Website policy:
Background of Healthiest Ames Initiative
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has set a goal of making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation by the year 2016. Achieving this vision will require commitments by communities all over Iowa. Ames community health leaders have embraced this vision.
The City of Ames is committed to helping to promote healthy lifestyles in our community. Healthiest Ames is a grassroots effort by individuals and organizations all over Ames that are working together to help achieve this vision. Our group was fueled initially by the drive to become a designated "Blue Zone" community but the spark has led to follow a different and more independent path to help advance the broader state wide goal of becoming the Healthiest State. Visit the other links on the page for a background on the programming and our vision for the future.
Healthiest Ames was formally launched on October 3rd, 2011 to coincide with the statewide Healthiest State Walk.
Executive Committee
John Shierholz, Co-Chair
Cheryl Langston, Co-Chair
Andrea Cardenas, Treasurer
Susan Gwiasda, Secretary
Stephanie Downs
Advisory Board
Co-Chairs
Cheryl Langston
John Shierholz
City Representative
Andrea Cardenas
Susan Gwiasda
Faith Based Representative
Brent Thomas
Ames Schools Representatives
Gail Johnston
Ann D. Thompson
ISU Representatives
Stephanie Downs
Peter Martin
Brian Vanderheyden
Health Care Representative
Bonnie Beer
Neal Loes
Ex Officio
Mandy Ross
Steve Sullivan
Intern
Maureen Thomsen
Healthy Food Choices
Andrea Cardenas, chair
Nicole Arnold
Erica Beirman
Ruth Litchfield
Lynn Maves
Ash Bruxvoort
Lisa Nolting
Amy Clark
Health Condition Awareness
Bonnie Beer
Neal Loes
Physical Activity
Stephanie Downs
Brent Thomas
Community Connectedness
Peter Martin
Ann Thompson
Andrea Cardenas