Mower Refreshed looking ahead to Wellness Summit

Mower Refreshed is fueled by you, your ideas and your skills. This fall we’ll celebrate at our fourth Wellness Summit, a gathering where people not only learn what has happened in the past 12 months but influence the coming 12 months for Mower County and the focus of this unique Refreshed movement’s efforts.

Historically the summits provide specific updates on the goal group efforts and overall movement growth. Transparency is key to authentic engagement, celebrating the successes and also taking time to reflect on new discoveries we’ve made in growing this citizen-driven wellness movement that has no template to compare with.

Those attending this year will see a significant growth spurt in what citizens across the county are accomplishing as they collaborate. New efforts that focus on making healthy living easier and inspire others to engage: LatinoSaludables: the newly forming Latino outreach. Dodge Refreshed: our first refreshed movement to grow out of the template we are creating in Mower County; and collaborations at the state level that are bring attention to the good that is happening here in Mower County.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin’s made the commitment in 2010 to provide Mower Refreshed with a coordinator position to assure the research done in Mower County had action steps to improve health in our area. Schools, businesses, faith communities and community organizations have fueled Mower Refresehd by sharing resources of time, energy, money and creative talent. This unique collaborating is committed to improving the health of Mower County communities through practical efforts that are sensible and sustainable, making healthy living and choices easier.

Community members from every corner of Mower County are needed to truly make this a county-wide effort. Greater county school districts are engaging and creating opportunities to share resources and ideas.

Mower Refreshed Wellness Summit

This year there, will be two summit formats to increase citizen input:

When: 6-8:30 p.m. Oct. 10 (mini summit with light refreshments) and 7:30 a.m. noon Oct. 11 (full summit with light breakfast and keynote)

Keynote speaker: Nancy Riestenberg, Minnesota Department of Education: Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Reality & Resilient Responses

Agendas:  To see the agendas for summits visit:  http://mowerrefreshed.org/blog/

Where:  Our Saviors Lutheran Church | 1600 West Oakland Avenue | Austin, MN

To Register:  hagan.elizabeth@mayo.edu or call 507-434-1664 by Monday, Sept. 30. Please state which summit you will attend: Thursday or Friday.

There is no cost but donations will be accepted at both summits to further efforts of Mower Refreshed and its partners.

Break away Thursday evening or Friday morning and be inspired by the work to increase healthy options for citizens in our county. The success of Mower Refreshed efforts and the health of this generation and generations to come is in our capable hands as we collaborate to create solutions.