BlueZones Announces It Has Localized And Rebranded

  • Dancers, (pictured from left) Ryan Goodfox, Myka Lenggenhager, Buffy Simmons,and Graham (LB) Primeaux Jr., and singer Graham Primeaux honored attendees of the Avedis 10th Anniversay Celebration held at FireLake Arena, Photos courtesy of Chris Rettman
    Dancers, (pictured from left) Ryan Goodfox, Myka Lenggenhager, Buffy Simmons,and Graham (LB) Primeaux Jr., and singer Graham Primeaux honored attendees of the Avedis 10th Anniversay Celebration held at FireLake Arena, Photos courtesy of Chris Rettman
  • John Bobb-Semple, Executive Director of Pottawatomi Go or Pogo, speaks to the crowd at the Avedis 10 Year Anniversary Celebration, about the transition from BlueZones to Pogo. Photos courtesy of Chris Rettman
    John Bobb-Semple, Executive Director of Pottawatomi Go or Pogo, speaks to the crowd at the Avedis 10 Year Anniversary Celebration, about the transition from BlueZones to Pogo. Photos courtesy of Chris Rettman

Blue Zones Project Pottawatomie County has announced a new brand identity. The well-being improvement initiative will now be known locally as Pottawatomie Go, or “Pogo.” With its emphasis on well-being and community collaboration, Blue Zones Project was identified by Avedis Foundation in 2017 as a natural fit for investment, expanding the Foundation’s ongoing support of a healthier environment. Powered by volunteer leaders and underwritten by Avedis’ sponsorship, Shawnee became Oklahoma’s first certified Blue Zones Community in 2020. This effort has engaged local restaurants, schools, faith-based organizations, grocery stores, worksites, and policymakers who have made tangible well-being and environmental improvements, drawing on some 200 researchbased practices.

“When Avedis introduced Blue Zones Project to Pottawatomie County in 2017, we recognized that the program’s goal of helping people to live longer, healthier lives aligned with the Foundation’s mission to measurably improve the health, wellness, and quality of life for the people of Pottawatomie County and its surrounding communities,” stated Avedis Foundation president and CEO, Dr. Kathy Laster.

Last spring, Avedis Foundation, and Blue Zones Project Pottawatomie County began engaging key stakeholders to create a sustainability plan to ensure this critical work could continue.

These engaged leaders share a commitment to improving Shawnee’s well-being and quality of life. In recent months, those stakeholders have served as advisors to explore Blue Zone Project Pottawatomie County’s desire to operate more locally and provide greater sustainability.

“By expanding our platform and service area as a program of Avedis Foundation, Pogo can continue the transformative work of Blue Zones Project Pottawatomie County,” noted John Bobb-Semple, Pogo Executive Director.

Bobb-Semple added, “Shawnee will continue to have the distinction of being a Certified Blue Zones Community. Under the Pogo name, our work will remain focused on a primary goal to help make the healthier choice the easier choice. Our work is centered on community building, and we look forward to being able to bring more programs, more resources, and more ways for residents and organizations to “Live a little. Longer” Bobb-Semple said.

“Our transition to rebranding has given our team an opportunity to reflect on how much has changed in our area as a result of this community-wide well-being initiative,” Bobb-Semple said. “I feel proud of our community for aligning around big challenges and leaning in to see a big impact. I’m inspired daily by the hard and important work I see underway all throughout our community to make it an even better place to be. It’s why I look forward to going to work every day.”

During the last five years, Blue Zones Project has worked with thousands of Pottawatomie County residents, volunteers, educators, community leaders, and many local businesses and organizations, according to Lindsay Goodson, Public Policy Advocate for Pogo.

First United Bank President and Steering & Leadership Co-Chair, Paul Bass said “I am really proud of what has been achieved thus far with our association with Blue Zones, and the work that has been done to highlight multiple avenues for a fuller and more purposeful life. For many, they may even live a longer life.” We now have a tremendous new opportunity to further that work, but with the community’s help, make it our own.

I hope the community will be as excited as we are, to not rest on the laurels of past success, but set a new and higher bar, that if achieved, collectively makes Shawnee and Pottawatomie County an even better community.”

For more information about Pottawatomie Go, or Pogo, visit http://www.Gopogo. org or visit our social media pages: Facebook- https://www. facebook. com/ PottawatomieCountyGo and Instagram https:// www.instagram.com/ go.pogo/