San Jose Blue Zones Project
Live longer, better.
I like to say that health is my hobby. I call it a hobby because I’m not a certified anything, but I am a data nerd and university-trained in statistics. I’ve read a lot of research that supports what I believe: that our bodies were built to move and that natural, whole foods are optimized for our body’s needs. During one of my information-seeking forays, I came across a National Geographic researcher who found five areas of the world where people lived the longest and the healthiest. Four out of five of those areas were areas of poverty. What were they doing to impact their community’s longevity? People in all five areas had similar lifestyles – moving naturally, eating well, and enjoying purposeful lives with deep social connections. The researcher calls them Blue Zones.
Fast forward to my goals as a councilmember for one of the largest cities in California. We’ve experienced a traumatic pandemic where health disparities were clearly revealed to us in stark, life-and-death terms. For many people, an uphill recovery process is taking place. Now more than ever, our community needs the support of Blue Zones transformative practices. As a local leader, I’m calling for a community of well-being to emerge as a healthier and happier post-pandemic city.
I’m starting our journey to health with one of the most basic movements we do as human beings - walking. I’m calling them Longevity Walks. We were built to move, we can transform our health, and extend our longevity by walking regularly. We'll start with this small step and work our way to an all-out Blue Zone certification for San Jose. Want to join me? Click here to find out where and when we’ll be out walking in our community. We’re also looking for local Walking Ambassadors to help create Longevity Walking Groups across the city. For more information on that, click here.
I look forward to joining you in this movement for health and longevity. Let’s transform our city!
In health,
Dev
Longevity Walks Initiative
Walking is an easy form of exercise. No equipment is needed, just you and a couple of minutes. I walk my dogs every morning around my neighborhood. In an effort to boost the activity levels of San Jose residents, I am launching the Longevity Walks Initiative. Longevity Walks will improve one’s health and connection to our city as Longevity Walking groups will be made all over San Jose. Click here to join me and many of your neighbors on the walk to longevity and better living.
2021 San Jose Blue Zones Presentation
In August 2021, I hosted an informational presentation about Blue Zones at City Hall. Son of the Blue Zones Founder and Director of Solutions at Blue Zones, Dan Buettner, Jr., The Health Trust, and Anthem joined me to inform residents how and why San Jose should become Blue Zones certified. Well-being results in productivity. By supporting the mental and physical health of all San Jose residents and employees, we can achieve a healthier, happier, and longer-living population. To accomplish this as a City, we must:
Assess and take actions to support health equity depending on the specific needs of our zip codes
Improve street and park designs, public policy, and social involvement so that it’s easy for people to make healthy choices
Blue Zones Walking Ambassador Program
My office is looking for Longevity Walk Ambassadors! If you or someone you know has made walking more than just a hobby and want to inspire your fellow neighbors to get moving, please send me an email about becoming an Ambassador. Ambassadors will be responsible for:
Recruiting walkers and organizing Longevity Walks with my office
Inspiring residents to take small, easy steps to improve their physical health