Will Hopewell or Petersburg become first Blue Zone in Virginia? Learn more at health fair

AI-assisted summary
• Hopewell and Petersburg are candidates to become the first certified Blue Zones in Virginia.
• Blue Zones are areas around the world where people live longer, healthier lives.
• A community health fair will be held on March 29 at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Petersburg to discuss Blue Zones and other health topics.

What is a Blue Zone? Can food be used as medicine to treat, and in some cases, reverse chronic disease? These topics will be discussed at the free Community Health Fair in Petersburg on March 29 at Tabernacle Baptist Church Community Life Center.

At noon, Dr. Cliff V. Morris, owner of Morris Cardiovascular and Risk Reduction Center in Chester, will present "The Divine Heart of Petersburg: A Potential Path to Longevity & Transformation."

"Attendees will learn how simple, time-tested habits derived from the places with the greatest longevity, known as Blue Zones, can reverse chronic disease and add years to their lives," Morris said. "The actual concept of MD-prescribed food will be discussed as a game-changing concept, merging 'food as medicine' with local farmers' produce to make health more accessible than ever. The presentation will end with an interactive Tai Chi Session showing how movement can unlock resilience, healing and a deeper community connection."

According to Morris, Hopewell and Petersburg are being strongly considered to become the first Blue Zone in the state of Virginia. 

Hopewell: Healthy Hopewell Coalition

"Dr. Cliff Morris has successfully brought this impactful Healthy Hopewell Coalition project to life. His vision for improving community health began many years ago which let to the creation of the nonprofit organization designed to spearhead the important Blue Zone initiative," Aaryn Couch, marketing manager for Bon Secours Health Systems, said.

Couch joined Morris last year as a board member to help bring the Healthy Hopewell Coalition project to fruition. "The project's mission is to create a Blue Zone in Hopewell," Couch said. "Blue Zone is a study of human longevity. Blue Zones are communities where people not only lived longer but also enjoyed a high quality of life in their old age."

In addition to Morris and Couch, Sharon O'Neal of Randolph Market, Dr. David Miller of Ellis Dentistry, Joe Mazzo of HCA TriCities Hospital and Marquis Brusaferro are also Healthy Hopewell Coalition board members.

Blue Zone dinner raises awareness, inspires healthier future

The Hopewell Health Coalition hosted a groundbreaking Blue Zone Hopewell Dinner Party in February at the Beacon Theater. The event brought together community leaders, visionaries and Lamb Arts Creative Change Makers to ignite the final push toward transforming Hopewell into a certified Blue Zone.

The evening featured a whole-food, plant-based dinner inspired by the Blue Zones Power 9, the longevity principles found in the world’s healthiest communities: Move Naturally, Belong, Purpose, Down Shift, Loved Ones First, Right Tribe, 80% Rule, Plant Slant and Wine at 5.

Guests experienced a powerful and meaningful presentation by the Creative Change Makers, a group of young leaders whose artwork reflects their vision of a revitalized, thriving Hopewell, one where health, longevity and community well-being take center stage. Lamb Center for Arts and Healing's Creative Change Makers leadership program spurs community change through creative action. 

"We served food from the catering company, I Kale Life. The healthy, plant-based meal included kale and chickpea salad, roasted sweet potatoes, tofu bites and desserts made from pumpkin and avocados," Couch shared.

"This event was more than a dinner; it was a call to action. Hopewell is on the brink of becoming Virginia’s first Blue Zone, but it needs the community’s energy, commitment and financial support to cross the finish line," Healthy Hopewell Coalition's press release stated. "While the Creative Change Makers are not responsible for Hopewell's past, they seem to be taking an active part in their future."

Healthy Hopewell Coalition: Blue Zone initiative

Healthy Hopewell Coalition needs to raise $75K to bring the organization to Hopewell. They have raised over $31K from private and local business including Truist Bank and Enoch Construction to name a few. For more information about the Blue Zone initiative, visit morriscardio.com.

The Community Health Fair sponsored by Area Health and Wellness Ministry, Petersburg Virginia Healthy Hearts Initiative and Tabernacle Baptist Church Health Care Ministry will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church Community Life Center at 444 Halifax Street in Petersburg.

Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly, an award-winning columnist, is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index voted the 2022 Tri-Cities Best of the Best Social Media Personality. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on X and@socialbutterflykristi on Instagram. 

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