„Though intended as a companion to a four-part TV series he is hosting on PBS stations, the book stands on its own very well. Though professionals of many stripes can learn from Designing Healthy Communities, its greatest strength is likely to lie in energizing and educating a broad public -- readers described by Dr. Jackson as “those of us who are concerned about our communities and the world we are giving to our children.„ - Better Cities/Towns, February 2012.
“It's called the 'built environment' and if you're a public health whiz, you know exactly what that means. If you don't, Dr. Richard Jackson, Chair of UCLA's Environmental Health Sciences Department believes it's critical you do.„ - The California Report health blog, KQED (San Francisco)
“An admirer of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Dr. Jackson argues that such details of daily life make existence worthwhile. And that is what „Designing Healthy Communities“ is all about.„ - Reporting on Health (USC Annenberg)
“The new book, „Designing Healthy Communities,“ says: 'When there is nearly nothing within walking distance to interest a young person and it is near-lethal to bicycle, he or she must relinquish autonomy -- a capacity every creature must develop just as much as strength and endurance.'" - New York Times, January, 31, 2012
In this book, Dr. Jackson explores how the built environment has contributed to the fact that two-thirds of Americans are overweight, 70 million are obese and many suffer from an array of other chronic but preventable diseases. The book and series looks upstream at the root causes of our malaise, and highlights actionable best practices based on real people with real solutions.
Public health has traditionally associated the built environment with issues such as poor sanitation, lead paint poisoning and children, workplace safety, fire codes and access for persons with disabilities. We now realize that how we design the built environment may hold tremendous potential for addressing---and hopefully preventing---many of the nation's current public health concerns.
The Designing Healthy Communities book offers a new perspective on the topics covered in each episode while providing a roadmap and tools for readers to effect similar positive change in their own communities. Dr. Jackson is a vibrant public speaker, highly skilled at distilling ideas to a simple and understandable conversation. Unlike textbooks on the topic, this book seeks to feel more like a conversation between Dr. Jackson and the many people he has met along the road. Through stories and examples, he will encourage readers to consider their own experience and why taking initiative to make positive change in society is important.
Part 1 - Living and Leading With Purpose: Introduces the major themes that guide Dick Jackson's life and work. This section sets the stage and provides a context for understanding specific actions. In each thematic area, we move from the specific (ourselves and those close to us) to the broader view.
Chapter 1: What Does Caritas Have to Do With the Built Environment?
Chapter 2: What is Health and How Do We Measure It?
Chapter 3: Can Built Environment Build Community
Part 2 - A Legacy in Concrete: Each chapter details a place where Dick Jackson's ideas have been manifested. Each chapter reviews the community in the style of a medical case study: symptoms, diagnosis, cure, and prevention. This is the nuts-and-bolts of Dr. Jackson's view of public health is manifested in specific locations.
Chapter 4: From Monoculture to Human Culture - curing social and environmental malnutrition: Belmar, Colorado
Chapter 5: Using the Principles of New Urbanism to Build Community Prairie Crossing, Illinois
Chapter 6: Saving America's downtown and local history through the political process: Charleston, South Carolina
Chapter 7: Reinventing a City through Community Leadership for Sustainability: a vital part of sustainability is being healthy: Elgin, Illinois
Chapter 8: Ending Car Captivity - Leadership Paths to Culture: Boulder, Colorado
Chapter 9: Ports Are Rest Stops Along the Global Highway: Oakland, California
Chapter 10: The city that won't give up - entrepreneurship and urban agriculture: Detroit, Michigan
Part 3 - Be The Change You Want to See in the World: This section makes the case that the reader can use Dick Jackson's vision and tools to effect similar improvements in their own communities. Chapters examine how to effect change through the power of one person leading groups with purpose and working effectively to engage others. We introduce the different stakeholders in a community (government agencies, NGOs, parents, children, businesses, professionals, etc.) and discuss how they work together to achieve results.
Chapter 11: What's Happening in Your Community?
Chapter 12: Who Are the Players?
Chapter 13: Create an Action Plan
Epilogue: You are Dick Jackson