Blue Zones Project Kick-Off Event in Allentown

ALLENTOWN, Pa., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The highly anticipated Blue Zones Project Kickoff is coming up this Saturday, April 19th at the PPL Center from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. This free celebration marks the public launch of Blue Zones Project Allentown, the exciting initiative working to transform the Lehigh Valley into a place where healthy choices are easy.

Free fun for all ages:
LEARN about local resources, services, and programs available in your community
EXPLORE the Blue Zones Power 9 throughout the event
EAT wisely-enjoy free tasty and healthy bites throughout the event
MOVE naturally with free activities like yoga, hockey, Parkour, and dancing
CONNECT and create through art, music, and other free well-being activities
Have FUN with a traditional egg hunt, tons of free giveaways, and free prize raffles

RSVP and learn more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blue-zones-project-allentown-kick-off-tickets-1247319539319

Blue Zones Project is a community-led initiative designed to help people live better, longer lives with lower rates of chronic disease by implementing permanent and semi-permanent changes to policies, systems, streets, surroundings, and social networks so it's easier for residents to eat wisely, move naturally, and connect more with others as they move throughout their day. Blue Zones Project Lehigh Valley was brought to the region by the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and is supported by a partnership between Blue Zones, LVHN, City Center Group, the Leonard Parker Pool Institute for Health, and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Blue Zones Project Allentown is led by Executive Director Brooke Griffiths. In this role, Griffiths is leading the rollout and implementation of Blue Zones Project in the region.

Griffiths, an Allentown native, brings over 16 years of professional experience to the role. She previously worked at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), where she led high-performing teams, developed population health programs, and implemented system-wide initiatives addressing social determinants of health. Brooke holds a Master's in Social Work (MSW), an MBA in Community Service and Economic Leadership, and a B.A. in Criminology, Sociology, and Psychology. Her diverse expertise uniquely positions her to drive community-led transformation. Learn more about Griffiths and her full-time team: bluezonesprojectlehighvalley.com/meet-our-team.

About Blue Zones Project
Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to a city's environment, policy, and social networks. Blue Zones Project is based on research by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow and New York Times best-selling author who identified five cultures of the world—or blue zones —with the highest concentration of people living to 100 years or older. Blue Zones Project incorporates Buettner's findings and works with cities to implement policies and programs that will move a community toward optimal health and well-being. Blue Zones launched the first pilot community in 2009 in Albert Lea, MN with groundbreaking results. Directly and also in partnership with Sharecare, the model has since been applied to more than 75 communities in the United States. Participating communities have experienced double-digit drops in obesity and tobacco use and have saved millions of dollars in healthcare costs. For more information, visit bluezones.com.

CONTACTS:

Brooke Griffiths
[email protected]
610-248-7845

Naomi Imatome-Yun
[email protected]
917-952-8534

SOURCE Blue Zones