This is Alisha again - I wrote a previous blog called "Making Changes."  I was able to attend this workshop called "Creating and Using Active Public Spaces," which was about using outdoor public spaces to make your community healthier.  The keynote speaker, Gil (Guillermo) Penalosa, is originally from Bogota, Colombia. He is passionate about improving quality of life through the promotion of walking and bicycling in parks, trails, and other public spaces to have a healthier, happier community.  Gil led his team to design and build over 200 parks in Bogota, of which the best known is Simon Bolivar Park (360 hectares).  He says 1.5 million people come out to walk, run, skate, and bike in that park. Click here to see some pictures and information about Simon Bolivar Park. 

Gil Penalosa is now executive director of the Canadian non-profit Walk & Bike for Life and a successful worldwide speaker.  From the presentation and workshops, I got ideas on on how to create a better community, improve my personal and the public's health, and help enhance our transportation systems to provide a clean environment.

I also attended a workshop called "Thriving in Motion" by Dr. Betty Kung, a physician from Redwood City Kaiser Permanente.  In the workshop, Dr. Kung discussed what you can do to be healthy through normal, everyday physical activity and the importance of environments that support these activities.  Exercising helps with prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, obesity, and premature death.  The part I liked most is that Dr. Kung believes strongly in preventive care and in the health basics - proper nutrition, exercise, rest, and striving for balance between mind and body. 

Please tune back next time, as I will be talking more about Gil Penalosa and a video about World Health Day in 2010.  See you then!