The Blue Zones Project
Creating the Conditions for Health and Vitality
by Holly Madrigal
What are the ingredients for a well-rounded life, for a life of fulfillment, health, energy, and meaning? Dan Buettner, a National Geographic photographer and traveler of the world, wondered what aspects made the people of Okinawa, Japan regularly stay active well into their 90s, and why the people of Sardinia, Italy had so many elders living vivaciously into their twilight years. Buettner spent many years studying and researching, eventually collating the data and mapping a number of areas across the globe that possessed these traits. He was able to identify nine shared conditions— natural movement, life purpose, stress reduction, moderate calorie intake, plant-based diet, limited alcohol intake, engagement in spirituality or religion, connection in family life, and strong friendships—and coined the phrase “Power 9 Principles” to describe them.
Of course, knowing the ingredients of any recipe is only part of the picture. How do we take those items and combine them to best effect? The Blue Zones Project of Mendocino County, generously sponsored by Adventist Health, works to improve the health and wellbeing of all the residents of our county. This group, led by longtime community health worker, Tina Tyler O’Shea, is gearing up to walk the walk here at home. “We are seeking to make the healthy choice the easy choice,” said Tina. “We are taking the blueprint of Blue Zones and making it work here for us, utilizing the resources and research of this huge effort and sharing it within Mendocino County to make a difference.”
The work has already been underway here for years. In Tina’s previous role with the county’s Department of Public Health, she worked regularly with students on learning to make healthy choices and exercise more, engaging the youth to empower themselves and become their own advocates. “Many leaders in the community, like North Coast Opportunities, have pioneered the growth of healthy food systems in Mendocino County with the Food Hub, Gardens Project, and the Caring Kitchen, just to name a few. What we’re doing at Blue Zones is supporting these efforts and helping move the needle towards community health in these key ways,” she explained.
A five-member local team is in the foundational discovery phase. Beginning last spring, they facilitated multiple listening sessions and focus groups to develop a clear understanding of the work already underway in Mendocino County. Tina elaborated, “All the information has been distilled into reports that will guide the work and priorities of the team. Beyond personal health changes, there are real improvements that can be achieved in our community. We are not coming in with a prescriptive plan, but are learning how we can be a resource. We have determined a level of community readiness in Mendocino County with the incredible work that has already happened. We are one of seventy communities in the United States that is undertaking this health initiative. Our focus is on People, Place, and Policy changes that can have real positive impacts.”
The focus on People will take the form of partnering with existing nonprofit and faith groups to encourage volunteerism. Studies show that the bond formed when giving generously of one’s time benefits the volunteer as much as the recipient. The project will also be hosting workshops to help people explore their purpose in life, encouraging folks to think about why they get up in the morning, what brings them joy. Physical health also falls under this category. “I’m excited about starting Moai groups. This is an Okinawan term which means to gather with a common purpose,” added Tina, “so we can have walking meetings instead of all sitting around a conference table. It both gets you outside into the fresh air and gets creative thoughts flowing.”
The focus on Place refers to the physical conditions in our community. Do neighborhoods have access to fresh food? Are there safe trails and spaces to be outside together? Calling back to those key ingredients for a long healthy life, socializing and natural movement were key factors. If we highlight Place-making in our towns, if parks and community spaces are encouraged, then socializing becomes much easier. The Blue Zones team is partnering with the staff of Caltrans District 1, which encompasses Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte Counties, to discuss how transportation projects can support community health needs. “We’re also recognizing the truly excellent grocery stores in our county and celebrating the work that they have been doing to support local food providers, as well as the community support they give. This work will be ongoing, but so many of the relationships are already connected here,” Tina explained.
The focus on Policy can be both challenging and extremely rewarding. It is an area that Tina knows well from her time on the Anti-Tobacco Task Force with the county. “There has been a real cultural shift over the past thirty years when it comes to smoking. We’ve had significant declines over the years, but unfortunately what we are now seeing is an epidemic increase in vaping, especially in our young people,” Tina noted. “We are committed to education and policy initiatives that will move the needle on this,” she added. The Blue Zones project plans to work with the Food Policy Council to engage with local employers and schools to incorporate wellness, increase access to fresh food, and foster connection. “So much work in this area has already been done,” commented Tina, “but we plan to work with Adventist Health to pull down resources from the national Blue Zones Program to benefit our community. We are hosting a kick off March 19th in Ukiah at our offices in the Alex Rohrbach Center to celebrate and share our plans for the future.”
The recipe for a long-lasting and fulfilling life can seem simple at first: make friends, eat plants, move your body. But we all know that new habits can be difficult to sustain. Thankfully, there are a wealth of projects and initiatives that can support these individual acts. The Mendocino Blue Zones Project is engaging the grassroots organizers of this county to make these steps available and accessible for all. Now is the time to start our own Moai group to map out our healthy, long-lived future.
Find out more at MEC.BlueZonesProject.com.
Holly Madrigal is a Mendocino County maven who loves to share the delights of our region. She’s fortunate to enjoy her meaningful work as the director of the Leadership Mendocino program and takes great joy in publishing this magazine.