Change is happening in Algoma, Wisconsin, and you can sense it the moment you walk through the double-doors of the two-year-old Community Wellness Center, attached to the Algoma High School.
You can see it in a workout studio, where teens lead a circle of older members in strength exercises.
You can hear it in a wellness room, where a community nurse offers free guidance on exercise and nutrition to a diabetic resident, or in the lobby, where a banker dispenses financial advice to members.
This is the hub of a health and wellness movement that has taken root in this northeastern Wisconsin town on Lake Michigan, best known among sports enthusiasts for its salmon and trout fishing.
Algoma is so small (pop. 3,126) that it does not have a single traffic light. But small places can do big things. Under the umbrella of Live Algoma, all sectors of the community have come together to set goals and work as teams on health and wellness issues. The Live Algoma initiative was founded on the premise that anyone can be a “bright spot,” an agent of change who plays a role in improving health.