Press, Media and Articles
The Mayor Went Vegan, Then Spread the Word
New York Times - 11/01/2014
In Marshall, a growing number of residents believe that slogan is not far from the truth. Barbecue and chicken-fried steak are a way of life in this corner of East Texas; so are obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. But because of the mayor, Marshall is becoming known as a stop on the national vegan speaking circuit and a small city where people who eschew animal products can order in restaurants.
Texas Town Has Healthy Turnaround Thanks To Plant-Based Diet
Scott Thompson/News on 6 - 07/23/2014
Marshall Mayor’s Health Scare Starts Vegan Movement
My San Antonio - 11/02/2014
SAN ANTONIO — Between barbeque and Tex-Mex, meat is easily a part of every Texan’s meal. But in the East Texas town of Marshall, vegan is the way to go.
Mayor Ed Smith, serving his fifth term in Marshall, and his family decided to explore the vegan, dairy-free lifestyle after his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2008. Smith and his wife, Amanda, switched to a plant based, whole grain diet and scans later revealed that his cancer had ceased growing, according to reports by The New York Times.
New Year, New You Health Fest in Marshall, TX
VegNews - 01/18/2013
In 2010, Ed and Amanda (Mandy) Smith created Get Healthy Marshall, a nonprofit offering food and exercise programs to inspire residents of Marshall and other communities in Eastern Texas—located “in the middle of the stroke belt”—to take control of their health. GHM encourages people to reduce their risk of disease while shedding pounds and feeling great.
Get Healthy Marshall, restaurant team up to offer vegan brunch
Marshall News Messenger - 03/27/2013
Brunch on the Square, presented by Get Healthy Marshall, will give residents the chance to enjoy waffles, sausage, grits and more but with a twist — a vegan twist.
Get Healthy Marshall shares benefits of vegan lifestyle during program
Marshall News Messenger - 07/20/2013
Get Healthy Marshall gave a presentation to members of the public and Leadership Marshall on the health benefits of the vegan lifestyle.
Mayor Ed Smith and his wife Amanda Smith shared facts, statistics and testimonials on how eliminating all meat and animal by-products can affect the body in a positive manner.
Plans underway for vegan lifestyle event
Marshall News Messenger - 09/15/2013
The three-day event, scheduled from Friday, Jan. 17 to Sunday, Jan. 19, features vegan chefs, authors, fitness gurus and more who will come to downtown Marshall to celebrate their lifestyle and share it with others.
Jumpstart Your New Year In This Texas Town
Prime Living Magazine - 01/01/2014
In addition to displaying pride in their deep historical roots, Marshallites are making a serious investment in good health this year. A three-day event called “New Year, New You Health Fest 2014” will address topics such as veganism, exercise and heart health. Also scheduled are a vegan chili competition, a 5K run through the most picturesque parts of town, and a wine tasting hosted by Under the Texas Sun, a local wine and gift shop.
East Texas Mayor Aims to Make His City Eat More Vegan Food
One Green Planet - 11/02/2014
Texas, the 10th most obese state in the country, has been noted as a hotbed for health issues – a side of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer all often come along with traditional Texan meals of fried foods and meat-heavy meals.
But the mayor of one city – Marshall, Texas – is helping to change this reputation of unhealthy food fare forever. Get Healthy Marshall, a nonprofit group started by the town’s five-term mayor
Vegan movement has been healthy for Marshall
Marshall News Messenger - 01/15/2013
Just this past weekend Get Healthy Marshall brought together hundreds of people, both from inside and outside of Marshall to hear from nationally recognized leaders and experts in the vegan movement at an event called “New Year, New You.”
National crowd packs Get Healthy Marshall seminar
Marshall News Messenger - 01/13/2013
Get Healthy Marshall’s New Year New You Health Fest brought in people from all around the nation and Canada to hear well-known authors, chefs and speakers.
A woman inspires city to change
Examiner - 01/12/2013
Amanda Smith is a vegan. She didn’t start that way. She started out just like any other child growing up in Houston, Texas. She ate beef, chicken, and hotdogs, like any other red-blooded American kid.
Dalla carne alle verdure: il sindaco vegan che sta rivoluzionando una cittadina del Texas
Green Me - 11/02/2014
Nella cittadina di Marshall, in Texas, sta avvenendo una piccola rivoluzione. Qui barbecue, bistecche e pollo fritto sono uno stile di vita in questo angolo del Texas; così come anche obesità, diabete, cancro e malattie cardiache. Ma, grazie al suo sindaco, gli abitanti hanno iniziato a evitare i prodotti animali. E stanno diventando vegani. Il primo cittadino Ed Smith, infatti, ha abbracciato una dieta a base vegetale dopo aver sviluppato il cancro. Da allora mangia solo verdure
Marshall, Texas: The Little Town that Made Wellbeing a Priority
Wisdom Works - 11/02/2014
One of the fun parts of my job (there are many!) is being able to celebrate leaders—such as Nike’s Jorge Casimiro and UBS’s Scott Pann—who embrace personal wellbeing and inspire, mobilize, sustain, and role-model wellbeing behaviors inside their workplace.
Profiling people and companies in our Face of Wellbeing Leadership series on this blog gives me a chance not only to introduce you to some inspiring wellbeing leaders, it also reminds me of the progress we’re making to factor in people and planet along with profit and productivity.
Get Healthy Marshall! Potluck Dinner
Marshall News Messenger - 04/14/2012
As Get Healthy Marshall continues to grow, educate and bring people together for a healthy cause, it is bringing with it new friends and new ideas.
Edward and Amanda Smith are dedicated with their program, Get Healthy Marshall, as well as extremely knowledgeable and excited to help Marshall grow into a healthier community.
Get Healthy Marshall gears up for health fest
Marshall News Messenger - 12/26/2012
Get Healthy Marshall is preparing for its New Year New You Health Fest in January by getting world famous speakers and chefs.
Celebrity chef Kathryn Lorusso and her husband Donn will be returning to Marshall to share their journeys into the world of veganism.
China Study co-author and 14 other health and fitness experts to appear at Marshall festival
PR Newswire - 12/29/2012
Campbell, 78, is an American biochemist who specializes in the effects of nutrition on long-term health. He is the author of over 300 research papers and also starred in the 2011 American documentary, Forks Over Knives.
Get Healthy Marshall makes plans for Fest
Marshall News Messenger - 01/03/2013
With a combined weight loss of 447 pounds, members such as co-director of the Boogie Woogie program Jack Canson, assistant fire chief Reggie Cooper and main street manager Bo Ellis praised co-founders Ed and Amanda Smith.
Mayor of Marshall inspires community to take a healthful approach to life
Examiner - 01/11/2013
Approaching his late 40s, Ed Smith noticed friends who he grew up with dropping dead of heart disease. Looking at family history of a grandfather who had experienced heart bypass surgery and a father who had prostate cancer surgery, plus Smith having cholesterol at 220, Smith had a wake up call and decided to make some changes.
Registration continues for Get Healthy Marshall; experts scheduled to speak
Marshall News Messenger - 08/20/2011
Visits by nationally renowned experts in the field of nutrition and health are less than a week away as Get Healthy Marshall continues its registration.
Among the world-class experts is Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, director of the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute and author of “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease.”