Have you ever had one of those light-bulb moments where you solved world peace—while taking a shower? Okay, maybe you didn’t solve world peace, but you had that initial spark of an idea that helped solve a problem you'd been wrestling with for some time? When you have a moment like this, don't you wish that others could hear you?

Minnesota is hosting the first-ever Idea Open Challenge! So what is the challenge? Finding the best possible ideas to address the issue of obesity in Minnesota.

Anytime Fitness and Anytime Health are proud to partner with the MN Idea Open in an effort to bring together all Minnesotans for this very important cause.

We invited people to put their "thinking" hats on to help us find solutions to combat the obesity problems we face here in Minnesota. This is essentially a contest of ideas, and the winner receives $500 and the opportunity to secure a $15,000 grant to implement their idea.

This is a unique way of getting people to start thinking about the important issues facing their communities, and what can be done about them. So my question is: Why not roll this model out in communities all across the country?

Obesity is largely preventable, but we have to find ways to encourage people to eat better and be more active. I urge you to contact your local county public health official or even your public health department. Encourage them to adopt this idea-generating model, so that we can fight obesity head-on. After all, Dr. Linus Pauling said it best, "The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas, and throw the bad ones away." When it comes to obesity, there really are no bad ideas, but I think you get the point. Get involved, and start an Idea Open in your community!

Minnesota Idea Open is a venture of Minnesota Community Foundation with major funding from John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.