The Seward Community Foundation needs to determine what’s important to residents of Seward and Moose Pass, and a $2,000 competitive grant awarded to Seward Wellness for All (WFA) will help reach that goal by funding a second annual Seward Strong Planning Day. Through Seward Strong, WFA hosts a unique citizen-driven community change planning process designed to bolster community participation in the improvement of the community’s health and wellness.
Seward and its surrounding areas is fortunate to have an active base of community members who participate in a number of organizations and activities to continually improve the community. Seward Strong works to support those individuals who are already involved, as well as engage community members who have not been as active. In providing a safe place to share and collaborate with their fellow citizens, Seward Strong brings together new partnerships and empowers community members to find purpose and support for their ideas in community improvement.
In Fall of 2016, the first Seward Strong engaged community members in a one-day planning process to pinpoint two community health and wellness initiatives. 
The selected initiatives then receive $2,000 in kick-starter funds and organizational support from WFA for up to a year following the Planning Day. Funding from the Community Foundation covers the site fee and services of an expert facilitator. Last year, Seward Strong helped launch the successful Community “Garden by the Bay” project (pictured below), and the Seward Community Foundation looks forward to the new ideas and programs generated in 2017.
The second annual Seward Strong Planning Day is scheduled for December 5th, 2017 at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Stay tuned for more information, and follow Wellness for All on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sewardwellness to learn more about the programs and services they offer.
Funds for this grant were designated from the Seward Wellness Fund and the Seward Community Foundation.