With funding support from the Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI), and in conjunction with the Illinois State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) program, NACDD added four new interdisciplinary teams to its National Walkability Action Institute (WAI) Alumni Network in 2024 with the implementation of the Active People, Healthy Illinois Walkability Virtual Academy (WVA) this summer. The WVA commenced on June 4 with a WVA Kick-Off meeting, followed by team completion of a hands-on photovoice homework assignment, implementation of a 10-session learning academy with the nation’s top cross-disciplinary and equity experts, and development of unified team action plans to improve activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations through policy, system, and environmental (PSE) change approaches.

NACDD welcomes the following Active People, Healthy Illinois WVA participant locations into its National WAI Alumni Network:  

• Brookport
• City of Mendota
• Village of Broadview
• Village of Maywood

Now in its 10th project year, the Walkability Action Institute (WAI) has become a marquee project of NACDD’s Center for Advancing Health Communities. Collectively, WAI has provided training and technical assistance to 99 interdisciplinary teams across 36 states. Teams have collectively leveraged nearly $540 million to achieve more than 1,400 outcomes, reaching more than 60 million people. Participating WAI teams learn about strategies to redesign places for people, active travel, and physical activity; upstream factors like housing and transportation access; and related aspects of equity and social justice such as racial/ethnic equity, disability inclusion, preventing gentrification, and how to invest in locations that are traditionally disinvested in. Participating teams also engage in experiential learning activities during the course. These occur through outdoor movability audits, scavenger hunts, and photovoice homework assignments, allowing participants to observe and “feel” the tenets being taught through course lecture in a real-life setting.

For more information on NACDD’s WAI efforts or for information on how to bring the WAI to your state, please visit NACDD’s WAI project page or contact NACDD’s Project Lead, Karma Edwards.