On October 6, 2010, AMWA’s Childhood Obesity Project Co-Chair, Ryan Smith, met with the Grand Strand Coastal Alliance to discuss the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign. The Alliance is a strategic and financial partnership between five mayors in South Carolina—Mayor Allen Deaton (Surfside Beach), Mayor John Rhodes (Myrtle Beach), Mayor Ken Corbett (Briarcliffe Acres), Mayor Charlene Taylor (Atlantic Beach), Mayor Marilyn Hatley (North Myrtle Beach)—and other community leaders. A motion was passed for the city leaders to join AMWA in the First Lady’s childhood obesity initiative by designating each of their cities or towns as an official Let’s Move city or town and creating a project timeline to achieve this goal. Join AMWA in the Let’s Move campaign by asking your local leader to designate their city or town as an official Let’s Move community. A “Mayors and Local Leaders Guide” is available at www.letsmove.gov. If you have ideas or suggestions, please contact Ryan Smith at Learn how you can get involved (link to www.letsmove.gov)

Additionally AMWA informed members of their communities about the Let’s Move initiative by forming a partnership with Spirit Sports Cheer and Dance Division who created a cheer for their 23,000 participant convention to recite to their families and friends. At this event they informed the spectators about the Let’s Move initiative and website www.letsmove.gov as well as communicated the goals of getting active and eating healthy to their families and friends. View the Photo and Cheer Video here.

You can read more about the First Lady’s Message here or on the www.letsmove.gov website. If you have ideas for your community and would like to partner with AMWA in your efforts send an email to amwahelper@gmail.com.