First Lady Michelle Obama hosted Kenmore Mayor David Baker last week at the White House, celebrating the outstanding efforts of Kenmore and other communities to complete health and wellness goals over the past year for Let’s Move!

Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC). LMCTC calls upon local elected officials to adopt sustainable and holistic strategies that improve access to healthy, affordable food and opportunities for physical activity.

Since joining LMCTC, Kenmore’s Let’s Move! efforts include providing more opportunities for children to play outdoors in our parks and working with the Northshore School District to ensure our children have healthy food options in the schools breakfast and lunch programs.

“The League of Cities appreciates the support and energy of the First Lady for her tireless efforts to reduce the obesity epidemic facing our communities,” said National League of Cities’ Executive Director, Clarence Anthony. He continued, “We congratulate all the local elected officials who participated in the event and are playing an instrumental role in providing our nation’s children with a healthier future. When children grow up in cities, towns and counties that promote healthy development, they become productive and healthy adults, contributing to the prosperity of our communities.”

LMCTC is a major component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s comprehensive Let’s Move! initiative, which is dedicated to solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. A total of 330 cities, towns and counties from 46 states and the District of Columbia, which collectively represent more than 56 million Americans, have committed to the initiative’s five goals. NLC has awarded more than 1,000 bronze, silver and gold “medals” to recognize local elected officials who have made progress in achieving these goals.

As part of LMCTC, local elected officials are working towards the following goals:

· Goal I: Start Early, Start Smart: Promoting best practices for nutrition, physical activity, and screen time in early care and education settings

· Goal II: My Plate, Your Place: Prominently displaying MyPlate in all municipal or county venues where food is served

· Goal III: Smart Servings for Students: Increasing participation in school breakfast and lunch programs

· Goal IV: Model Food Service: Implementing healthy and sustainable food service guidelines that are aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

· Goal V: Active Kids at Play: Increasing opportunities for physical activity

NLC is working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and with the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Association of Counties and other nonprofit organizations, to assist local elected officials who join LMCTC as they implement policy and environmental changes to prevent childhood obesity. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded NLC a grant to provide technical assistance to local elected officials working to create healthier communities and prevent childhood obesity, including sites participating in LMCTC.

Baker is on the Board of Directors for the National League of Cities. While in Washington, D.C., Baker also worked to further Kenmore’s federal legislative priorities, including transportation funding and funding for dredging the Kenmore Navigation Channel.