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"Growing Food Security in Mattapan" workshop at the Food Policy Council Gathering, October 10 2009, Des Moines Iowa
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Growing Food Security in Mattapan: The Mattapan Food
and Fitness Coalition
Vivien MorrisGlorie Vital
Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition
October 10, 2009Food Policy Council Day
Community Food Security Coalition MeetingDes Moines, Iowa
Overview
□A little about Mattapan□Describing the Mattapan Food and
Fitness Coalition□Defining healthy food access
problems in Mattapan□Strategies utilized by the MFFC□Accomplishments, challenges and
lessons learned
Mattapan
Map of US with Boston and Des Moines
Mattapan: A few facts
□Southernmost community of Boston□Population 44,000□18% of families and 25% of children live
below the poverty level□91% of residents are people of color□Largest Haitian population north of New
York□35.7% of population is under the age of
20
More Facts
□No full service grocery store lies within the Mattapan boundaries
□Residents report not being able to shop where they’d like because of distance and high food prices
□Mattapan has the highest obesity rate of any community in the state
Mattapan Retail Food Establishments
Obesity in BostonAdults Who are Overweight or Obese by Neighborhood, 2003 and 2005*Boston 50%Allston/Brighten 38%Back Bay** 36%Charlestown 48%Dorchester 64%E. Boston 58%Fenway 32%Hyde Park 64%Jamaica Plain 37%Mattapan 70%Roslindale 60%South Boston 55%South End 44%W. Roxbury 50%** Boston Sample Only** Back Bay includes the North EndData Source: Behavior Risk Factor Survey:: BRFSS, Boston Public Health CommissionData Analysis: BPHC Research Office
The Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition
The Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition – History
□ January 2007, launch of the Mattapan Food and Fitness Initiative
□ 2007,first Farmers Market□ 2008, first Mattapan Moving for Life Event□ 2008, Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition Vigorous Youth
begun □ 2008, conducted community assessment and hosted
community wide planning meetings (co-sponsored with the Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness)
□ 2009, Promoting healthier menus in local restaurant□ 2009, MFFC Vigorous youth interview mayoral candidates
on plans and policies on food and fitness□ 2009, Strategic planning process completed
The Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition – Who we are
□ Individual Mattapan residents□ Mattapan Community
Development Corporation□ Mattapan Community Health
Center□ Mattapan Board of Trade□ Mattapan Cultural Arts Council□ Mattapan Family Services and
ABCD□ Colorado Street Neighborhood
Association□ Church of the Holy Spirit□ Jubilee Christian Church□ Mattapan Civic Association□ Mildred Avenue Community
Center
□ City Natives Nursery/BNAN, Mattapan
□ Nutrition and Fitness for Life Program, BMC
□ Brookwood Community Farm□ Powisett Farm□ BOND of Color□ Boston STEPS, BPHC□ The Harvard Prevention Research
Center□ Haitian American Public Health
Initiative□ Friends of Young Achievers School□ Youth and Family Enrichment
Services □ And growing
Mattapan Food and Fitness Survey Results 2008
□102 surveys conducted July – October 2008 by 15 youth
□7 key informant interviews conducted
□Two focus groups conducted with 16 total participants
□Part of larger project with Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness
Where people shop, Mattapan
19% Do NOT shop
at their favorite storebecause:
Time to get there (26%)Cost (21%)
Difficult to access (5%)
Factors Influencing Food Purchasing, Mattapan
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
TastePric
e
Health
Conve
nienc
e
Org
anic
Local
Brand
On
sale
No impactSome impactGreat impact
Mattapan residents care most about taste, price, and health.
Reasons for non-use of neighborhood fitness
activities, Mattapan
Safety in parks is a big concern in Mattapan
Multiple Approaches to Addressing Healthy Food Access
□Community engagement in goal setting
□Improving Healthy Food Access□Health Education□Leadership Development
Community Engagement in Goal Setting
□ Monthly community meetings
□ Community assessment process led by youth (in collaboration with BCFF)
□ Community Report Back and discussion meeting
□ MFFC website: www.mattapanfoodandfitness.org
Improving Healthy Food Access
□Farmers Market□Build a Garden
(BAG) project with The Food Project
□Work with local restaurants
□Political Action Committee (just begun)
Farmers Market
□ Youth visits to farms□ Special outreach and
support to elders□ Health education at
market□ Harvest Festival□ Culture
(translation/personal shopping assistance)
Efforts to Address Local Concerns in the Mattapan
Farmers Market□ Convenience
□ Market located in heart of Mattapan Square
□ Cost□ Venders price items
with sensitivity to local economic hardships
□ WIC and Senior Farmers Market Vouchers
□ EBT (Food Stamps) accepted and doubled in value
Making the Farmer’s Market Mattapan-Specific
□Culturally specific produce
□Discussions on local vs. non-local produce
□How to keep food prices low
□Youth leadership
Making the Farmers Market Mattapan-Specific, cont.
□Using market to build vibrancy in community, educate, and enrich other programs/institutions
Health Education
□Partners provide health education at farmers market, and other venues
□Trips to local farms□Brookwood□Powisett
Leadership Development
□Vigorous Youth (food assessment, work with other youth, video project, etc.)
□Healthy Communities training program
□Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness trainings on research methods
□Anti-Racism and Health Equity trainings
□Videography training
MFFC Highlights and Accomplishments
□ Coordinate the Mattapan Farmers Market, bringing fresh, affordable and locally grown produce and health promotion activities to Mattapan 2007, 2008, and 2009; special elder outreach and transportation in 2009
□ 200 attendees at the Mattapan Moving for Life event in 2008 and 2009 learned about local fitness resources and engaged in traditional and non-traditional physical activities
□ Local teens surveyed community residents to determine their visions for a healthier Mattapan
□ Partnership with other Mattapan organizations to show films on racial equity and health (“Place Matters”) in 2008
MFFC Highlights and Accomplishments, cont.
□Successful effort to get local restaurant to cease offering and promoting unhealthy menu option
□Multiple successful community meetings in 2009 to engage community members in selecting action priorities
□Partnership with The Food Project to build raised bed gardens at the homes of Mattapan residents
□Partnership with the Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness to affect city wide policy change
Challenges
□Limited assets (volunteer organization with no staff, no office or our own meeting space; limited ability to stipend youth)
□Need to get at root causes, not just symptoms
□ Reaching out to entire community (all ages, organizations, etc.)
Lessons Learned
□Uncover assets within and outside the community
□Our youth are our most valuable asset
□Build relationships through joint action
□Think big but take doable steps
□Commit to our goals□Be patient and
believe
“Mattapan will become known as one of the healthiest communities in Boston, with easy access to affordable and healthy food. Our streets will be clean, safe and walkable. Our residents of all ages and abilities will take regular advantage of the abundant and inviting play spaces and recreational opportunities.”