Community colleges in rural counties are naturally positioned to stimulate healthier living in their communities. The schools often rank among their counties' larger employers, and their classes and cultural events during the day and in the evening attract a steady flow of students and visitors.
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These community colleges train students, preparing them to join the local health-sciences workforce. They offer programs and facilities for physical education, walking trails that give students and employees opportunities for to get familiar exercising outdoors. Some are equipped offer direct health services for the community from the widely-accessed campus.
"There's a lot of opportunity to make lasting change in terms of the goals of the initiative, which is to dramatically improve health outcomes in these distressed counties."
RURAL COLLEGES, COMMUNITY CHANGE AGENTS
