2009 Champions

We are all aware of the many barriers getting in the way of healthy change in our communities and neighborhoods. Many excellent plans with the best of intentions have been derailed by politics, shortage of resources, turf battles, apathy or misunderstanding. What makes these Community Wellness Champions special is they have overcome these barriers and succeeded where many others have failed. Their knowledge, skills, experience and dedication are valuable tools to helping our communities move toward a healthier future.

These Champions really get things done, they are making a difference for healthier families in the communities where they live, and work. They are educators, community leaders, youth mentors and health workers to name a few. What they share is a commitment to improve the health of their communities and the ability to make things happen.

We brought these locally identified "Community Wellness Champions" together as a group, in order to share what has been working, learn from their experiences, draw lessons for other tribal communities, and develop regional support networks. Now we are privileged to share their stories with you.