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Riverside County Youth Commission unanimously backs Blue Zones Project Riverside
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Summary
The Riverside County Youth Commission received a presentation from Paloma Montes of Blue Zones Project Riverside and voted 5–0 to verbally support the project’s local initiatives, including built-environment improvements, food-access work and youth engagement programs.
The Riverside County Youth Commission voted unanimously to verbally endorse Blue Zones Project Riverside after a presentation and question-and-answer session on countywide public‑health and community‑building initiatives.
Paloma Montes, public policy lead for Blue Zones Project Riverside, told commissioners the initiative is based on decades of research into communities with exceptional longevity and that local efforts adapt those findings to address Riverside County needs. "Our priority initiatives revolve around the built environment," Montes said, citing sidewalks, street beautification and pedestrian safety projects as examples.
Montes outlined other priorities including food-access strategies (farmers markets, culturally relevant pantry options and a countywide food-access strategy developed with nonprofit and state partners) and campaigns to reduce youth access to alcohol and flavored tobacco. She described partnerships with Riverside University Health System public health, local insurers and school nutrition directors and invited commissioners to connect their coordinators with Blue Zones leads for volunteer and school-based opportunities.
Chair moved to put the question on whether the commission would verbally support Blue Zones Project Riverside; Andrea Davila seconded. The commissioners representing Districts 1–5 each voted yes and the motion passed 5–0. The commission’s recorded action was to support Blue Zones and its initiatives throughout Riverside County.
Montes said the Blue Zones team will share contact information and a policy blueprint of roughly 30 initiatives for local implementation, and encouraged youth commissioners to participate in media campaigns and school programs. "We want to hear from you," she said, describing outreach channels and volunteer roles.
Next steps noted at the meeting included Blue Zones providing follow-up materials and local contact leads so commissioners and youth councils can coordinate volunteer work and school-based programming.
