It won’t only be a time to celebrate the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project, but also a time to celebrate the community itself.

That’s the message local project leaders want to spread in anticipation of the Tuesday night Vitality Project event at Albert Lea High School, which is set up to recognize the successes that have taken place during the last 10 months since the pilot project was announced.

“It’s really an opportunity for everyone to get together and celebrate and be part of the national picture,” said Community Development Director Bob Graham, local co-chairman for the project.

While it will mark the end of the pilot project, it will not be the end of the healthy changes that have taken place since it started.

“That’s why we’re calling it a celebration, not a wrap-up,” Graham said. “We don’t see a whole lot changing. We don’t see an ending. We don’t see our relationship with Blue Zones coming to a halt. It’s just time to report the findings of our national sponsors.”

The celebration is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium, though people can start arriving at 6 p.m. to check out the continuing opportunities the project will offer. Those opportunities will also be available at the end of the event.

An announcement is expected to be made regarding the future of Blue Zones in Albert Lea, and many of the successes of the project will be shared, Graham said. National media will be in attendance.

“It’s really everyone that’s made this happen, and we want the people to really know that,” he said.

He said when local leaders found out Albert Lea had been selected for the pilot Vitality Project, they didn’t know all it was going to consist of.

The project has sought to help people make simple changes to their lifestyles and environments to help them live longer, healthier lives.

City leaders have made changes to the city’s infrastructure, school district officials have worked to create a healthier environment for students and businesses have pledged to create better work environments for their employees.

One of those businesses is Innovance, which, among other changes, recently completed an indoor walking track for its employees.

“We marked it all the way around in time for the cold winter months ahead,” said Dan Claussen with the company. “We’ve already seen some use of it.”

In addition to these changes, community members have come together to form walking moais, or close groups, and to attend purpose workshops to find out their callings in life. More people have started gardening, and more children are walking to school with their parents and other volunteers. Even restaurants have jumped on board to provide healthy menu options to customers.

“For us it has definitely been an exciting and enriching opportunity, and we want to share that,” Graham added. “It’s not just our program, it’s not just the city’s thing. I think the entire community has been enriched.”

Kristin Heinz, who has led the walking school bus initiative, said she thinks the Tuesday event will be a great opportunity for people to see the culmination of all the work people have done during the past 10 months.

“I think it will be neat to hear what everyone’s been working on and hear what they’re doing to carry out their plans in the future,” Heinz said.

Graham and Community Development Assistant Wendy Flugum said they hope people realize every Albert Lean is invited to the event, even if they have never heard of the project or have previously chosen not to participate in the project.

“It’s not going to be information and lectures, it’s going to be fun,” Flugum said.

Graham and Flugum said through the Vitality Project a spark has accelerated action that’s already been taking place for a long time.

The last time Albert Lea was chosen for a pilot project was with the Jobs Incorporated industrial park more than 60 years ago, Graham pointed out.

The Vitality Project has rebranded and enlightened Albert Lea, they said. It has changed the first impression people get of Albert Lea.

“What was the first impression of the community in January?” Graham asked. “What was the first impression of the community today? I think there’s been some changes, and that’s something we can celebrate.”

People will come here long after the celebration to find out how the project model works and to see the social and physical changes that have taken place, he said.

Albert Lea Community Education Director Chris Chalmers, who is the other local co-chairman of the project, added his encouragement for people to attend the Vitality Project event on Tuesday.

“Coming together as a community this past year — not only to live longer, better — but to work together for a common cause is one more reason that makes Albert Lea a great place to live, work and go to school,” Chalmers said.

Albert Lea Mayor Mike Murtaugh said the Tuesday event will also be a chance for the community to give thanks to the financial sponsor of the project, United Health Foundation, and also to AARP and Blue Zones organizers.

“There’s been a lot of financial resources, more than we can imagine, put into this project,” Murtaugh said.