An Interview with: Heidi Simon-Stephen and America Walks
Heidi Simon-Stephen, Deputy Director
1. What is your organization’s interest in the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance?
The mission of America Walks is to empower and engage communities and advocates to advance the creation of safe, accessible, and enjoyable places to walk and move. Working with OAAA and its network will allow us to look at how communities can better support people with osteoarthritis and encourage individuals with osteoarthritis to consider ways walking can help improve their health and how they can use their voice to make sure that the places they walk are safe and accessible to all.
2. What do you think is the most important issue today related to osteoarthritis?
We believe that having communities that support walking and physical activity will provide benefits in health, wellness, social engagement, and more, for people who live with osteoarthritis. Using our combined voices to advocate for changes to the built environment and our culture to encourage these changes is just one of the many ways we can work together.
Research demonstrates an increase in the number of people who have or will have this disease as the population in the US ages. “America Walks believes that programs that encourage and support physical activity like OAAA’s effort to promote the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk with Ease program provides ways to mitigate the most debilitating effects of the disease”. We need to combine the efforts of those who walk with those that are pushing to improve the conditions for walking to create the safe walkable places we all deserve and need.
3. How does your work connect to issues in osteoarthritis?
America Walks works with communities to create a culture of health, embracing opportunities for physical activity. We know that regular daily physical activity and opportunities for active transportation can help mitigate some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
4. What is a headline you’d like to see about osteoarthritis in five years?
People Living with Osteoarthritis Walk Their Way to Better Health.
5. What is one interesting fact you’d like people to know about your organization?
We have a network that is active in each and every state. Reach out and see who we can connect you with to start creating safe, accessible, and enjoyable places to walk in your community.
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enjoyable walking conditions for all. They provide a voice for walking and walkability through government affairs by offering strategy support, training and technical assistance to regional, statewide and local organizations. By 2020, America Walks’ vision is for streets and neighborhoods in all American communities to be accessible, safe and attractive places which encourage people of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, and incomes to walk for transportation, wellness and fun. Visit their website at https://americawalks.org/ for more information.
