Our staff works with advocates and policymakers on the ground to help cities and towns across the country make policy visions a reality. Read on for stories about some of the ways our tools and services have helped advance public health initiatives nationwide.
(Photo: Lydia Daniller)
Chicago park officials tried putting stickers on park vending machines encouraging people to choose the healthiest options. But when that effort failed, the park district decided to change its policy to require 100% healthy snacks at park and community center vending machines. Read more....
(Photo: Lydia Daniller)
Residents of a senior housing complex in California were growing frustrated by the secondhand smoke drifting into their apartments from their smoking neighbors. When they complained to the city council, the city attorney turned to ChangeLab Solutions -- and together we developed what the San Francisco Chronicle called "the most sweeping anti-smoking law in the world." Read more....
(Photo: kqedquest/Flickr)
When the president of the board of supervisors in California’s Santa Clara County called for bold ideas to address the obesity crisis, his staff proposed an idea they’d gotten from ChangeLab Solutions: a local law setting nutritional standards for fast food meals that include toy giveaways. Read more....
(Photo: Lydia Daniller)
To get support for a new policy setting healthier standards for city purchasing in Long Beach, health department officials first needed to clear up some misconceptions. We worked with them on strategies and skill-building so they could get the buy-in they needed — and even a city councilmember who'd initially thought the policy was "too Big Brother" changed her mind and gave it her vote. Read more....
(Photo: bending light / Flickr)
School administrators in Billings, Montana, were feeling pressure to consolidate schools — a major step for any district that can make it harder for many students to walk or bike to school. We worked with them to draft a policy that would help districts balance an array of concerns for smart school siting, including walkability and building a more diverse student population. Read more....
(Photo: Lydia Daniller)
Advocates in Lexington, Kentucky, wanted to bring fresh produce and other healthy foods into local convenience stores but didn’t know where to start. We walked them through the advantages and drawbacks of various strategies to help identify the ones best suited to their needs, including financial incentives, streamlined licensing and permitting, and local certification programs. Read more....
(Photo: Jordan C. Keller)
In this Kansas City neighborhood, it’s nearly impossible to get to a grocery store without a car. New community gardens and a weekly farmers’ market help get fresh produce directly into residents’ hands — but advocates were beginning to wonder if they should be concerned about liability. Read more...
A smart growth advocate in Seattle called us while he was working on a campaign to pass a "complete streets" ordinance, which would require accommodating all users — cars, bicyclists, pedestrians, and public transit — when designing city streets. There was plenty of support for the idea of complete streets, but there were also plenty of questions. That’s where we came in. Read more....
When the owner of a convenience store in San Francisco's low-income Tenderloin neighborhood applied for a liquor license, local residents were concerned: the neighborhood was already saturated with liquor stores, and they wanted healthier choices. ChangeLab Solutions worked with the mayor's office to make a case for a new business model that would support the community's needs. Read more....
(Photo: lornagirl/Flickr)
In the small town of Earlimart, California, there are no parks where children can play — just a dry, dusty lot in the middle of town. But a new agreement between the county and the local school district is turning that lot into a park filled with walking paths and space to play. Read more....
Seattle is home to a sizable number of immigrant and refugee women who want to take advantage of the city’s public pools, but many of these women can’t swim in a co-ed environment. Could the city host special swim hours to serve these residents? That was the question one advocate posed when she contacted us for help. Read more....
(Photo courtesy of Neighborhood House)