As one of the largest municipal gatherings in the nation, the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference offers a unique opportunity for face-to-face networking and exploring developments in New Jersey’s local government. Each year, the Quality Institute team looks forward to convening mayors and community leaders for our panel, “Bringing Wellness to Your Community,” as part of our Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC) initiative.

This year, our panel drew a full room of health officials, mayors, and community leaders eager to hear from mayors representing a diverse range of towns across the state. Each MWC is unique—varying in size, demographics, and health priorities. We invited mayors leading successful campaigns to share their insights and experiences, hoping to inspire leaders who may feel hesitant to sign the pledge or are looking for new ideas to strengthen their own. Our panelists covered a range of important topics:

• Julie DeSimone, Director of Community Health at the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, energized the room by providing an overview of the MWC program and the evidence-based tools and resources it offers to empower mayors and community leaders in helping their residents live healthier lives. She emphasized that there is no “one-size-fits-all” model, noting that high-quality MWC programming is adaptable to address the unique needs and priorities of communities of all sizes and demographics. Julie also introduced the launch of the MWC Community Hub, a user-friendly platform designed to enhance collaboration, share resources, and strengthen connections between MWC towns across New Jersey.
• Mayor Arvin Amatorio of Bergenfield discussed the importance of fostering local partnerships and their impact on community wellness. “Community and partnerships matter. We are enlarging our volunteer base every year, and the more we encourage organizations and the community, the more people recognize the program’s importance,” Mayor Amatorio shared. He explained that it’s a mutually beneficial relationship—organizations and businesses take pride in engaging with the community to promote health while earning recognition from the town for their active participation in advancing positive health outcomes.
• Mayor Neena Singh of Montgomery Township shared insights into her community’s MWC framework, highlighting how organizing events, collaborating with local partners to host innovative programming, and addressing wellness as a multifaceted aspect of life deeply engage her community. “Wellness is about social connection, and in Montgomery, that’s how we encourage people to come out and meet their neighbors, so they aren’t living in isolation. That is what health and wellness are all about,” Mayor Singh explained.
• Mayor Larry Fox of Bradley Beach emphasized the importance of including underserved populations in campaign initiatives and addressing their unique needs. “We really try to focus on community inclusion… it’s an interesting challenge to reach people and engage them in these initiatives. Everything we do is bilingual,” he shared. His data-driven approach uses surveys to measure ethnicity, age, and event attendance, providing insights to inform future programming.

Each panelist offered a unique version of their MWC, yet there was a clear theme: These leaders are dedicated to being active participants in the health and wellness of their towns. Each mayor is a great role model for new and veteran MWC towns. If you missed our panel, check out the slides here.

We proudly announced this year’s MWC grant recipients live at our panel, awarding $127,500 in grants to 11 communities across the state. These funds, made possible through a generous grant from Walmart, will support initiatives that promote mental health, prevent intimate partner violence, and address substance use in local populations. Projects will include mental health training, support groups, and community education programs, many focusing on underserved communities to help reduce health disparities. Each awarded community is committed to creating lasting change, and we look forward to seeing how their work uplifts their residents and strengthens community health. To learn more about the inspiring projects and communities selected, please view our full press release here.

Making health care a priority starts at the community level. Mayors and community leaders are critical in making health and wellness central to their towns, helping to keep New Jersey a healthy place to live, work, and play. The dedication and creativity of community leaders are inspiring, as their forward-thinking approach and determination to share new ideas, programs, and resources drive this initiative forward. To learn more about how your town can join or support this important initiative, please reach out to me at kbisaha@njhcqi.org or my colleague, Julie DeSimone at jdesimone@njhcqi.org. A special thank you to our 2024 sponsors.