Laurel City Councilwoman Willie Evans has been selected to participate in a National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth Education and Families.

Evans has been selected to take part in the Southern Municipal Leaders Combating Childhood Obesity Leadership Academy, which will be held Dec. 9-11 in New Orleans, La.

The two-day event provides local elected officials, senior city staff and school leaders the unique opportunity to learn more about health issues facing the community.

In March, Evans traveled to the nation’s capitol for the National League of Cities’ (NLC) 2009 Congressional City Conference.

The Congressional City Conference is the annual legislative meeting of the National League of Cities, which is designed to inform municipal leaders about federal policy issues while providing an opportunity for city leaders to bring local concerns to their federal elected officials in Washington, D.C.

During the recent NLC meeting, Evans said, she shared the City of Laurel’s concerns with top decision makers.

The local councilwoman was among thousands of local officials learning how to access the resources and funding made available to cities through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including the resources needed to create jobs through federal investments in the cities’ transportation, water and sewer, housing, energy, education and public safety infrastructure.

Evans said the December meeting will allow participants to learn more about the childhood obesity issue and network with representatives from other cities and school districts across the nation.

The Leadership Academy will focus on promising strategies for promoting active living and healthy eating in the community. The event will also have a special focus on partnerships between cities and schools.

The councilman said the attendees will also learn about the importance of establishing a local plan to combat childhood obesity and how strong city-school partnerships can bolster these efforts.

“We are excited about your commitment to combat the problem of childhood obesity in your community,” according to a letter from the National League of Cities. “NLC and AASA anticipate an engaging two days of discussion around this important issue.”

The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance.

Evans discussed her selection with members of the Laurel City Council during the entity’s recent meeting at Laurel City Hall.

The National League of Cities is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.