Safe and Active Communities: A Pathway to Change Workshop for Clayton County

(January 13, 2026) - Clayton State University is pleased to announce that it received funding from the Georgia Health Policy Center through the Georgia State Physical Activity and Nutrition (G-SPAN) initiative. G-SPAN is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program (SPAN).

G-SPAN aims to provide safe and accessible opportunities for physical activity, make healthy food choices easier, improve nutrition and physical activity in early care and education settings, and support breastfeeding. In support of this effort, G-SPAN has provided funds to Georgia-based organizations to implement new or existing policy, systems, and environmental change across the initiative's four priority issues.

Clayton State University is one of 38 community-based organizations funded by the CDC's State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program (SPAN). Together, G-SPAN's network of 100+ partners is supporting comprehensive obesity prevention efforts across the state by creating safe, accessible environments for physical activity and active transportation.

The funding received will support our February 13th workshop (1:00 PM-3:30 PM), presented by Prospera Consultants and professors from the Clayton State University College of Health and the College of STEM.

“This project will bring together policy and decision-makers to develop coordinated strategies to increase physical activity and improve active transportation infrastructure for residents across Clayton County,” said Dr. Mélanie Poudevigne, Professor in the Department of Health Care Management at Clayton State University. “It is a direct response to the need for safer, more psychologically welcoming environments that encourage all community members to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives.”

 

Workshop speakers will include:

Dr. Michelle Nelson, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director at Clayton State University School of Nursing.

Dr. Lauren Beasley, Assistant Professor of Sport Administration, Co-Founder, Prospera Consulting Group. 

Dr. Melanie Poudevigne, Professor, Health & Fitness Management at Clayton State University.

Aren Ulmer, MA, CMPC, MHFA, Certified Mental Performance Consultant and Founder, Unapologetic Athlete.

Local Business and Community participation in this workshop will enable us to:

• Identify Policy & Infrastructure Changes:Collaborate with cross-sector leaders to pinpoint specific policy, systems, and environmental improvements that will make active transportation physically and psychologically safe across Clayton County.
• Expand Reach & Influence:Connect you or your organization's work to a coordinated countywide effort, amplifying impact across diverse populations and geographic areas through strategic partnerships.
• Develop Measurable Solutions:Create actionable strategies that address real barriers—from missing sidewalks to safety fears—while establishing metrics to track changes in community knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
• Shape Implementation Strategy:Define concrete next steps, secure commitments from key stakeholders, and contribute to a collective action plan that transforms how residents move through their communities.

Workshop Details:

• Date: Friday, February 13, 2026
• Time: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
• Location: Clayton State University, James M Baker University Center, Room 272 (second-floor amphitheater above the cafeteria, next to the coffee shop), 2000 Clayton State Blvd. Morrow, GA 30260 [parking map here]
• RSVP here