Connected. Optimistic. Resilient. Engaged.

In 2019, 5 Healthy Towns Foundation began working closely with 3 other essential partners; Chelsea Hospital, Michigan Medicine Department of Family Medicine, and Washtenaw County Community Mental Health to address One Big Thing (OBT) – a collective commitment to move resources upstream to promote engagement and connectedness, and to reduce the negative impacts of mental health crises and substance abuse disorders experienced in our communities.

Some of you have been following this work closely for the last 3 years, while others may be reading this magazine for the first time. Either way, I hope you enjoy learning more about some of the recent work that has led to broader community awareness of OBT, and a deepening of engagement from other essential partners who are investing their own time and resources to build resilience and foster optimism in the communities, businesses, and schools they lead.

The next two years of our work together will be exciting as we define and pilot activities to strengthen what we refer to as ‘Vital Conditions’ – the community elements that we all need to reach our full potential, like access to food and humane housing, healthy natural environments, meaningful work and