Tim Schwantes

Project Associate

Office: 919-966-0278
Fax: 919-843-3083
tschwant@email.unc.edu  

Bio

As a Project Associate at Active Living By Design (ALBD), Tim Schwantes works on multiple evaluation and communication projects that capture community partnerships' efforts to improve healthy, active behaviors through changes to local policies and the built environment. In this role, he assists with data analysis and report development, in addition to researching and writing community feature stories. Tim also performs website maintenance and dissemination activities in order to share emerging best practices and lessons learned with communities and grantees.

Tim was drawn to ALBD's collaborative philosophy because of his appreciation for the ‘big picture' when it comes to health and quality of life, noting "there are often several players involved in creating conditions that might or might not be conducive to health." He believes strongly that cooperation among many disciplines and agencies is necessary to create a culture that truly supports active living and healthy eating.

Previously, Tim served as a financial counselor at a hospital in Fort Collins, CO, helping lower-income patients navigate insurance and assistance systems, a job that convinced him of the importance of preventative care and healthy lifestyles. In earlier work, he conducted trail building and maintenance activities as an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Environmental Corps in Colorado - a natural continuation of his Eagle Scout Project, in which he built a walking trail around a lake.

Tim received master's degrees in social work and public health, as well as a B.A. in public policy with a specialization in health policy, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

An avid runner, Tim has competed in many marathons, triathlons, distance relay events, and an ultra marathon and half Ironman. He also enjoys fixing bikes, watching 80's movies and cooking dinner with his wife, Anna.

Active Living Story

I have always been interested in the outdoors. Hiking and camping in the neighborhood and in scouting were part of my childhood, where I explored nature and played in the dirt. Sometimes I'd get lost in the woods for hours, just playing and running around with friends. I never thought of it as exercise, nor did safety cross my mind. I learned how to problem solve (when I was lost), inquire (when I discovered a new bug), and appreciate the importance of the environment. When I got a bike for my birthday one year, the new places to explore seemed limitless. I would ride into town, go to the gas station for some gum, and over to friends' homes. Again, this wasn't exercise to me- it was fun! Not every kid gets those opportunities, especially now, when many kids have limitations - most out of their control - that make it hard to be active in and around their homes and neighborhoods. Unfortunately, kids who get to play freely outdoors seem like more of an exception than the rule anymore. I'm glad that ALBD's work with communities is helping to bring kids back outside to play.