The health and well-being of Cowlitz County residents comes from individuals, volunteers, and local organizations that are committed to making a difference in the lives of their neighbors. Pathways 2020 will honor six Community Champions for 2017, please help us recognize these champions.
 
What is community champion? A community champion is anyone – a public official, community leader, civic group, organization, concerned citizen, a health or human service worker, or a volunteer who works hard and well to start in or support an initiative or intervention to bring a program or idea to reality or to otherwise improve the quality of life of a particular group or the community as a whole. A community champion could be an inspired visionary or a volunteer who is always there and willing to do whatever has to be done to keep things going.
 
In 2016, we recognized and honored six individuals as champions
Ø  Economic Vitality – Mike Karnofski
Ø  Education –  Susan Barker
Ø  Health – Blaine Tolby
Ø  Access to Healthy Foods – Jon Griffin & Wendell Harper
Ø  Social Cohesion – Patrick Ryan & Michelle Ryan
Ø  Housing –  Diane Perron
 
For 2017 we are looking for six community champions, one for each of the following areas, with suggested examples:

• Economic Vitality
  • Creating jobs, employee wellness, training, employable skills, new or expanding business, transportation, financial security, reducing poverty, higher wages
• Education
  • Keeping kids in school, getting a college education, delinquency reduction, lifelong learning, school readiness, teen pregnancy reduction, (PE/recess) physical activity, nutrition, youth engagement, special needs, healthy living
• Health
  • Reducing chronic disease, food safety, access to health or dental care, mental health programs, tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse, mental health, suicide prevention, immunizations
• Access to healthy foods
  • Gardening, food preparation, affordable food, bartering, food banks, senior meals, school programs, farm to institutions, cost savings, access to healthy foods, farming
• Social cohesion
  • Neighborhood engagement, volunteerism, charities, faith-based, community events, crime reduction, drug and alcohol abuse, family violence, civic engagement
• Housing
  • Affordable housing, homeownership, home improvements, homelessness, special needs housing, new construction, access to services, healthy homes, neighborhood safety, aging in place

It’s time to honor those making a difference in our community, please nominate your champion today.