Introducing TrueWellness: A Shared Vision for Healthier Communities in Northwest Wisconsin
Author: Natasha Ward, Executive Director
Welcome to the first blog post from TrueWellness!
Whether you're discovering us for the first time or have been following our journey, we're grateful you're here. TrueWellness was founded on a simple but powerful belief: everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health and wellbeing.
Across Northwest Wisconsin, we face rising rates of chronic disease, increasing healthcare costs, and growing challenges that impact quality of life. At the same time, we are surrounded by incredible assets—people, organizations, businesses, schools, healthcare providers, faith communities, and local leaders who care deeply about the wellbeing of our communities.
The good news is that we know health is shaped by more than healthcare alone. Together, we have an opportunity to create communities that support healthier, longer, and more fulfilling lives.
At TrueWellness, our mission is to confront chronic disease at its source by empowering individuals to make healthier lifestyle choices and by building health and wellness into the flow of community life. We believe lasting change happens when communities work together to make the healthy choice the easy choice.
One exciting example of this collaborative approach is our partnership with Blue Zones®. Blue Zones has helped communities across the country create environments that support healthier, longer lives. Together with community leaders throughout Northwest Wisconsin, we are exploring opportunities to build on the strengths that already exist in our region and create even greater opportunities for health and wellbeing.
Blue Zones® Assessment Update
This spring, we invited Blue Zones to conduct a Community Readiness and Feasibility Assessment in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Rice Lake, River Falls, and across the broader Northwest Wisconsin region.
Community leaders, employers, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, schools, and residents participated through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and community tours. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who shared their time, experience, and ideas.
One thing became very clear throughout the process: Northwest Wisconsin is rich in community assets and filled with people who care deeply about helping their neighbors thrive.
The assessment process is now wrapping up, and we expect to receive Blue Zones' report, community readiness scores, and recommendations later this summer. We plan to publicly share those findings during a Community Readout event in September.
What’s Next?
The Community Readout will be the beginning of a larger conversation about what is possible for our communities.
Following the release of the assessment findings, local leaders and community members will have an opportunity to review the recommendations and help determine the best path forward. Community readiness scores will help guide decisions about the level and pace of future Blue Zones initiatives in each community.
Beginning this fall and continuing into 2027, we anticipate forming community steering committees in participating communities. These groups will help develop community-specific blueprints that identify goals, priorities, and measurable actions to improve health and wellbeing over time.
Beyond Blue Zones
At the same time, TrueWellness is continuing to build partnerships and resources that support healthier communities throughout the region.
This includes the following:
Exploring opportunities with UW-Eau Claire to advance community-based learning and research focused on chronic disease prevention
Collaborating with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine to expand access to lifestyle medicine resources and services
Working alongside employers interested in improving employee wellbeing and reducing healthcare costs
None of this work belongs to a single organization. Lasting change happens when communities come together around a shared vision and commit to making health and wellbeing part of everyday life.
This blog will be one way we continue that conversation.
Beginning this month, you'll hear regularly from members of our team:
Shannon Johnson, Media Specialist, will introduce you to inspiring people, organizations, and community initiatives that are making a positive difference throughout Northwest Wisconsin.
Jessie Podolak, Clinical & Community Resources Director, will share practical healthy living tips, local resources, and simple actions that can help support your health and wellbeing journey.
We hope these stories and resources will help connect our communities, celebrate local successes, and inspire new ideas for creating healthier places to live, work, learn and play.
To your health and wellbeing,
Natasha Ward, MHA, RDN
Executive Director
TrueWellness
Whether you're a resident, educator, employer, nonprofit leader, elected official, healthcare professional, or simply someone who cares about the future of our communities, we'd love to stay connected.
If you're interested in partnering with us, learning more about our work, or joining our future volunteer network, we encourage you to reach out to us at yourfriends@truewellness.org.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can create communities where healthier choices become easier choices—and where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
