Columbia REA and The Blue Zones Project

Partners for a healthier community

We live in a pretty great place. Wide-open spaces, friendly people, great weather… most of the time, and ample opportunities to live a happy, healthy lifestyle. But can it be better? Are there ways to improve on a good thing? Always.

That’s what the people at the Blue Zones Project thought also. The goal of the Blue Zones Project is “to help people live longer and live better, through community transformation programs that lower healthcare costs, improve productivity, and boost national recognition as great places to live, work, and play.”

You don’t have to dig very deep into the Blue Zones Project website to realize that the mission behind the Blue Zones vision is a pretty solid match with the core values of Columbia REA.

The Blue Zones website calls it “transforming well-being at the neighborhood, city and county level.” At Columbia REA, we call that Cooperative Principle #7: Commitment to Community. By any name, the goals are the same: Let’s do what it takes, as citizens, neighbors, friends, employees, employers, teachers and students, to make our community as healthy, happy, strong and vibrant as we possibly can, in as many ways as we can.

The Blue Zones concept was developed in 2009 and is now working in 50 communities around the country to implement a roadmap to those goals stated above. The Blue Zones Project was brought to the Walla Walla Valley through a partnership with Adventist Health.

Before that partnership became official a couple of years ago, Jennifer Aichele, Columbia REA Human Resources Manager, attended a presentation at Whitman College by Tony Buettner, 1 of 4 brothers who developed the Blue Zones concept.

“Columbia REA has always been a huge supporter of our employees, and our employees’ overall well-being, not just in the office but at home as well. Getting involved with the Blue Zones Project seemed like a great fit for us from the start,” recalls Jennifer.

“But it also seemed like a lot of work, more than seemed achievable at the time, to actually become a certified ‘Blue Zones Approved’ company.”

To become Blue Zones-certified, a company or organization has to earn points by providing health-oriented programs, events, benefits, and even workplace upgrades designed to encourage employees to move more, eat smarter, sleep better, engage with others and get more involved in their community, the primary principles that Blue Zones communities are built on.

“It doesn’t all have to do with physical health, it also has to do with financial health, mental and emotional health…all of those things,” adds Jennifer.

“I started looking more closely at the list of requirements and I realized that a lot of these things we just naturally do for our employees. I think we managed to be about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way there with the things we were already doing, so I thought, ‘maybe we can do
this!’”

Katie DePonty, Organization Lead for Blue Zones Walla Walla Valley, remembers meeting with Jennifer for the first time and learning a little more about Columbia REA.

“It was very clear to me from the first day…Columbia REA is a perfect example of an organization that has a long history of investment in the community, investment in its people, and being known as a great place to work.

“We really appreciate the opportunity to partner with organizations like Columbia REA, who are not just some of the larger employers, but also influential. When people look at who is contributing to this community-wide effort, we feel like it’s important that people see names that they respect and recognize, and that are seen as some of the cornerstones of our community,” adds Katie.

So with a few tweaks here and there, and a few additions…and subtractions (goodbye Cheetos in the vending machine), Columbia REA earned the necessary points to achieve Blue Zone Certification!

At our January staff safety meeting, the hard work by both Katie and Jennifer was recognized with a plaque, and a banner, and yummy blue cupcakes, signifying Columbia REA’s new status as a Blue Zone approved workplace, joining a growing list of companies, schools and organizations in our area that includes Baker Boyer Bank, the cities of Walla Walla and College Place, Sharpstein Elementary, Roger’s Bakery, Key Technology and more.

Why is that important? Why jump through the hoops and do the extra work for a sign on the wall?

For Katie, from the Blue Zones Project perspective, it’s important to build these connections with local organizations because that is the first step toward introducing the Blue Zones concept to an even larger audience, where the benefits can really start to be realized.

“We want to focus in on places where adults are spending a good chunk of their time, and that’s at work. You’re spending at least 8 hours a day there, so that is a place where a large portion of your day is spent and a good portion of your well-being is determined,” says Katie.

“Hopefully there is some carryover when people go home and they’re connecting with each other and moving and eating more fruits and vegetables…all those good things. When you really think about well-being, you think beyond just your own well-being.

It’s community-wide,” adds Katie. “It’s your co-workers, it’s your neighbors, it’s your friends. So many of the Blue Zones principles are rooted in connection and community.”

For Jennifer, the answer is simple. “It’s just the right thing to do. It’s the right thing for us, it’s the right thing for Columbia REA, and it’s the right thing for our community.”

For More Information

The Blue Zones Project isn’t just for businesses and other organizations. It’s for everybody!

If you’d like to learn more about the Blue Zones Project, or would just like some tips on how to live longer, live better, be healthy and help your community, visit the Blue Zones website: wallawallavalley.bluezonesproject.com/ or send an email to: bzpwallawallavalley@sharecare.com