A Year of Progress: The Advancements of Blue Zones Project Scottsdale

Blue Zones Project Scottsdale recently celebrated its first year, reflecting on the incredible progress made and the unwavering community support that has fueled this journey. Last month, nearly 70 community members—including sponsors, committee members, ambassadors, and volunteers—gathered for a gratitude reception to recognize Year 1 accomplishments and unveil plans for Year 2.

Brought to Scottsdale by Blue Zones, LLC, in collaboration with leading organizations HonorHealth, The Cigna Group, and Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, the innovative partnership brings together private and public organizations under a shared vision to support and build on the health and well-being lifestyle in the community.  Over five years, the local Blue Zones Project team will work with the community to apply the Blue Zones Life Radius®, tailored to meet the community’s desire for options to make healthier alternatives accessible throughout the community.

Year 1 has been a journey of connection, growth, and impact—but this is just the beginning. As the project enters Year 2, with the continued dedication of the community, inspiration can turn into lasting change.

You can view the progress, see what’s next, and watch the impact unfold in this video.

Milestones and Impact

The People, Places, and Policy pillars celebrated several wins. Some of the highlights include:

• Engaging the Community

In the first year, over 8,400 community members engaged with Blue Zones Project Scottsdale by taking the Personal Pledge, attending events, volunteering, or participating in activities that promote the Power 9® principles—time-tested habits from the world’s longest-living populations, centered around connection, natural movement, eating wisely and having the right outlook.

• Creating Healthier Places

Since we spend 90% of our time in our environments, improving these spaces is essential. So far, 44 organizationshave taken significant steps toward well-being by becoming Blue Zones Approved™ Worksites, Schools, and Restaurants—helping employees, students, and patrons lead healthier lives. (Explore the full list of approved places here.)

•  Advancing Community Policies

Blue Zones Project Scottsdale also supports and amplifies existing initiatives that drive community-wide well-being. In Year 1, it helped:

• Expand healthy food access with a Mobile Farmer’s Market—a refrigerated van delivering fresh produce to senior living facilities and more.
• Conduct a Food Skill & Literacy Resource Survey, identifying key gaps in funding, education, and healthy cooking demonstrations, particularly for children and young adults.
• Grow the Seed Library program from one Scottsdale Public Library branch to four, allowing residents to check out edible plant and herb seeds citywide.
• Partner with Scottsdale Unified School District to host an anti-vaping workshop focused on youth tobacco prevention.

Looking Ahead

With Year 2 underway, the project is focused on building upon this foundation, driving greater impact, and inspiring lasting change in order to can create a healthier, happier community.

To learn more and get involved, visit bluezonesprojectscottsdale.com.

A fun and healthy experience. Courtesy Blue Zones Project Scottsdale