Among the many community leaders who gathered to honor Kreissler’s outstanding contributions to public health, Ga. State Rep. Edna Jackson, also a former Savannah mayor, presented Kreissler with a proclamation from the State of Georgia, recognizing her work in driving health equity and creating a lasting impact on the community.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who also attended the event, announced he will present a proclamation honoring Kreissler from the City of Savannah at the November 7 City Council meeting.
Guests attending Paula & Armand’s Big New Adventure celebration were encouraged to wear denim and sneakers in honor of Kreissler’s signature contributions in helping create an environment that makes the healthy choice an easy choice for all Savannahians.
Over the past decade, Kreissler has been instrumental in securing grant funding for health equity initiatives. Most notably, under her leadership, Healthy Savannah was awarded $9 million in Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to combat health disparities in the region. These grants helped implement key projects, such as the construction of the Truman Linear Park Trail, the passing of Complete Streets ordinances, and increased access to healthy food options for underserved communities.
One of Kreissler’s signature achievements was the adoption of the “Breathe Easy” ordinance in Savannah, which prohibited smoking in restaurants and stores, and which is generally credited for a subsequent and significant reduction in heart attacks in the community. This ordinance, along with her advocacy for healthier school meals and workplace wellness programs, underscores her commitment to making Savannah a healthier place to live, work, and play.
Kreissler, along with Armand Turner, deputy director of Healthy Savannah, also championed the Healthy Walk initiative, which they launched in March 2020 at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over four years, this initiative brought hundreds of community members together to engage in physical activity, promoting the idea that “the healthy choice should be the easy choice.” Kreissler’s dedication to promoting active living, both in Savannah and beyond, has inspired countless individuals and organizations to prioritize health and wellness.
Kreissler’s legacy at Healthy Savannah was further cemented when the coalition was honored with the CDC’s 2022 Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity, recognizing its outstanding contributions to improving health equity in Savannah.
During the event, it was announced that Armand Turner would officially assume the role of executive director following Kreissler’s retirement at year-end. Turner, who has served as the deputy program manager for Healthy Savannah and oversaw the Physical Activity strategy for the REACH grant, brings a wealth of experience from his work across various parks & recreation departments in the U.S. He joined Healthy Savannah in 2019 and has been a driving force behind the coalition’s physical activity initiatives, including the ongoing development of Savannah’s Tide to Town trail network. Turner is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at Savannah State University, with graduation set for December 2024.
Reflecting on the event, Kreissler shared, “It has been a privilege to serve this community and work with so many dedicated partners over the years. Together, we’ve made tremendous strides in creating a healthier and more equitable Savannah, and I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. I know that Healthy Savannah will continue to thrive under Armand’s leadership.”
As the community gathered to celebrate Paula & Armand’s Big New Adventure, Kreissler’s lasting impact was evident in the many stories shared and the expressions of gratitude from colleagues, friends, and local leaders.
“While I will be stepping down from my role at Healthy Savannah, I am confident that the legacy of health equity, sustainability, and community development that hundreds of advocates across our region have helped us build and supported so strongly over the past 17 years will continue to motivate and shape Savannah’s health equity landscape for years to come,” said Kreissler.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF COASTAL GEORGIA/HEALTHY SAVANNAH GRANT FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH: In September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded a second grant called Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) to Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia. $5.1 million in funding is being deployed over a five-year period to be utilized in an “upstream” approach to foster sustainable health equity among racial and ethnic minority populations in low-wealth neighborhoods in areas of nutrition, physical activity and the reduction of chronic diseases. The renewed funding enables work to continue which began under the initial, five-year, $3.4 million REACH grant awarded in 2018, and a supplemental grant awarded in 2021 to increase awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 and flu adult immunizations. Working with more than 200 community partners and organizations, the Savannah/Chatham County project team’s specific goals in implementing the new five-year grant include fostering physical activity by creating greater access to safe places to walk, run, bike and play; elevating the health and wellness of the community through policy, systems, and environmental change; and providing education and awareness regarding adult immunizations, especially as they relate to health disparities in chronic conditions of hypertension, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The administrators will also continue to foster stronger connections between people and the healthcare providers who serve them by supporting awareness and use of the HERO Help Me database. In July 2022, Healthy Savannah received the CDC’s 2022 REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity Challenge. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals and entities whose work has contributed to advancing health equity.
healthysavannah.org ymcaofcoastalga.org.
HEALTHY SAVANNAH
Healthy Savannah, a 501©3 public charity is a public/private coalition of over 150 businesses, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, schools, neighborhood organizations, and healthcare and government agencies, It began as an initiative of City of Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson, formed in 2007. Healthy Savannah leads and supports a culture of health in the Savannah area by creating an environment that makes a healthy choice the easy choice; building a collaborative network that identifies and shares resources; collecting and disseminating information, promoting best practices and implementing innovative programs, and advocating for effective policies. Since its inception, this innovative, cross-sector collaboration has vastly benefited the community as evidenced by numerous multi-agency projects, grants and policy initiatives that have emerged from the initiative to create and sustain a Healthy Savannah. For more information, visit www.healthysavannah.org
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