Dallas is home to a number of regional offices of federal agencies where we are all busy working to accomplish our various missions. Sometimes we get the opportunity to reach across departmental lines and work with our peers in other agencies. Recently, some of us walked right out of our office buildings and joined forces to promote a healthy lifestyle for federal employees.
The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service Southwest Region and the Department of Health and Human Services Region VI are both focused on the health and well being of Americans and support First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. Our two agencies have begun partnering locally in a number of ways to share resources and increase effectiveness where our missions intersect. One of our recent joint projects took place on April 5, when we hosted a walk to the Dallas Farmers Market for federal employees who work downtown.
Nearly 70 employees from three different federal buildings and at least eight agencies came together in recognition of National Nutrition Month (March) and National Public Health Week (April 2-5). Feds put on their walking shoes and sunglasses at lunch time and hit the concrete path to the Dallas Farmers Market. The walk was designed to encourage employees to get some exercise and take advantage of the downtown farmers market, a source for fresh produce. Mother Nature cooperated and provided a perfect spring day for the 1.8 mile roundtrip walk. It was also nice to meet people from many different agencies and make a few new federal friends.
Some came for the fresh air. Some came for the opportunity to get away from the office. And, some came for the fresh fruit and vegetables. But, we all walked for the health of it.
