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E.A. MacKay Enterprises, Wednesday, April 15, 2015 Page 13
OUT AND ABOUTJane Charmelo
Healthy Lombard expanding into workplace
Meet Princess Erin Elizabeth Millett
It often takes small, grass-rootsorganizations to make a bigdifference in a community, andHealthy Lombard is doing just thatafter being created with the goal ofeliminating childhood obesity.
Founder and board President JayWojcik, along with the late BillMueller, launched Healthy Lombardin 2009-10 as a way to reduce theobesity statistics for children in ourlocal communities. Since then, shehas been coming up with ways fornot only children to increase theiractivity level and learn healthyeating habits, but parents andcommunity members as well—thanks to the addition of businessand community partners andsupporters.
Her latest endeavor involvesgoing into the workplace to helpemployees live a healthier lifestyle,and as she tells it, the idea cameabout like many often do—serendipity, or being in the rightplace at the right time.
Wojcik said she had applied for agrant through the State HealthImprovement Program, or SHIP, to help augment what isbasically a frugal budget. In order todo so, she had to make a one-minutevideo about Healthy Lombard.
“That was the easy part,” she saidwith a chuckle, adding that it washarder to decide what to do with the$1,500 grant she received fromSHIP.
The president said she happenedto be at the Westin Hotel inLombard, talking with the generalmanager, Mike Feigenbaum, and theidea to bring Healthy Lombard to awork setting was born.
“We wanted to expand in theworkplace,” she continued, which isa new concept for Healthy Lombard.
The Westin is serving assomewhat of a test run, and Wojciksaid she is using a model she callsthe “Triple A Approach.”
The president explained how sheused a SHIP model to survey theemployees about what they want towork on, saying, “We wanted tomake people aware that we wantedto know what they thought theyneeded.”
“We didn’t want to start aprogram that nobody wanted,” sheadded.
“Help us alleviate the stress,”was what the employees indicated,Wojcik said, and it was up to her tofigure out “what might help.”
So, the first A was to promoteawareness. Awareness, that is, ofresources available to theemployees, such as the tools onSHIP’s Web site, the Health PriorityArea Resource Page HealthierWorksite initiative.
Additionally, employees watcheda video on using the hotel’s fitness
room, and were given access toinformational pamphlets.
Also, Wojcik said HealthyLombard shared information aboutthe DuPage County HealthDepartment’s Web site, which hasinformation on such topics assmoking cessation and weight loss,among others, including “RethinkYour Drink” (focusing on sugarybeverages).
“We’re trying to get them moreaware there are a lot of resources,”she outlined.
The second A focuses onemployees being introduced toactivities.
Wojcik said there are a numberof ways the workplace program willaddress stress reduction throughactivities, including a workshop on“holistic ways to reduce chronicstress and fatigue.”
According to Wojcik, statisticsshow that stress in the workplacecosts U.S. companies over $300billion annually in health care costs,lost productivity, employeeturnover, absenteeism, workers’compensation claims and more.
Wojcik said the hotel is eventaking steps internally to reestablishits own Wellness Committee as well.
There are sample yoga andZumba classes to introduceemployees to those activities, thepresident said, noting that there aremany such classes offered through anumber of local venues.
Wojcik is enlisting the assistanceof Jennifer McGrath, MSTOM,L.Ac., Dipl.OM, one of her HealthyLombard partners.
McGrath is a licensedacupuncturist and herbalist, andNCCAOM Board Certified, and isthe owner of Points to Wellness, Inc.in Oakbrook Terrace, which offerssuch services as acupuncture, herbconsultations, cupping (activates thelymphatic system and is an adjunctto a detox program), Gua Sha(increases cellular turnover,stimulates the immune system andmore) and Eastern nutrition (healingthrough natural foods versusmedications).
McGrath, who was chosen tocoordinate the grant program, isslated to present a video“demonstrating how to createsimple, easy, healthy meals to reducethe stress caused by having to figureout what to cook after a hectic day atwork,” Wojcik described.
Once the program is completed,she said, the third A, achievement,will be measured.
That is, she continued, aroundJune a post-program survey will begiven to participants on how theinitiative worked for them, and inturn, she will turn the results over toSHIP.
Her goal, the presidentcommented, is to promote“workplace wellness.”
“That’s what we’re hoping forwhen we get done,” she continued,adding that she hopes Westinemployees realize they are not alonein trying to manage stress.
In fact, Wojcik said, she hopesthat other companies and businesseswill take an interest in the HealthyLombard workplace wellnessprogram, saying of the hotelemployees that stress in the
workplace is common.“What they’re experiencing, lots
of people do,” she added.In terms of optimism and hard
work, Wojcik has become somewhatlike the “Little Engine That Could”when it comes to getting a programoff the ground, considering thatHealthy Lombard has added so manycomponents, thanks to interestedpartners—and participants.
There’s the Flat Apple summeractivity program, the FitnessFebruary Fair, the G.Y.M. Bagsprogram for second-graders that istaking off and the “Health Local”show on cable TV.
The Healthy Lombard Web site isanother resource for those looking toimprove their health and well being,with healthy recipes and informationon its partners.
With nearly a million hits on theHealthy Lombard site in two years,Wojcik has deduced that people are“looking for healthy, interestingthings.”
The president said she looks atrunning Healthy Lombard “from theground up, versus systemic,”meaning, she added, that rather thanworking from the top down, she is“very organic, from the bottom up.”
“We started where the peopleare,” she added.
However, Wojcik said she notonly wants to expand programofferings, but also the number ofpartnerships and initiatives, sayingmodestly that she wants to seeenough growth in the next five yearsthat people will say, “It’s not just JayWojcik.”
The bottom line for Wojcik,though, is that she is hopeful thelaunch of the workplace wellnessprogram will be successful, and thatother businesses and companies willwant to borrow the HealthyLombard model to use as a steppingstone to their own programs.
“I can’t change the world but Ican help you get back on track,” sheconcluded.
For more information, visitwww.healthylombard.com, orcontact Wojcik at 630-916-0519 [email protected].
Photos courtesy of Jay WojcikHEALTHY LOMBARD IS EXPANDING into the workplace, where
currently a program is being put in place with the Westin Hotel inLombard. When asked, employees indicated they want help with stressreduction. In the top photo, Carrie Santucci, fitness instructor at theDowners Grove Park District, offers staff a sample yoga lesson. In thelower left photo, videographer Curtis Sehy from the Illinois Center forBroadcasting in Lombard tapes Lou Ann Chvatal, a nutrition andwellness consultant and Certified Personal Trainer with the LombardPark District.
This is the third in a series of fiveprofiles of the 2015 Lilac Court.
If you talk to Erin Millett, the word“passion” inevitably comes up:passion for faith, passion for achievinggoals and passion for family, to name afew.
Now the Lilac Princess will havethe opportunity to spread that messageas a member of the 2015 Lilac Court,and she’s seemingly not shy aboutexpressing her feelings on the subject.
Princess Erin, a senior and honorroll student at Glenbard South HighSchool, lives her passion, in partthrough her involvement with theYoung Life Christian Youth Group,which she said is facilitated bystudents from Wheaton College, andwhich offers her opportunities to meetpeople and travel.
The princess said she has beeninvolved in the group since herfreshman year, and having spent herelementary school years attendingSacred Heart Catholic School, meetingwith other young people of faith seemsto be a good fit.
“My faith is very important to
me,” she commented.Princess Erin is also passionate
about volleyball, playing at her highschool and also for the New WaveVolleyball Club.
The princess said she has been withthe club about eight years, and enjoysthe opportunity to travel all over thecountry. She also mentioned that she isa volunteer coach, along with track, ather former elementary school.
The Lilac Princess said that besidesfocusing on academics, volleyball andworking as a restaurant hostess, shealso has taken time to volunteer withPADs in Lombard and for Feed MyStarving Children.
“Volunteering is something I loveto do,” she added.
When she’s not enjoying herhobbies of listening to music, playingvolleyball and hanging out withfriends, Princess Erin is settling intoher role as a member of Lombardroyalty—getting to know her fellowLilac Princesses and learning moreabout her community.
“I have a longtime family historyin Lombard,” she related, explaining
that her 96-year-old grandmother haslived in Lombard a very long time, and“she actually encouraged me to[apply]” to this year’s Lilac Court.
Additionally, the princess said shegot a chance to look at pictures from
past Lilac Court members, andrealized that she had an aunt who wasa Lilac Queen and also another relativewho was on the first Lilac Court.
“Twenty, 30 years down the roadthat could be something I’m in,” shesaid with a chuckle.
Princess Erin said it is an honor tobe chosen for the Lilac Court and thateven though Lombard is close to otherlarge communities and Chicago, it is“traditions like this that bring it back toa small town.”
She believes being a Lilac Princesswill also help her gain poise and publicspeaking skills, and boost herconfidence, and added, it is about“getting a chance represent mycommunity in a positive way.”
The Lilac Princess said she plans tobe a role model, which for her is“someone who is completelypassionate about what they do,”putting oneself fully into somethingand “does everything in their power toreinforce that.”
She wants to tell her peers andthose who look up to her, “Neverreally give up on what you’re
passionate about.”The princess said that in addition to
demonstrating good character andearning respect, being a role model isalso about putting forth one’s besteffort and taking pride in one’scommunity.
“I believe in having a strongcharacter. Never really closing anydoors,” added the princess.
Along the way to achieving goals,she emphasized, there is “a journeyand a story to tell.”
“This has been nothing but goodfor me,” the Lilac Princess said, and ofher fellow princesses, she commented,“It’s been great getting to know them.”
“I don’t think any one of us has thesame personality. It’s so diverse. Weall have different interests,” she added.
As for being chosen to representLombard, the Lilac Princess said,“This is just the beginning. This issuch a good thing for Lombard.”
“I’m absolutely ecstatic that I getthe opportunity,” she concluded.
Princess Erin is the daughter ofMaribeth and Mark Millett; and sisterof Kathleen, 12.
PRINCESS ERIN MILLETTPhoto by Steve Spoden
