Hundreds of healthy eating and active living specialists and policy leaders from across South Carolina gather at the Leadership Summit for Healthy Communities to improve the lives and health of all residents. It’s the only statewide conference that unites healthy eating and active living specialists and decision makers from across the state. Eat Smart Move More South Carolina (ESMMSC) is hosting the 15^th Annual Leadership Summit for Healthy Communities October 29-30, 2018 at the Spartanburg Marriott.

This year’s Leadership Summit for Healthy Communities features keynote speaker and nationally-recognized expert on coalition building and organizational development Fran Butterfoss, Ph.D., MSEd, president of Coalitions Works and professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She is a health educator committed to building, sustaining and evaluating partnerships to promote health and social justice. Her books, Coalitions, and Partnerships in Community Health and Ignite! Getting Your Community Coalitions Fired Up for Change are best sellers for academics and practitioners.

The Leadership Summit will also feature two additional keynotes speakers. Cherokee County’s Christina Cody is a former teacher and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader, a national leadership development opportunity for people working in every field and profession who want to use their influence to advance health and equity. Dr. Darryl Owings is Superintendent of Spartanburg School District Six. Both Cody and Dr. Owings will share their experiences in creating healthy school environments.

“The Summit is one of many ways that we help communities gain increased access to the latest tools and information on approaches that increase access to healthy foods and safe places for physical activity,” says Beth Franco, ESMMSC executive director. “I encourage everyone involved in planning and implementing policy, system, and environmental change strategies to attend this networking event.”

Attendees represent professionals from various sectors at the local and state levels: public health, health care, education, employers, government, and many other influencers interested in positively impacting a culture of health. This year, ESMMSC is offering 20 breakout session opportunities for attendees to learn about initiatives in various settings, from school health and faith-based initiatives to the built environment and local advocacy strategies.

The early bird registration fee is $170 before October 5th, and the regular registration fee is $190 before October 16th. All tickets include lunch and a reception on October 29^th, and breakfast on October 30^th. Scholarships are available for those who are in need of a reduced registration fee.

For more information, including pre-conference workshops, visit the Leadership Summit for Healthy Communities website at https://eatsmartmovemoresc.org/our-events/leadership-summit/.