Jaime Wesolowski, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas. (Photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)
Posted
Friday,July 24, 20264:25 pm
EDINBURG, Texas — The Rio Grande Valley could become the subject of a Netflix documentary series if Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas and Blue Zones move forward with a regional initiative aimed at improving health and well-being.
Jaime Wesolowski, president and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries, said Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner recently told him Netflix has shown interest in documenting the potential project from its beginning through its completion. Buettner previously hosted the four-part Netflix series “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones,” which examined communities around the world known for longevity.
“Dan told me two weeks ago (when) we were together giving a presentation. He’s already talked to Netflix, who he’s done documentaries with. They’re interested in doing a documentary from the very beginning, assuming we do this from the very beginning and following it through completion,” Wesolowski said.
The potential documentary comes as the Blue Zones effort in the Valley could expand beyond the four Hidalgo County cities initially assessed by Methodist Healthcare Ministries. Edinburg, McAllen, Mission and Pharr participated in a six-month assessment, while separate foundations have agreed to fund assessments for Brownsville, Harlingen and Weslaco. Wesolowski said that if all seven cities ultimately participate, the initiative would become the largest Blue Zones program undertaken.
The project has not yet been finalized, and additional financial support would be needed for the seven-city initiative to move forward. Wesolowski said Netflix is not the only media organization that could take an interest if the project proceeds.
“(We’re) also talking to ABC and to other other possible media outlets. I think this is going to be a great example for others to follow,” Wesolowski said. “So we can not only improve ourselves, we can improve the rest of the country.”
