SALISBURY — The city of Salisbury has completed the 2024 Move with the Mayor (MWTM) Spring Mental Health and Physical Activity Challenge by reaching the silver level for its efforts to build active, connected communities.

Mayors from across the nation participate in MWTM annually, featuring healthy lifestyle challenges designed to unite American communities to boost movement, improve health outcomes and promote the joy of physical activity. The spring challenge included completing “Connect, Move, Thrive: A Roadmap to Active Connected Communities,” inspired by the U.S. Surgeon General’s call to action to tackle loneliness and isolation through social connection.

“I have proudly led Salisbury’s Move with the Mayor initiative for three years with Salisbury City Council’s support, and it has been instrumental in bringing our community together and promoting healthier, more mindful and connected lives,” said Mayor Karen Alexander. “From hosting a dance party with our Parks and Recreation and Dancing Kings and Queens, a chair exercise class, to engaging residents at Yoga in the Park, I am honored that Salisbury has reached the silver level and look forward to continuing our efforts to enhance the well-being of our residents.”

Salisbury’s accomplishment underscores its commitment to enhancing social connectivity, physical activity and mental well-being among its residents. The roadmap is an integral part of the challenge, developed by the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (National Forum), in partnership with the American Public Health Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Stroke Prevention.

Participating mayors submitted self-assessments of their city’s healthy lifestyle programs and policies to the National Forum. The roadmap is a strategic guide for cities, helping them identify and enhance programs, policies or activities that encourage social connectivity through physical activity.

Cities earned points based on their achievements in four main areas:

• Building a culture of connection
• Strengthening social infrastructure in local communities
• Enacting pro-connection public policies
• Partnerships

The National Forum uses the roadmap to celebrate successes and refine future programming for participating cities. In the recent Spring Challenge, 47 cities took part and organized more than 100 healthy lifestyle events nationwide.

John M. Clymer, executive director of the National Forum, said the nonprofit is proud to see so many mayors actively engaging in MWTM and looks forward to improving future programming based on the cities’ successes.

“The success of the Move with the Mayor Spring Challenge in the city of Salisbury exemplifies the positive impact that coordinated community efforts can have on public health,” Clymer said. “By bringing attention to the importance of social connection and physical activity on mental health, cities like Salisbury are leading the way in creating healthier, happier communities.”

The MWTM Spring Challenge is just one of many efforts by Alexander, Salisbury City Council and the city to prioritize health and wellness. The city has also implemented initiatives such as yoga class at Bell Tower Green led by instructor Bev Maley from Soful Yoga & Wellness Railwalk in May.