and Fit NOLA recognize the important role employers are playing in sustaining a healthy workforce,” Marsha Broussard, Director of the New Orleans Health Department, said. “We created the Fit NOLA Business Toolkit to award the businesses who give their employees the tools they need to lead a healthy life and make a positive health impact on our city.”
Fit NOLA programming is recognized nationally for its steps toward advancing health and wellness; increasing awareness by providing resources for families and the community to be fit; empowering youth to be advocates for healthy policies; building capacity by improving access to affordable, nutritious food as well as safe environments for physical activity and opportunities to exercise; and setting standards by highlighting successful programs and supporting policies that encourage healthy lifestyles.
With the support of over 200 community organizations and corporate partners, Fit NOLA reps said they are committed to improving physical and nutritional fitness across the metro area by helping New Orleans become one of the top ten fittest cities in the nation by its 300th anniversary in 2018.
Fit NOLA’s recognized organizations include:
• Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, KY, is a corporate leader of health and well-being, focused on making it easier for individuals to achieve their best health through promoting clinical excellence and care coordination. The company’s strategy integrates care delivery, the member experience, and clinical and consumer insights to encourage engagement, behavior change, proactive clinical outreach and wellness for the millions of people we serve across the country.
• higherpower Cycle|Yoga|TRX is a cycle, yoga, TRX, and fitness studio founded on a vision for a healthier lifestyle. It’s mission reads, “We stress the importance of not only physical health, but mental and spiritual well-being and philanthropy. Our philosophy implements an east-meets-west approach that combines cardio & strength training with yoga & meditation. We strive to create a welcoming atmosphere that brings balance to people of all ages & skill levels.”
• Footprints To Fitness, founded in 2014, is a local on-site health and wellness company. After creating a goal to change the perception of what it means to be healthy and happy, Footprints created fun health and wellness experiences for both visitors and locals while embracing the city's love to EAT, DRINK, and DANCE to the beat of our own brass band. The Footprints mission is to help others live a fun and balanced life, while staying true to our New Orleans culture.
The goal of Footprints is to “Join the Journey” with participants living a healthier lifestyle while having a great time experiencing weekly Group Training Classes, signature Healthy Happy Hours, Corporate Wellness, and/ or Custom Wellness Events.
• The New Orleans Area National Parks: Jean Lafitte and Jazz – New Orleans residents have the good fortune to have four National Park Service sites in the metropolitan area and all of them hosts "Healthy Parks Healthy People" activities. The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park in the French Quarter celebrates New Orleans’ unique music. There is music from brass bands to modern jazz and weekly jazz yoga and Pilates classes. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve shares the "gumbo" of the nature, history, and culture of Louisiana's Mississippi River delta with three sites in the New Orleans area: the Chalmette Battlefield, site of 1815's Battle of New Orleans, has wide-open spaces and room to walk or jog in Chalmette; the French Quarter Visitor Center in New Orleans offers cooking demonstrations and walking tours; and the Barataria Preserve in Marrero provides over 10 miles of trails and boardwalks through spectacular wetlands scenery. Admission to all park sites is free and they all provide a great way to #FindYourPark, have some fun, and enjoy a healthy activity within easy reach. Details about days and times of operation, regularly scheduled programs, special events, and more can be found here.
•Top Box Foods-New Orleans is a not-for profit social business with a simple mission: to empower communities in the fight against food inequality by providing access to healthy foods at an affordable price. In 2013 the organization planted its roots in New Orleans community by partnering with houses of worship and community centers to offer their members healthier grocery options. Once per month, the organization delivers boxes of fresh produce, priced at almost half the cost of the grocery store, as well as frozen lean meats and veggies to 16 different drop off locations in and around New Orleans.
