Black History Month: Creating Healthy Food Environments in the Bronx

 

Shen’naque Sean Butler and Francisco Marte, Founder of Bodega and Small Business Group

This article was written by Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager at Bronx Health REACH, Charmaine Ruddock, Project Director at Bronx Health REACH, and Bronx Health REACH Coalition member Shen’naque Sean Butler.

 

African Americans have faced injustices in the food system ever since the days of enslavement, when Africans brought to America lost the food sovereignty they had in their native lands, and as slaves, were forced to subsist on meager food rations of poor dietary quality such as pig intestines, lard and cornmeal. But resistance to these injustices has existed for just as long, with enslaved people cultivating crops from Africa such as okra, yams, black-eyed peas, and creating dishes using ingredients that were native to Africa when they could.

Fannie Lou Hamer’s founding of the Freedom Farm Cooperative in 1967 as a rural economic development and political organizing project was a later action in the Black food justice movement. The Freedom Farm Cooperative sought to uplift Black families through food provisions, such as vegetable gardens and pig-raising, and through community support for housing development and education. By providing food and financial services, the Cooperative allowed Black families to be self-sufficient. This Cooperative is seen by many as a foundation for the modern food security and food justice movements.

In the Bronx, a leader that continued this fight for food justice is Karen Washington, a Black urban farmer, and co-founder of the Black Farmer Fund. A James Beard 2014 Leadership Award Honoree, she worked to dismantle what she so aptly termed “food apartheid” in Black communities.

Recognizing the historical injustices and the power of grassroots community advocacy to address those injustices, Bronx Health REACH, since its inception, has been working with community partners to advance food justice. This has been done through efforts such as encouraging policy makers and elected officials to increase access to affordable fresh produce at farmers markets, promoting farmers and farmers markets to community members, and supporting faith-based organizations’ establishment of gardens.

For more than a decade, Bronx Health REACH has been involved in supporting local business owners selling healthy food, collaborating with the Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG) to train bodega owners to sell healthier food, and promoting those healthier options through the creation of the “Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh” consumer campaign. In 2019, Bronx Health REACH supported Bronx community member and food justice advocate Shen’naque Sean Butler to implement his vision for a healthy bodega initiative.

Shen’naque Sean Butler’s family migrated from Savannah, Georgia, to New York during the Great Migration, seeking economic opportunities and escaping racial violence. Unfortunately, the racial injustices they sought to escape followed them in one form or the other, one of which was redlining—a government policy that systematically removed resources from Black communities. Redlining has had a lasting impact, contributing to the creation of food deserts in areas like the Bronx, where access to fresh and affordable food is severely limited.

 

As a descendant of American chattel slavery, Shen’naque Sean Butler carries not only the legacy of pain but also the resilience of his ancestors. In 2019, inspired by his late mother, Jocelyn Butler, Shen’naque founded FRESCH (Food Revolution Empowering Sustainable Community Health), to address food insecurity and promote healthier eating habits in the Bronx by connecting local food systems. He implemented a pilot group purchasing model where healthy grab-and-go food items were sold at bodegas for customers to purchase at affordable prices. This initiative included bodegas both within and outside the BSBG network.

The initiative delivers plant-based meals to local bodegas, providing nutritious options in areas where fresh food is scarce. FRESCH also hosts workshops and seminars to educate the community about healthy eating and advocates for policy changes to improve food transparency and marketing practices.

In 2024, building on FRESCH and the previous work with BSBG, Bronx Health REACH received funding from the New York Health Foundation to collaborate with BSBG, Collective Fare, Shen’naque Sean Butler, and others to pilot a sustainable business model for bodegas to sell healthy, culturally relevant grab-and-go items, in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx.

The effort to establish a healthy food retail environment with culturally relevant, affordable options for communities of color has continued, gaining momentum to counter the injustices that have gotten worse in the food system over the past several decades. Dr. Marcia Chatelain, a professor of African American history and author of the book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America explains an association between the food retail environment and being “Black.” Dr. Chatelain points out that in the 1960’s, the federal government, through a series of efforts, encouraged the creation of Black businesses as an opportunity to build wealth and create badly needed jobs.  During this time, the fast food industry lobbied government and convinced civil rights organizations that fast food franchising could be good for building Black wealth. Yet, the low-wage jobs created through the franchising model, coupled with the creation of unhealthy food environments in Black communities, turned out to have detrimental economic and health consequences in these communities. Exacerbating the problem was the practice of many food companies associating Black culture with their industrialized food through targeted predatory marketing of fast food and other unhealthy food products. This has had disastrous effects on the health of consumers, with disproportionate impacts especially seen in Black communities.

Despite all of this, the movement that has long embraced the narrative of cultural pride focused on an entrepreneurial model of building Black owned food businesses promoting healthy food, establishing a new cadre of Black farmers, and farmers markets, and securing new retail outlets for those foods continues. The goal of such a movement is still to improve the health and lives of Black communities.

Bronx Health REACH 2024 in Pictures

 

2024 marked the 25th anniversary of Bronx Health REACH and 25 years of our commitment to making health equity in the Bronx a reality. What has sustained, motivated and emboldened us to do this work over 25 years? The community. Bronx Health REACH is first and foremost, a community coalition.

We are thankful and appreciative of our partners, allies and staff who have been critical to this work and all that makes this possible. Many thanks to the following who have generously provided funding for our work:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Initiative

• CDC – COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Initiative

• Health Resources and Services Administration - COVID-19 Bridge Funding

• New York State Department of Health's Creating Healthy Schools & Communities Initiative

• New York State Department of Health/National Association of Chronic Disease Directors - Building Resilient & Inclusive Communities

• New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services

• NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene 

• New York Health Foundation

• New York City Council (Immigrant Health)

• The NYC Civic Engagement Commission

• National Institutes of Health/NYC Community Engagement Alliance (NYCEAL) To End Covid-19 Disparities

• The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)/Natl Institute of Food and Agriculture

• Silicon Valley Foundation

Bronx Health REACH 2024 Initiatives

Bible Church of Christ, Every Day is a Miracle, Manna of Life Ministries and Thorpe Family Residence Nazareth Housing implemented Healthy Pantry Initiative strategies to increase access to healthier foods. 

 

A series of Healthy Pantry Initiative Training videos were created to promote healthy food choices and cultural food preferences for our food pantry partners. Bronx Health REACH partnered with The CUNY Food Policy Institute to assess the quality of the foods in the three cafes at the Lehman College campus.

11 sites participated in the Health Bucks Best Practices Training and received Health Bucks (HB) coupons. They distributed 5,900 HB coupons with an average redemption rate of 83.14% and led 27 farmers’ market tours with 270 participants.

The Food as Medicine Produce Prescription Program, in collaboration with Corbin Hill Food Project, had 69 distributions with 53 participants picking up 2,346 shares, and hosted 28 food demonstrations.

9 bodegas will participate in selling healthy grab-and-go items as Bronx Health REACH received funding from the NY Health Foundation to pilot a healthy bodega initiative in partnership with the Bodega and Small Business Group, Collective Fare, and others.

 

The Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) Coalition worked to pass the Good Food NY Bill. Bronx Health REACH endorsed INT 641, a NYC Council bill requiring that at least two meals on restaurant children’s menus meet certain nutrition standards. Several Bronx Health REACH partners provided testimony during a NYC Council Health Committee meeting in December. 

BHR partnered with Morrisania WIC to host 8 monthly Lactation Discussion sessions with 71 individuals attending. NY Presbyterian, BronxCare, Lincoln Hospital, Albert Einstein, Jacobi, and Montefiore referred 50 individuals to the Baby Café. 27 breastfeeding moms, along with their families and children participated in a Mothers Breastfeeding Fashion show in June. 

Six doulas were trained and completed surveys on how to educate pregnant and breastfeeding women about vaccines.

BHR partnered with Bronx River Alliance advocating for safer entry to the Bronx River Greenway from  E Tremont/E 177th Street by collecting 263 signatures, exceeding their original goal of 125 signatures. The Bronx River Open House at Starlight Park kicked off their program season in April, bringing in over 1000 community members to Starlight Park.

Transportation Alternatives completed walk audits and made recommendations to the NYC Dept of Transportation for improvement of the Grand Concourse Phase 5. They include: improving bike lane markings, bollards for raised bike lanes, raised crosswalks and speed bumps. 

Equity Design, BronxWorks, Greater Faith Cathedral, Bible Christ Church, and Christian Bible Temple completed the Active Communities Tool Assessment, a walk audit, and held a number of town hall meeting to identify complete street redesign projects that will lead to more pedestrian-friendly routes and increased physical activity.

PS18 hosted 7 open streets programs and held their 2nd annual bike fest; PS32 hosted 10 Open Street programs;  PS/MS5 hosted 7 open streets programs and; PS59, a new school partner, hosted 2 events.  

NY State Division of Criminal Justice Service provided funding for CS300 to build a school garden. CS300, Bronx Health REACH, the Mary Mitchell Center and the NY Botanical Garden collaborated with students and teachers to build 8 garden beds, planting vegetables and herbs.

2024 marked the return of Boogie on the Boulevard as a live, in person event that, for the first time, was officially part of the NYC DOT’s Summer Streets program. 21 organizations participated in immersing the public in fitness programs, art, music, and more.

In partnership with Bronx Health REACH and Cornell University Cooperative Extension-NYC, MARC Academy and Family Center provided nutrition and physical activity training to 15 home-based childcare providers.

For our Flu and COVID-19 vaccination Initiative, BHR hosted 15 vaccines events where 240 flu vaccinations and 161 COVID vaccinations were given, distributed 13,960 handouts; gave 26 presentations to 1,028 people; and hosted 8 partner training events for 79 people.

The BHR Health Disparities Workgroup designated April as #Not62 month and appeared on the Bronxnet show, Stay Alive with Church Alive. In May, "Creation of a Movement: #Not62 Campaign for a Healthier Bronx" was showcased at the Institute for Family Health's 12th Annual Research and Innovation Symposium. In October, Eve Plotka attended the RWJF Culture of Health Prize Alumni lunch with other #Not62 steering committee members from Montefiore and the NYC Department of Health.

BHR worked with Dr. Roger Ball to bring in experts, resources and materials to better understand the problems being addressed by the BHR Health Disparities Workgroup to develop goals focused on #Not62 - The Campaign for A Healthy Bronx.

For our Immigrant Health Initiative, our Bronx Health REACH Community Health Outreach Team of Joseph Ellis, Cheikhou Ann and Felix Rojas, completed 73 outreach events, made 130 patient referrals, and participated in 6 podcasts.

October 2024 marked two years of ‘Men Let’s Talk,’ a forum for Black and Latino men to engage in open and honest discussions about concerns regarding their mental and/or sexual health and wellbeing. To date, 323 people have participated in discussions on a variety of topics listed above. 

BHR showcased projects at IFH's 12th Annual Research and Innovation Symposium. Presentations included: “Food as Medicine: Designing and Implementing a Produce Prescription Program at Federally Qualified Health Centers"; "Doula and Perinatal Care Navigator's Impact on COVID19 and Flu Vaccine Decision Making in Bronx Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women"; “Immigrant Health Initiative - Efforts to Support Underserved Immigrant Groups by Improving their Access to Health Care." In October, Cheikhou Oumar Ann, Felix Rojas and Joseph Ellis were recognized for their outstanding work during NYCDOHMH’s Harlem Family Wellness Suite Day for Dads event.

Bronx Health REACH Awarded Two Grants

 Bronx Health REACH has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the Food for Living, Access to Systems and Supportive Strategies for Health Equity (FLASH) grant, and from the NYC Civic Engagement Commission for the project, Slashing Bronx Hunger and Boosting Knowledge About Healthy Eating. 

The 3 year NIH FLASH grant focuses on improving health and wellness for residents of the Morrisania neighborhood by: Improving the physical and food environment (starting community gardens and offering affordable local food options); enhancing the social environment (encouraging people to connect and stay active together through walking groups); and building community skills for healthier lifestyles (teaching simple, culturally relevant activities to improve health). Manna of Life Ministries, New Covenant Development Corporation and Reconciliacion Families in Christ will be our partners on this project.

For the Slashing Bronx Hunger and Boosting Knowledge About Healthy Eating project, Bronx Health REACH will focus on enhancing health and wellness in the 10452, 10456, and 10453 Bronx zip codes. To make healthy foods more accessible for residents, BHR will promote Health Bucks (paper vouchers worth $2 each to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets), and expand the Healthy Pantry Initiative by collaborating with partner food pantries to provide nutrition education and training at partner sites to encourage informed food choices. This grant runs through October 2025.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Recognize BHR Community Health Workers

Left to right: Cheikhou Oumar Ann, Felix Rojas, and Joseph Ellis. 

On Saturday, October 14, Cheikhou Oumar Ann, Felix Rojas and Joseph Ellis, Community Health Workers with the Institute for Family Health’s Bronx Health REACH (BHR), were recognized at a ceremony hosted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) for their outreach work with men in the community. The award was for their outstanding work during NYCDOHMH’s Harlem Family Wellness Suite Day for Dads’ event in June; and for their leadership of the Men, Let’s Talk initiative.

Since 2020, they have led Men, Let’s Talk, a monthly forum for Black and Latino men to engage in open and honest discussions about their mental health concerns. Cheikhou, Felix and Joseph have also served as the Community Outreach and Engagement Team for the CDC Covid and Flu initiative through which more than 12,000 vaccines have been administered to Bronx community residents. They also lead the Immigrant Health initiative, providing information to community members who are new immigrants in the Bronx, and referring those who need healthcare to the Institute’s health centers.

Food as Medicine: A “Prescription” for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

 

This article was written by Kenny Escobar, Nutrition & Physical Activity Coordinator, Jamila Outlar, Produce Prescription Coordinator, and Intern Stephanie Garcia.

In the winter of 2023, Bronx Health REACH and Corbin Hill Food Project Inc. (CHFP) launched the Food as Medicine Produce Prescription Program (FAM) for patients at three Bronx-based Institute for Family Health (IFH) centers to promote the consumption of healthy food.

The FAM project is funded by the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the USDA.  Project participants must be an IFH patient over 18 years of age and screen positive for food insecurity. Once enrolled, participants receive a box of high quality, fresh local fruits and vegetables on a bi-weekly basis for a minimum of six months. The average price for the box of produce is roughly $35 but through FAM the cost to patients is only $2.50. The participants can pay with SNAP, cash, debit, or credit card. Participants who have SNAP can also pay with Health Bucks.

The FAM project also provides participants with recipes at each distribution in order to encourage the eating of fruits and vegetables. These recipes include creative and helpful ways to use the produce from that week’s distribution. Food demonstrations accompany the distribution of the recipes at least once a month at each health center introducing participants to  fruits and vegetables they may not have known or previously eaten. 

Chef Yadi leading a food demonstration. 

Bronx native Chef Yadira Garcia, also known as, the “Happy Healthy Latina” or Chef Yadi, is the chef enthusiastically creating delicious and nutritious dishes for patients to try. She makes sure that patients are educated on the multiple ways to prepare the different produce and is always open to answering any questions that the participants may have. 

As of February 2024, when enrollment ended, 374 patients were enrolled in the program and 130 have completed their 6-month commitment. We will conduct a program evaluation to assess patients’ overall opinions and feedback of the program to determine the effectiveness of this intervention and the impact it has had on the participants. To date feedback from some participants indicate that the program, for them, is a resounding success. An Urban Horizons patient shared that they are “very happy as a lot of us need this program, we get healthy food and we need this in the neighborhood. You’re doing a very good thing for us." A Stevenson patient said she “enjoys this program so much as I am learning how to cook and eat different things.” A patient from Walton stated, “by receiving these produce box two times a month, I am able to eat healthier which is contributing to my weight loss.”

Fresh Food, Fresh Attitude! Increasing Access to Healthy Grab-and-Go Items at Bronx Bodegas

William is the owner of Makey Deli, located at 2704 Third Avenue in the Bronx.

This post was written by Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager for Bronx Health REACH’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities.

On average, Americans eat more than 3,400 mg. of sodium daily – more than double the American Heart Association’s recommended daily limit of 1,500 mg. 77% of the sodium that Americans consume comes from processed foods and food served in restaurants.

In the Bronx, items that people often buy at bodegas are processed foods high in sodium, including chips, deli meats, and cheese. Bronx Health REACH, Montfiore Medical Center and City Harvest are part of the Bronx Bodega Partners Workgroup, offering healthy food retail initiatives to encourage stores to stock healthier items, such as low-sodium deli meats and healthy snack alternatives. The Workgroup launched the Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh healthy bodega marketing campaign to increase awareness of these healthier options throughout the Bronx community.

Bronx Health REACH, with support from the American Heart Association’s NYC Community Impact Grant, is collaborating with the Bronx healthy food advocate, Shen’naque Sean Butler and his “FRESCH” campaign to expand the number of bodegas selling healthy grab-and-go items. To date, Sean has organized taste tests at bodegas, schools, and in the community, offering hummus, three-bean salad, a vegan salad, and pico de gallo. Future taste tests include cut vegetables with dip, fruit cups, and overnight oats. We hope the combination of taste tests and increased access to these healthy items for sale in the community, coupled with the Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh healthy bodega marketing campaign will offer Bronx residents new items they will get excited about and support their health!

Montefiore Medical Center is collaborating with the Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District (BID)  to support bodega owners selling healthy foods such as The Bronx Salad and other healthy grab-and-go items. By partnering with NYC Small Business Services, the Jerome Gun Hill BID offers bodegas compliance consultations, financial education, trainings, advertising and promotional support, and other business support resources.

City Harvest has established a relationship with Fairway to get healthy grab-and-go items sold in supermarkets and corner stores in the Bronx. After an initial pilot phase, the following seven Bronx stores are participating in the grab-and-go program:

1. Borinquen Supermarket, 436 Brook Avenue
2. Met Food Supermarket, 649 Jackson Avenue
3. Real Supermarket, 795 Prospect Avenue
4. Makey Deli, 2704 Third Avenue
5. D & D Deli, 100 West 168th Street
6. Moe’s Quick Deli, 469 Brook Avenue
7. Wanda’s Deli, 104 Elliot Place

Consuming less sodium and more fruits and vegetables – including the items promoted through the grab-and-go program – are part of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet plan, and is an important step in reducing the risk of diet-related diseases such as hypertension and stroke.

For more information, contact Kelly Moltzen via email or call (212) 633-0800 x 1328.

Yo Bronx! Eat Fresh Events held at Two Bodegas

In November, Bronx Health REACH held two Yo Bronx! Eat Fresh Bronx Bodega tasting events. The events took place at G Deli, (551 East 178th Street) and Green Earth Food Deli Grocery (382 East 205th Street). The Fresch team, partners in this effort which is partly funded by the American Heart Association (AHA) Community Impact Grant awarded to Bronx Health REACH in the Fall, offered healthy food samples to bodega customers. Many customers answered surveys on the taste tests at both events. 36 surveys were collected from both events. Results from the surveys will determine which food items will be sold at our partner bodegas. At the Yo Bronx! Eat fresh event at G Deli, customers reported that they found the samples very delicious. "This is my third sample of the three bean salad," said Jonathan. 

Bronx Residents Get Boogie’ing at 6th Annual Boogie on the Boulevard

This post was written by Rachel Ingram, Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Manager at Bronx Health REACH.

On Sunday, September 15th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the middle lanes of the Grand Concourse from 162nd to 170th Street were closed to cars and open to a world of fun and free music, dance, fitness, art, fresh food samplings and more! Boogie on the Boulevard “Boogie,” a NYC Department of Transportation Weekend Walks program, is a one-of-a-kind community event that reimagines the streets as a public space where the many diverse cultures represented in the Bronx can be active and celebrate.

This year at Boogie, nearly 5,000 Bronx residents enjoyed a one-mile stretch of interactive healthy living activities based on themes such as Arts, #Not 62, Fresh and Healthy Eating, Back to School, Fitness and Wellness, Dance, Active Transportation, Baby Oasis, and Street Games. “Every year we get together as community residents, local community-based organizations, healthcare partners, transportation advocates, and we celebrate who we are as the Bronx,” said Bronx Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, a long-time supporter of Boogie on the Boulevard. “We recognize health and wellness and achieving a healthier, brighter, and stronger borough.”

Participants engaged in fitness and wellness activities such as Hoola Hoop classes, Zumba dancing, Kickboxing, Hip Hop Fitness, and various obstacle courses. Over seventy Bronx Runners showed up to participate in a 5K timed run along the Grand Concourse. To celebrate, runners received refreshments and sunglasses with the “Boogie” logo on them. Tai Chi, guided meditation, medical massages, and yoga for adults and kids were available to those looking for a mind and body experience.

Local food vendors and organizations prepared fresh and healthy snacks and gave out samples like hummus with pita bread, shredded carrot salad, apples with sunflower butter, lightly sweetened chocolate covered nuts made by Sustainable Snacks and other goodies for participants to taste on the Fresh Food Block. The “Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh” Games Challenge, hosted by the Institute for Family Health’s Bronx Health REACH, provided a fun way to highlight all of the healthy options that are offered at partner Bronx bodegas participating in the Healthy Bodega program. Participants refreshed themselves with fruit infused water- the perfect alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages.

 

On the Arts Block, families took part in the creative process together. Community artists worked with community members to guide them through various arts and crafts projects like button making, card making, live painting, printmaking, and ceramics. At one point during the day, a large audience gathered around some of the local artists as they took part in painting live action pictures of Boogie on the Boulevard. Participants walked away with beautiful sand-art necklaces, drawings, paintings, and handmade cards.

People-powered vehicles was the theme of the Active Transportation Block. Participants learned how to roller skate, skateboard, and enjoyed free bike rides. Many, and took advantage of free bike parking and bike repairs. The big hit of the day were the adaptive bicycles used for mobility, therapy, and recreation. Everyone loved learning about the freedom that these bikes provide for individuals who otherwise would not be able to ride. They liked trying them out too! 

The Boogie Down block featured Bronx-based music and performances, salsa dancing, hip-hop, and music creation workshops for participants to dance and get moving. There was also silent disco for those thatwho wanted to “boogie” in a unique way! A regular at previous Boogie on the Boulevard events- BombaYo- engaged community members in drum circles to raise awareness of Afro Puerto Rican culture and to connect Bomba to the vast traditions of the African Diaspora.

There were no shortage of activities for folks with infants and children! Those with babies visited the Baby Oasis Block for all their parenting needs including breast-feeding tents, parent resources, and for some, mommy and me yoga. The big kids got to enjoy face painting, balloon making, a bouncy house, Euro Bungee jumping, obstacles courses, back to school giveaways, and streets games galore!

For the civic-minded Bronxites, the #Not62 Block showcased efforts to lift up the Bronx from its ranking as the least healthy county in all of New York State. On this block, people were involved in activities for the whole self - social, emotional, psychological, and physical. They also had the opportunity to help improve the health of the Bronx by signing up to join the #Not62 campaign.

 

Undoubtedly, Boogie on the Boulevard was a huge success! As one participant said, “This is a great event to get families and kids out, to get them active in arts, nutrition, the culture of the Bronx and being from the Bronx.” The 2019 Boogie on the Boulevard was made possible by NYC Department of Transportation Weekend Walks program and the Boogie on the Boulevard -Steering Committee comprised of the Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, BronxWorks, Montefiore Medical Center, and Uptown Boogie & Bicycle Advocacy in partnership with a volunteer committee of Bronx residents. Thank you to our sponsors Amida Care, SBH Health System, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx Museum, the Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH, Health First, New Settlement Apartments, and Union Community Health Center.

Don't Stress, Eat Fresh Healthy Bodega Campaign was at Boogie on the Boulevard

Participants exercising with low sodium bean cans purchased from a local partner bodega. 

On Sunday, September 15th, the center lanes of the Grand Concourse, from 162nd Street to 170th Streets were closed to vehicles and open to a world of fun for the 6th Annual Boogie on the Boulevard. The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH was one of the sponsors of the event that featured music, art, dance, fitness programs and healthy food samples for Bronx residents to enjoy.

Bronx Health REACH showcased the Don't Stress, Eat Fresh Healthy Bodega campaign as part of its Healthy Bodega block. There were delicious healthy food samples from Sustainable Snacks, Cabot Cheese and partner bodega Aqui me Quedo. The Healthy Beverage Zone distributed fruit infused water. Partners in the Fresch Grab & Go! Bodega initiative offered healthy food samples.

One mom pointing to the Rethink Your Drink! display with the large, sugar filled bag beneath the Arizona Iced Tea can, warned her son that if he continues to drink it everyday, he will suffer from diabetes and other health complications as he gets older.

In addition to all the food sampling, there was the Healthy Bodega challenge games led by  Maurelhena Walles and Talik Norman of Equity Design. Participants had fun using cans of low sodium beans as weights to exercise. There was also a relay race to gather as many healthy food items as you would find in a bodega.  To cap off all the activities at the Healthy Bodega Block there was a raffle and four lucky winners each received a Healthy Bodega Bag stocked with all kinds of goodies. Fun was had by all.

Bronx Health REACH Awarded Community Impact Grant from the American Heart Association

Members of the Fresch team offered healthy food samples at Boogie on the Boulevard.

The American Heart Association (AHA) awarded Bronx Health REACH a Community Impact Grant. Funding from this grant will support the Fresch Grab & Go! Initiative that will develop and promote healthy food items at 3-5 Bronx bodegas in partnership with the Bronx Bodega Partners Workgroup, Bascom Catering and City Harvest. Taste tests and surveys will be conducted at bodegas, schools and other community organizations to determine which food items will be sold. Since 2009, the AHA Community Impact Grant has given more than $1 million to 42 recipients.

Don't Stress, Eat Fresh Bodega Marketing Campaign Receives Funding from City Council

New York City Council Member Andrew Cohen visited Tita Mini Market, a partner bodega in the Healthy Bodega program. (Left to right)  Ariana Cipriani from Jerome-Gun Hill BID, Charmaine Ruddock from Bronx Health REACH, Council Member Andrew Cohen, Hakeem Al Hariri owner of Tita Mini Market, Liz Spurrell-Huss from Montefiore’s Community and Population Health Department and Frank Marte from The Bodega Association.

The Don't Stress, Eat Fresh Healthy Bodega marketing campaign has received $2500 funding from the City Council. Funding was part of the allocation for the Bronx Delegation. In February, members of the Bronx Bodega Partners Workgroup met and spoke with six members of the Bronx Delegation at City Hall about the marketing campaign. At the meeting, some of the Council Members expressed interest in visiting our partner bodegas located in their districts.

Justin Cortes, Budget Director for Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson visited Aqui Me Quedo. (Left to right)  Frank Marte from The Bodega Association (ASOBEU), Justin Cortes, Maria Morales from Montefiore, Juan Romeo-owner of Aqui Me Quedo, Chris McKay from Church of God of Prophecy, Charmaine Ruddock from Bronx Health REACH, Liz Spurrell-Huss from Montefiore’s Community and Population Health Department.

Justin Cortes, Budget Director for Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, paid a visit to partner bodega Aqui Me Quedo to learn more about the Healthy Bodega Program. Mr. Cortes was joined by Workgroup partners from the Bodega Association, Bronx Health REACH and Montefiore Medical Center. Bishop Earl McKay and son Chris McKay from Church of God of Prophecy, who will be doing a program with the bodega and the Church Youth Group, also joined the tour. News12 The Bronx was there and did a feature on the program.

Charmaine Ruddock from Bronx Health REACH, David Diaz from the Bodega Association USA, Council Member Fernando Cabrera and Frank Marte, owner of Green Earth Grocery.

Council Member Fernando Cabrera visited Green Earth Grocery, and Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. visited La Mina Mini Market. Both bodegas partner with Bronx Health REACH in its Healthy Bodega Initiative. Council Member Diana Ayala visited Los Hermanos, a partner bodega of BronxWorks. Bodega tours were also planned with Council member King but because of unforeseen circumstances they did not happen. We strongly encourage all members of the Bronx Delegation to visit participating bodegas in their districts.

Funding for the Don't Stress, Eat Fresh marketing campaign would help create more consumer awareness of bodegas selling healthy food. The hoped for result would be an increased demand for healthy food in our partner bodegas. To publicize the importance of the campaign, Workgroup members have successfully submitted Op-Eds to various Bronx community newspapers and posted on social media tagging Bronx Council Members.

Click here to find a partner bodega in your neighborhood.

Remembering Bodega Association President Ramon Murphy

We were saddened to hear of the passing in December of one of our partners, Ramon Murphy, the President of the Bodega Association who had played a large role in Bronx Health REACH’s Healthy Bodega Initiative over the past four years. Mr. Murphy was a long time bodega owner and a tireless advocate on behalf of the more than 5,000 Bodega Association members. He provided input and helped lead the training sessions for bodega owners on how they can profitably transform their stores to serve healthy food to their customers.

As a huge champion of the Healthy Bodega Initiative, Mr. Murphy worked with Spring Bank, a local community bank, to offer bodega owners participating in the bodega trainings very attractive loans for store improvements. He encouraged Goya Foods to supply their 'Better For You' low sodium products to participating Bronx bodegas; and provided valuable insight in the development of the Healthy Bodega marketing campaign. He made it clear that bodegas and their owners, as key community fixtures, viewed improving the health and well-being of the community a priority because without healthy customers neighborhood bodegas would not survive. He will be sorely missed.

Mr. Murphy can be seen in a video about the Healthy Bodega Initiative.

Bronx Health REACH Testifies at City Council Hearings

Bronx Health REACH Director Charmaine Ruddock testified in support of the New York Health Act.


On December 6th, Bronx Health REACH Project Director Charmaine Ruddock provided testimony to the New York City Council in support of the New York Health Act. The New York City Council was voting to call on the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass the New York Health Act, that would guarantee publicly-funded healthcare for all New York State residents without deductibles, co-pays or out-of-network charges. Charmaine spoke on how the passing of the New York Health Act would benefit Bronx residents since the borough is currently not only the unhealthiest county in New York State, but has the largest percentage of uninsured adults (22%) and the largest percentage of adults going without needed medical care (12%). The New York Health Act would enable more Bronx residents to live healthier, longer lives.

The New York Health Act would also provide Bronx residents access to the same quality of healthcare others receive in other parts of NYC and would improve health outcomes for all residents. NY Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried and former NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Mary T. Bassett also testified before the Council, as did Dr. Bassett's mother, who is seated next to Charmaine in the photo above.

Moria Byrne-Zaaloff spoke in support of nutrition education.

On January 16th, the New York City Council held a hearing on the Food and Nutrition Education Reporting Bill. This Bill would require the New York City Department of Education to submit an annual report of food and nutrition education classes to the New York City Council.

Moria Byrne-Zaaloff, Bronx Health REACH’s Program Coordinator for Creating Healthy Schools and Communities testified on the lack of nutrition education in NYC public schools, its importance, and the anticipated impact the bill would have in improving the healthy eating of public school students.

Currently, there isn't any publicly available information on how many schools are actively implementing nutrition education to meet NYC health education requirements. With a reporting system in place, schools and school-based partners focused on nutrition education will have a better sense of gaps and barriers to providing nutrition education in NYC public schools.

Don't Stress, Eat Fresh Healthy Bodega Marketing Campaign Active in the Bronx

The next time you are walking in the Bronx, riding on an MTA bus in the Bronx, or driving behind one of those buses be sure to check out our Don't Stress, Eat Fresh Healthy Bodega marketing campaign promoting our fifteen partner bodegas and the healthy food they are selling. Ads in English and Spanish are on the inside and on the taillights of Bronx MTA buses. They are also on four bus shelters, two urban panels (signs aboveground at subway stations) and on LinkNYC kiosks. We are also using Geofencing as part of the marketing campaign.

How geofencing works:  If someone is walking within the range of one of our fifteen partner bodegas that has been set up for geofencing, he or she will receive an ad on their smartphone promoting the Healthy Bodega campaign. The ad appears on whatever app the person may be using at the time, or even appear later. With geofencing, the person does not necessarily have to be using their smartphone at the time when passing by the location set for geofencing. When the person clicks on the ad they are taken to a full listing of all the partner bodegas in the Healthy Bodega program listed by zip code so that they can choose a specific bodega to shop for healthy food.

If you see one of our advertisements, take a photo and post on social media with the hashtag #FreshBronxBodegas. The Don't Stress, Eat Fresh campaign runs through December.

The Institute for Family Health Awarded 5 Year CDC Grant for Bronx Health REACH

Bronx Health REACH meeting with our Coalition partners in June to determine which healthy initiatives to pursue for the upcoming grant.

Great news! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded the Institute for Family Health a new REACH grant for nearly $4,000,000 to be used over a five-year period. With this new funding, Bronx Health REACH will expand its activities to the entire borough of the Bronx instead of being primarily in the South Bronx. This new funding will allow us to build on our work of implementing community tailored interventions related to nutrition, physical activity and community-clinical linkages.

The focus of Bronx Health REACH in the new grant will be: increasing access to healthier foods and beverages; promoting breastfeeding by increasing the number of locations that are breastfeeding-friendly; supporting active design efforts to increase safe, accessible places for physical activity; and improving community-clinical linkages through the use of locally available health and health promotion programs.

Healthy Bodega Owners Committed to Improving the Health of their Community

This post was written by Juan Mendoza and Naomi Heisler.

Naomi Heisler was an intern with Bronx Health REACH Creating Health Schools and Communities program who worked on the Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh Healthy marketing campaign. 

Naomi is a candidate for a Master’s in Public Health with a focus on Public Health Nutrition at NYU College of Global Public Health.

Juan Mendoza was an intern with the Bronx Health REACH Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program who worked on the Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh marketing campaign as part of the Cooperative Education Program at Hostos College. Juan is studying for his Associate’s in Community Health and is expected to graduate this fall. 

As part of our internship program at Bronx Health REACH, Naomi Heisler and I were assigned the task of liaison to the bodega owners involved in the Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh marketing campaign. I had this feeling that convincing bodega owners to sell healthy items was going to be a challenge. Scheduling a time to speak with the 5 bodega owners was difficult enough, but also getting them to partner with a school to promote the Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh Healthy Bodega Campaign I thought would be impossible! Fortunately, it wasn’t as hard as I had thought.

At first we encountered resistance from some of the bodega owners. “My store has been here more than 20 years, and when students from the nearby school come in to order breakfast, they only choose a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. In the afternoon, students are not purchasing fruits or salads,” said one owner. Once we explained how the partner school and Bronx Health REACH was going to drive more customers to the store to buy healthy items, the owner was willing to hear what I had to say. The plan was simple: the students would conduct a campaign to promote the sale of a healthy item that the owner selected. We pointed out that he could start by stocking a modest amount of healthy items in the first few days to see if the promotional event was working.

Then, he could restock the healthy items the following week, based on customers’ response. The goal was to run the promotional event for one month. If successful, he could continue to sell the items.  Despite his initial negative mindset, I convinced this owner and the four others that by participating in the  'Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh' Healthy Bodega campaign, would significantly benefit their stores and local communities.

We surveyed the stores to determine areas for improvement in promoting healthy food and beverages. Then we provided the five bodega owners and staff with free training and resources. During the Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh training, Naomi and I gave the owners tips on how to promote and market healthier options using standard food marketing techniques. These included: placing a cooler stocked with cold water or fruit salad next to the register to encourage people to make a healthy impulse purchase on the go; placing healthy items on the racks towards the front of the store and at children’s eye-level; and giving away free samples of fresh cut fruit or low-sodium deli meat. We explained that this was another way to attract customers to the deli counter and engage them in a conversation about why low-sodium meat and cheese are healthier and tastier options. We also gave the bodega staff a nutrition label reading lesson and advice on how to prepare different recipes, so they could provide healthier options to their customers.

We were impressed to see the positive steps bodega owners took to become a healthier bodega with the help of their partner schools PS36, 443 and 294. M.H. Deli Grocery, (located at 1405 Walton Ave, Bronx, NY, 10452), placed fruit salads, garden salads and water in a beverage case near the entrance. M.H. Deli Grocery is participating in the program for the second year in a row. Eye-catching signs created by PS294 students from last year are still on display. The signs (in English and in Spanish) hang above healthier options such as water, trail mix, and baked chips. The signs, the bodega owner told us, has drawn attention to those healthy products from PS 294 students, parents, and teachers who frequent the bodega. The success of the student project from last year was one of the reasons the owner agreed to do this project again. Another reason was that his son attends PS294.

Saisel Alloltacar, the owner of SABA Deli, located at 1183 Castle Hill Ave, also has a son attending the partner school, PS36. But that wasn’t the only reason why he decided to do this project. Saisel always has healthy food available in his bodega so “whenever the community decides to make that change in their lives, they can purchase it at my store.” It seems the bodega owners were always willing to sell healthy food, they just needed to believe that their customers would buy these foods. Once they had the support of Naomi and I, and the students from the nearby schools who really care about their community, we found the bodega owners were willing to make the changes. The result, a healthier community.

It has been such a beautiful experience for both Naomi and I to see this project come together, how our efforts are paying off, and that the community is benefitting from our work.

The Bronx Salad at Bronx Day in Albany

Bronx Health REACH partner Henry Obispo of United Business Cooperative promoting The Bronx Salad at Bronx Day in Albany.

Bronx Health REACH's Kelly Moltzen and Henry Obispo from United Business Cooperative, a partner in the Healthy Restaurant Initiative attended and promoted The Bronx Salad at Bronx Day in Albany on June 12th. Expo participants had an opportunity to taste The Bronx Salad, which was well received. The event to showcase the products and services of Bronx businesses and organizations was organized by New York State Assemblymember Michael Benedetto. Assemblymembers Victor M. Pichardo, Marcos Crespo, Andrew Hevesi, Senator Jose E. Serrano, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. spoke at the event.

Bronx Health REACH believes Bronx restaurants would be better equipped to serve The Bronx Salad if partner restaurants were supported as business owners through strategies developed by United Business Cooperative. Bronx Health REACH will continue working with United Business Cooperative and Bronx legislators to try to increase the capacity of Bronx food businesses to source healthy ingredients such as those used to make The Bronx Salad.

Unionport School-PS36 and Saba Deli Unveil Don't Stress, Eat Fresh Campaign

Students from Unionport School-PS36 gave out samples of their Fruit Fix fruit cup.
 
Unionport School-PS36 students and Saba Quality Plus Deli unveiled their Don't Stress, Eat Fresh healthy bodega marketing campaign on Tuesday, June 12. Students offered free fruit salad samples to Saba Quality Plus Deli customers and promoted Saba by featuring the fruit salad during morning announcements, classroom and cafeteria presentations and by distributing fliers. Bronx Health REACH provided Saba Quality Plus Deli with training and technical support on how to better promote the fruit salad.

"The fruit cup has grapes, strawberries and mangos. We are encouraging people to eat healthier this summer by purchasing the fruit cup instead of Takis and to drink water instead of Coke," said Christian, a student involved with the program. Ms. Judith Siegel, a teacher leading the class remarked, "After visiting some of the local bodegas we learned there were not a lot of healthy choices for the students, so we decided to create the Fruit Fix fruit cup and Saba generously agreed to sell it during the summer for $2."

This is part of a borough wide initiative launched by the Institute for Family Health's Bronx Health REACH, the Bodega Association and the Bronx Bodega Workgroup to encourage Bronx residents to purchase healthier foods and beverages at 56 participating bodegas in the Bronx.