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LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, MARCH 15
Six-time NFL Pro Bowler Keith Jackson meets Dr. Susan Finn before the Little Rock TRIUMPH event.
Joe Quinn and Fay Boozman visit before kicking off the TRIUMPH event.
Joe Quinn, director of policy for Governor Mike Huckabee, emphasizes the importance of keeping a healthy balanced lifestyle.
Fay Boozman, director of Arkansas Department of Health, explains the big picture of health and wellness in the state of Arkansas.
Audience members talk amongst themselves during the TRIUMPH event.
Little Rock panel participants listen to J.P. Francoeur, chairman of the Arkansas Governor’s Council on Fitness.

“We’ve been down a remarkable road the past year in Arkansas, but the conversation we are not having enough of is, ‘What about personal responsibility?” said Joe Quinn, director of policy for Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. ACFN chose Little Rock as the first of the eight TRIUMPH events locations in 2005 because Gov. Huckabee recently lost more than 120 pounds and has become a national leader in the fight against obesity.

TRIUMPH attendees heard from former six-time NFL Pro Bowler, Keith Jackson. In 1995, Jackson, a native of Little Rock, launched Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids (P.A.R.K.), a program that focuses on building spirit, mind and body for troubled teens in central Arkansas. Students in grades 8-12 get after-school tutoring, study the Bible, develop leadership skills, do community service projects and take weekend and summer field trips. Teens who complete the five-year P.A.R.K. program are eligible for a four-year, full scholarship to many of Arkansas' colleges and universities.

ACFN Chair Susan Finn served as moderator for the Little Rock TRIUMPH event and keynote speaker, Fay Boozman, M.D., M.P.H, director, Arkansas Department of Health, provided an update on the progress being made across the state in helping Arkansans adopt and sustain healthier lifestyles.

A panel of experts discussed the role that both physical activity and good nutrition habits play in the fight against overweight and obesity and answered questions from the audience. The panel included:

  • Phil Haberstro, executive director, National Association for Health and Fitness
  • Jean-Paul Francoeur, chairman, Arkansas Governor's Council on Fitness
  • Ronni Chernoff, Ph.D., R.D., F.A.D.A., director, Arkansas Geriatric Education Center and associate director for education at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
  • Margaret L. Bogle, Ph.D., R.D., F.A.D.A., executive director, USDA Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative
  • Terri-Conder-Johnson, chair, 2005 Little Rockers Kids' Marathon

Following the panel discussion, ACFN recognized various community programs that are making a difference in the fight against obesity. The following individuals shared insights on what has inspired and motivated people of all ages to adopt better nutrition habits and become more physically active:

  • Martha Hiett is a senior policy analyst for Healthy Arkansas Initiative, a comprehensive effort by the state of Arkansas to clearly define specific areas where behavioral changes can lead to healthier citizens.
  • Becky Fortenbury is the supervisor for Blue Cross and Blue Shield's Arkansas Fitness Challenge, an employee exercise contest held between Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Arkansas Health Department that encourages employees to get 30 minutes of physical activity each day.
  • Gail Ezelle is the director of the Arkansas Senior Olympics, part of a nationwide movement that in its 12 years has expanded to draw more than 1,000 competitors age 50 years and older, in events such as swimming, tennis and archery.
  • Laurie Hixon a volunteer coordinator for the Girl Scouts of Conifer Council (Texarkana), discussed the Girl Scouts' “Uniquely Me!” events – a mother-daughter spa day and girls’ sports day, designed to show upwards of 900 11 to 19-year-olds how to exercise and eat healthy.