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Chip Johnson, mayor of Hernando, Miss., spoke recently at the 2009 Southern Obesity Conference regarding his city’s efforts to reduce obesity, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. Johnson first became involved in promoting wellness after he was appointed to a regional health committee by the Northwest Mississippi Community Foundation. Since assuming this role, Johnson has helped usher in policies that require developers and businesses to erect sidewalks when building subdivisions or redesigning businesses, a mandate that has allowed the city to add miles of sidewalks without relying on taxpayer dollars. Other changes include the establishment of the weekly Hernando Farmers Market and the building of the Gale Community Center. In addition, Johnson has overseen the creation of the Parks Department, which next month will partner with the state Health Department to launch the Body Works initiative, an eight- to 12-week program aimed at creating healthy eating habits among city residents. Johnson has also seized several grant opportunities to build parks, trails and sidewalks throughout the city. According to the Commercial Appeal, Johnson has traveled to Washington, D.C., on several occasions to share stories about the city's efforts with policy-makers, and has also been a featured speaker at the Weight of the Nation conference (Crum, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 10/11/09). (Editor’s Note: The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi is an RWJF grantee. RWJF also supported the 2009 Southern Obesity Conference.)