LSUA Continuing Education has launched Thrive Together: Healthy Eating, Active Living, Connected Communities, a three-year initiative designed to bring practical health and wellness programming directly to communities across central Louisiana.
The initiative is supported by a $300,000 Healthy Eating, Active Living Program Grant from The Rapides Foundation. Through the grant, LSUA Continuing Education will work with community organizations throughout the region to develop and deliver evidence-based programs that help residents make healthier food choices, increase physical activity, and build habits that support long-term health and well-being.
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, Thrive Together will be shaped by the communities it serves. LSUA Continuing Education will partner with local organizations to identify the needs and priorities of residents and build programming around those needs. Activities will include hands-on opportunities focused on nutrition and healthy cooking, physical activity, youth engagement, and other areas identified through community partnerships.
“Thrive Together is about meeting people where they are, in their own communities, with programming that reflects what they actually want and need,” said Alisha Ferrington, Director of Continuing Education at LSUA. “We are thrilled for this opportunity to extend our reach and build lasting partnerships that support healthier, more connected communities across Central Louisiana.”
The initiative expands the role of LSUA Continuing Education as a regional resource beyond traditional professional and workforce development. By working directly with organizations already serving local residents, LSUA will help connect university resources and expertise with communities throughout Central Louisiana while allowing local priorities to guide how programming is delivered.
Over the next three years, LSUA Continuing Education will use the $300,000 investment to establish community partnerships and deliver healthy eating, active living, and youth-focused programs for residents of all ages. The first phase of Thrive Together will focus on working with partner organizations to identify local priorities and begin bringing programming directly into the communities they serve.
Written by Alisha Ferrington with Adam Lord
Image credit – LSUA Division of Strategic Communications