ShineLA: A multi-sector, transdisciplinary initiative to create healthy, active, and engaged communities in Los Angeles
Creators: name: Shirazipour, Celina
name: Shull, Michael
name: Castella, Krystina
name: Gresham, Gillian
name: Sarmiento, Olga
Publisher: name: The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada
Year: 2022

description: Purpose: Despite extensive knowledge of the health benefits of physical activity (PA), PA participation rates are low, and physical inactivity remains a global pandemic. PA levels are even lower among girls, underserved, and minority populations. There is no single solution to increasing PA. Thus, in order to effectively increase and sustain PA levels, there is a need for community partnerships and a large multi- sectoral approach. In advance of the 2028 Olympics hosted in LA, the Cedars-Sinai Research Center for Health Equity (CSMC RCHE) is leading a partnership with the City of LA to create healthy, active, and engaged communities using LA as a case example: ShineLA. Description: This symposium provides an overview of our multi-sectoral, multi-level approach that incorporates innovative, evidence-based strategies to promote and improve physical and mental health, as well as social connection across diverse LA communities for a sustained impact through the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics and beyond. To achieve this goal, we have assembled a transdisciplinary team comprised of key stakeholders across multiple sectors including health, sports, arts &amp; design, civil society, government, academia, the private sector, and representative members from a community advisory board. We will share approaches and insights that may be relevant to other research programs and municipalities internationally. Chair: Celina Shirazipour, PhD, Cancer Research Center for Health Equity. Title: Introduction to the Symposium. Presenter 1: Michael Shull, Recreation and Parks. Title: Restoring and Enhancing Public Spaces Where All People Have Easy Access To Clean, Safe, and Sustainable Spaces. A landscape analysis of Recreation and Parks with a focus on cultural inclusivity Presenter 2: Krystina Castella, Art Center College of Design. Title: How Art and Design Impact Health and Society, with a focus on physical activity Presenter 3: Dr. Gillian Gresham, PhD, Cancer Research Center for Health Equity, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Title: Harnessing Technology to Monitor and Promote Physical Activity among Diverse Communities Presenter 4: Dr. Olga L Sarmiento, MD PhD., University of De Los Andes Title: Starting Small, Learning What Works, And Building From There: An Iterative Behavior Change Approach Results: Over the next ten years, our overarching objective is to increase PA levels and ultimately improve health outcomes across LA, with a focus on underserved communities. Specifically, our team aims to: (1) Leverage the current LA Recreation and Parks (RAP) PA programming (e.g., PA programs, informal activities, special events, etc.) to maximize the use of public recreation spaces and participation in PA; (2) Explore the role of art and design (e.g., branding, marketing, signage, etc.) in promoting PA and impacting health and society; (3) Integrate technology to enhance the participants’ experience with PA and obtain objective measures of PA and other health outcomes. We plan to use a culturally-tailored mobile application (App) developed by key partners and community stakeholders and fitness trackers as tools to engage and connect our participants; (4) Determine the impact of this approach on behavior change at the individual, family, neighborhood, and city level. Further, we will include a Citizen Science approach that focuses on neighborhood safety, beautification, and the interaction between the social and built environment at the community level. We combine qualitative and quantitative research methods to inform the development and evaluation of ShineLA. Conclusions: Through a multi-level, multi-sectoral, and health disparities lens, this initiative will fill an important gap in our knowledge base of the complex interplay between policy, neighborhood/community, family, and individual factors that influence PA. Using LA as a case example for other cities across the globe, we plan to increase and sustain PA levels and ultimately improve health outcomes at the population level.
description: The Health &amp; Fitness Journal of Canada, Vol. 14 No. 3 (2021): Proceedings from the 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress