Mahatma Gandhi is famously quoted as saying, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” At age 11, Baker Harrell decided to begin instilling a change in himself and others around him and to make the movement toward a healthier lifestyle.
He decided to first make the change within his own lifestyle. The changes he made led to changes in his family. He began to realize how all of the encompassing elements of his family’s culture, his community’s culture and the American culture had highly influenced his poor health.
He, like many of us, was a member of the generation that ushered in America’s obesity epidemic – the generation that made fast food, processed food, sugar-sweetened beverages and sedentary living the norm.
At a young age, Harrell realized two truths: (1) A person’s health is the single, most critical aspe of a successful, full and content life, and (2) if we want to transform the health of our nation and ensure our continued viability as a world leader, we have to be committed to transforming our unhealthy society and culture.
These two truths still ring true today.
Fast-forward 20 years, and Harrell is continuing to encourage this change, with his current efforts headquartered in Austin. Harrell is the founder and CEO of ACTIVE Life Movement. The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is focused on leading a first-of-its kind, national health movement. The goal of the ACTIVE Life team is to establish an ACTIVE American culture – a culture where healthy lifestyles are supported, embraced and easily accessible to all.
“We are fortunate to call Austin our home because of its diverse community and its entrepreneurial and philanthropic nature,” Harrell said. “We pilot and test many of our efforts in Central Texas before scaling them across Texas and ultimately, the nation.”
Here are some statistics to consider: S.J Ohlansky reports that today’s youth represent the first generation in 100 years to have a lower life expectancy than their parents. Data from “Journal of Food Composition and Analysis” says if current trends continue, nearly 90 percent of the adult population in the United States will be overweight or obese by 2030, with associated health care costs skyrocketing to almost $960 billion each year.
With this in mind, Harrell and his team have the vision to create a network of a million places (childcare centers, schools, faith-based organizations, employers, grocers, homes, etc.) and 20 million health activists and advocates committed to creating healthy communities and a healthy America. ACTIVE Life is working to spark and organize a national social movement for healthy living. The organization’s model enlists, equips and unites people and places to demand and create a healthier future for their friends, families, community and country.
His team is encouraging others to be the change.
“Ultimately we want people and places to understand that they have great power to influence and control their health and the health of their communities,” Harrell said. “And because they have this power, they have a great responsibility to access and use it to create change.”
Specifically, ACTIVE Life Movement and its team members are making the movement happen through a variety of events and initiatives, including ACTIVE Life Movement Festival, ACTIVE Life Movement Camp and Make the Movement Day.
On Make the Movement Day (May 5), ACTIVE Life is asking people and places across the country to create and share “moments” of health, including physical activity, healthy eating and personal and communal health. The goal for this special day is to record a minimum of 30,000 moments across the country. The splash is being made both in the Austin community and nationwide, as Austinites and online users from across the country will have the opportunity to log their “moments” of health on the Web site at www.makethemovementday.org. This is the most recent initiative being steered by ACTIVE Life, with many more to come. Make the Movement Day is planned as an annual event.
ACTIVE Life and its staff are also spearheading the ACTIVE movement in after-school programs and community organizations, which is a great place to start considering the alarming statistics of the increasing obesity in today’s youth. The Partner School System consists of four primary components that help enhance, organize and showcase the great health-related efforts at each school.
The ACTIVE Life team is committed to influencing the local community to engage in the movement. The organization’s Web site includes news and information, in addition to an interactive community of partners and “ACTIVEists on the Move.” With the popularity of online interface and social networks in this age of technology, the Web site interaction provides an ideal way to display the change that is being made and encourages the community to engage with each other to make the change happen.
With the prevalent issue of obesity and indolent living, it is clear that a change needs to be made. An ACTIVE movement is taking place right before our eyes in the great city of Austin to make a positive progression in a culture that has seemingly lost its active zeal. Harrell and his team have found the perfect place to ride the ACTIVE lifestyle wave, and you can be a part of it. Experience the movement. Be the change you wish to see in the world.
