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.

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.”

Join Us 9/14 for The Bronx Responds: One Year After the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health from Local to National Policies and Back

You are invited to join us on Thursday, September 14th (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for a virtual conference with thought provoking and action oriented discussions about food and nutrition-related work happening in the Bronx and the policy implications of this work.  In 2022, the White House held the first Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in over 50 years and as an outcome, earlier this year, a National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health was released.  The priorities of our national government and policymakers have implications for food access, affordability, and nutrition education in the Bronx and similar communities impacted by diet-related health disparities.

Topics include:

• Nutrition and Health Equity in the Bronx 

• Overview of the Farm Bill and Its Effects on Local Communities  

• Improving Food Access in Community Settings 

• Integrating Nutrition and Healthcare: Food as Medicine and Food insecurity screenings 

• Knowing What’s in Your Food: Bringing Nutrition Education to the Community

• Eating Soulfully 

• Reimagining your Local Bodega with Better Food 

• Envisioning the Food System of the Future 

Click Here to Register.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting via Zoom.

Speakers include:

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

Christina Badaracco,  Healthcare Consultant, Registered Dietitian, and Co-Author of The Farm Bill: A Citizens’ Guide

Dr. Jen Cadenhead, Executive Director, Teachers College Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education and Policy  

Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter, Author of The Spirit of Soul Food: Race, Faith, & Food Justice 

Ribka Getachew, Director of the NY Good Food Purchasing Program Campaign, Community Food Advocates 

Norma Gonzalez, Farm Share Manager, Corbin Hill Food Project 

Theresa Landau, Program Director, Morrisania WIC

Francisco Marte, President, Bodega and Small Business Group 

LaToya Meaders, Co-Founder and CEO, Collective Fare 

Dr. DeAnna Nara, Senior Policy Associate, Center for Science in the Public Interest 

Aleyna Rodriguez, Executive Director, Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center

Gladys Roman, Executive Director, Manna of Life Ministries

Ismail Samad, Interim Executive Director, Corbin Hill Food Project 

Chet Van Wert, Associate Research Scientist, NYU Stern School of Business

 

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. 

Farm Share Program Wraps Up Successful Season at Two Community Health Centers

This post was written by Milagros Neyra, Community Health Project Manager.

The Bronx Health REACH/Corbin Hill Farm Share Program wrapped up a successful season with over 500 bags of fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables distributed to Mt. Hope, Morris Heights, and Soundview residents. While the Farm Share site at the Institute for Family Health’s (IFH) Stevenson Family Health Center continued for a second year, IFH’s Walton Family Health Center debuted as a new, second location for the Farm Share program.

The summer Farm Share season ran from July to November 2019. Participants picked up their bags, consisting of five to seven vegetables and one fruit, at the Walton Family Health Center on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, and Stevenson participants picked up their bags on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. From its inception, the Farm Share program was designed to give the neighborhood residents access to affordable, locally grown fresh produce. Recipes were provided so customers would have creative ways to prepare their vegetables at home. Cooking demonstrations, led by community chefs and supported by the Corbin Hill Food Project, were held at the locations allowing customers to taste test recipes using the vegetables.

“Having the Farm Share program at the Walton Family Health Center brought our patients, community members, and staff together for a common goal: to be able to purchase affordable, fresh produce, that is otherwise difficult to access in this community,” said Marlin Morel, Farm Share site coordinator for the Walton Family Health Center. “As a Health Coach, my goal is to teach our patients that food is the best medicine, and eating a balanced diet of fresh, whole foods is instrumental in their journey to better health.”

To participate in the program, patients, staff, and community members can sign up onsite or online at any time. By placing an order at least one week in advance of the pick-up date, participants can enjoy high quality and locally grown produce delivered to their health centers. “I'm so grateful that this program was in our neighborhood. Health statistics for the Bronx are very devastating and we desperately need this type of program, as well as the cooking and education about the right things to eat,” said Veronica Millender, a resident of Castle Hill for 43 years and a Farm Share program participant since 2018. “Having the Farm Share year round would mean more healthy residents and less chronic conditions. The big picture is the Bronx having healthier residents who are eating well and can afford to buy fresh produce for their families.”

Participants purchased the produce using cash, credit, debit, EBT/SNAP and Health Bucks. The affordable prices and flexibility of payment options, makes the Farm Share program accessible for all to purchase foods that may have been previously unattainable. The Winter Farm Share Season is scheduled to begin mid-January at the Stevenson and Walton locations. The Winter Farm Share Season begins January 14th at the Walton Family Health Center and January 21st at the Stevenson Family Health Center. If you would like to participate, you can order online or email Mila Neyra, Community Health Project Manager at mineyra@institute.org, or call (212) 633-0800 ext. 1224.

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.

Loyce Godfrey's Commitment to Health, Nutrition, and Faith Based Organizations in the Bronx

Bronx Health REACH (BHR) faith and nutrition consultant, Loyce Godfrey, has been working with faith-based participants in the Healthy Children, Healthy Families program over the past two years. The Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health funded initiative aims to reduce childhood obesity. Loyce developed the curriculum and trains faith-based leaders to teach the nutrition program. She has a long history working with Bronx Health REACH as a faith-based community leader and creator of the Fine, Fit and Fabulous program, one of our most successful health promotion programs. BHR’s Healthy Children, Healthy Families Program Manager, Emily Oppenheimer spoke with Loyce about her commitment to health, nutrition, and faith based organizations in the Bronx.

How did you get your start in health and nutrition?

I attended Tuskegee University and studied nutrition. It took me a while to graduate from college because I got involved in the civil rights movement. Before graduation, I was hired for a job in New York City. I started my first job as an assistant manager at Chock Full o’ Nuts. I was the first African American woman hired there in a management position. At the time there were no explicit policies addressing sexual harassment in the workplace when I was sexually harassed by some of the male colleagues there. It became uncomfortable for me to work there, so I left the company.

From there, I got my start with community-based jobs. I went into child daycare dietetics. I even owned my own daycare center for a while. Then I got involved with seniors. Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council decided they wanted to start a catering service, so I worked with them to get that up and going. 

I worked on opening the first SAGE Center in New York. (SAGE Center is the first full-time LGBT senior center in the country that offers services and programs related to arts and culture, fitness, food and nutrition, and health and wellness). I wrote operating nutrition services procedures, led trainings, secured permits, found a caterer to comply with requirements for meal serving, established record keeping, etc. I have also worked with City Meals on Wheels creating a healthy heart kitchen for seniors and have just completed a project for seniors who may have oral health challenges.

At one point you co-owned a store that featured arts, crafts and clothing imported from Africa.

Yes, I was a partner. It was a very healing, holistic experience. I have always liked to explore and visit faraway places. It may have come from growing up in a small town. I was interested in other parts of the world where black people lived. I liked some of the cultural aspects that were so authentic, like the wood-carved furniture. There were lots of cultural activities in NYC, and through that network I met a woman from West Africa who needed help with her store.

How did you connect with Bronx Health REACH?

Joyce Davis (one of the early leaders of BHR) and I worked together at Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council. During one of our conversations, I told her about a new ministry I had started at my church around healthy topics and nutrition. She told me that she was involved in a similar project with churches and BHR. She invited me to attend a BHR meeting. At the meeting church leaders were sharing updates on their work. When I spoke about what I was doing, Charmaine (Charmaine Ruddock, Project Director of BHR) said, “That’s exactly what we are trying to do!”

For me, this was my first time hearing about government funding opportunities for these projects. I knew health was a major concern in the Bronx so I would share my work at these meetings. I began consulting with BHR by providing workshops and assistance. I discovered that people who attended my church meetings would go eat at Popeyes afterwards. That felt so disconnected from the program I was leading with them. I bet that most of the women who attended the meeting had diabetes, heart disease or some other chronic disease. I was very concerned, so I thought, how could I get my point across so that those attending would no longer go to Popeyes afterwards? How could I combine the faith-based piece with the health behavior to change motivations? How could we align these two key principles? This led me to work on Fine, Fit and Fabulous.

What is a heritage food?

All of the heritage foods are real foods. All come from plants, from the ground. None of them were processed. After being brought to this country, many of those foods are still used in their original natural form.

The aim of our Healthy Children, Healthy Families program is to get families to eat more nutritious foods. What kinds of changes have you seen so far?

One of the barriers to eating healthier is the disconnect people have between real foods/heritage foods and processed junk foods. We are looking to show Bronx families that food, in its natural form, has not changed over the years. It is still the best nourishment for them. These real foods were so important for many generations. These foods sustain people and promote health. The goal is to get people to eat more real, healthy foods. For the families that have participated in the Healthy Children, Healthy Families programs, we are seeing more interest in eating vegetables and fruits. I am optimistic about seeing more of these positive changes. The excitement, cooperation, and passion of the churches is inspiring. Helping these churches to keep that energy alive after the program ends is so important and I think we can do it. For example, one of our church partners has a garden and I see that as a way for them to continue this work to grow and eat God’s real foods.

Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Funding Supports the Garden at the Institute for Family Health Walton Family Health Center

Joseph Ellis, Kelly Moltzen and Sean Butler were given a tour of the Institute for Family Health's Walton Family Health center rooftop garden, led by Rosanna Medina.

Bronx Health REACH’s Creating Healthy Schools & Communities (CHSC) program provided funding to build a rooftop garden at the Institute for Family Health's Walton Family Health Center, to promote wellness and healthy living for staff and patients. When some Bronx Health REACH staff visited the rooftop garden in July, the garden was filled with strawberries, vegetables and herbs ready to be picked. "Growing fruits, vegetables and herbs on the health center’s rooftop is an excellent way to engage staff and patients in healthy living practices," said Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager for Creating Healthy Schools and Communities at Bronx Health REACH. She noted, "The fresh produce is easily seen and very accessible, which encourages staff to enjoy the garden, use the fruits and herbs to make infused water, and model healthy practices for patients. The infused water is a great alternative to sugary beverages. Another exciting part of this garden is that it’s used by Walton’s teen food justice group, encouraging the younger generation to eat fresh produce and develop lifelong healthy eating habits."

IFH Staff member Rosanna Medina gave a tour of the garden to Bronx Health REACH staff and shared her excitement about the garden. “I have a green thumb so I really enjoy coming out to the garden every day. I am part of the watering committee and it is amazing to see how quickly the garden has grown since it was built in June.”

Faith Based Partners Tour Concrete Plant Park

Attendees at the June faith based outreach meeting toured the edible gardens at Concrete Plant Park. 

Faith based partner members were given a tour of Concrete Park at the June faith based outreach initiative. Meeting at Bronx Health REACH partner church, Mt. Zion CME Church, the group walked to the Westchester entrance of Concrete Park, located at Bronx River Avenue and Whitlock Avenue. Nathan Hunter from Bronx River Alliance took the group of 14 on a tour of the edible gardens. As part of our initiative to support active design efforts and increase safe, accessible places for physical activity, we have connected our faith based partners with the work that Bronx River Alliance has been doing to increase awareness of the available park space community residents can access.

Rev. Theresa Oliver, Senior Pastor at Mt. Zion CME Church initially toured both Concrete Plant Park and Starlight Park in May, and joined the June tour. She remarked, "It is remarkable that we have this amazing oasis right in our own backyard here in the Bronx. We sampled berries and mint from the edible garden. When it cools down I will bring our congregation to the park after our Sunday service."  Joseph Ellis, Bronx Health REACH Community Health Worker added, "I remember when it used to be an empty space filled with trash but it's great to see it transform into an amazing park and open space that the community can use and enjoy." We encourage everyone to visit Concrete Plant and Starlight Parks and take part in the many outdoor activities offered by our partner Bronx River Alliance.

Faith-Based Organizations Tackle Hypertension in the Bronx

This post was written by Bronx Health REACH staff member Immaculada Moronta.

I witnessed firsthand the impact and power of the churches in tackling hypertension! Coordinating Bronx Health REACH’s Faith Based Outreach Initiative for several years now focusing on promoting healthy eating, physical activity opportunities and educating the community about healthy eating, our partner churches through the years have never disappointed. Their work on the Faith Based Hypertension Program was no exception.

The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH’s (BHR) Faith Based Hypertension Initiative (FBHI), was funded in 2018 by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as part of their Take the Pressure Off, NYC!- an initiative focused on preventing and controlling high blood pressure. The FBHI was modeled, with some modification, on the Fine, Fit and Fabulous (FFF) program BHR developed and led several years ago. Fine Fit and Fabulous was a 12 week diabetes prevention program emphasizing nutrition, faith as a motivator, group discussions and program buddy support system.

The FBHI was a 7 week session focused on treatment adherence and nutrition education based on the DASH (Dietary Approach to STOP Hypertension) Eating Plan for managing and lowering high blood pressure among African American and Latinos in the Bronx. BHR partnered with five churches with each responsible for recruiting Peer Educators (PEs) to be trained to run the program at their respective church with 10-15 participants currently prescribed high blood pressure medication.

Two partner churches continue to build on the FBHI. They are Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus and Friendly Baptist Church. Deacon Dorothy Faison, a PE with Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus, explained her recruitment process included making announcements during Sunday morning service. She was surprised at how many congregants replied to her; members that she had known for years, but was unaware that they had hypertension. “This program started the dialogue. As a church it is part of our culture to know the members on a very personal level. We care for the people that we serve and it is embedded in our faith. When you care about family, you care about their well-being which includes their health. I had never before led a program like this. It offered me the opportunity to build a different rapport with the congregation, a different sense of responsibility and leadership that I was not used to regardless of my role in the congregation. I learned during the training different ways to relate to the members of the congregation.”

She explained that she now leads a follow up session every 6-7 weeks. “We have a buddy system, where we have designated members as partners to follow up with each other. We didn’t want the program to end. Members were interested in what they learned and wished we had a second version to build on the first one.”

The PE with Friendly Baptist Church, Royal Eason, a retired veteran, explained, “This is the first time I completed a training like this. It was a great experience! I did not know that I had this ability. Now that the program is done, a lot of them [participants] want to continue the program. They still want us to have the session at bible study after it was done. I still try to talk to them about what they have learned and make sure they are still applying what they took from the program.”

67 participants completed the program proving that faith based organizations are fully capable of reaching and effectively lead health focused program in underserved communities with approximately . 10-15 participants per church. The impact of the initiative included the following:  increase participants’ blood pressure monitoring, weight loss, taking their medication daily, improved eating habits and a decrease in sodium intake.

Though for many of the PEs this was the first time they had completed this type of training; with no hesitation they took the challenge head on. They engaged and followed up with their community. The FBOI proving once again that they can be key in health promotion in underserved communities.

Healthy Children, Healthy Families Promoted on Alive with Church Alive

Emily Oppenheimer and Yolanda Benitez appeared on "Stay Alive With Church Alive", hosted by Bishop Timothy Birkett to discuss the Healthy Children, Healthy Families program.

Winter Farm Share Returns to Stevenson Family Health Center

After a successful run in 2018, the Winter Farm Share returns to the Stevenson Family Health Center in 2019. Bronx Health REACH has once again partnered with Corbin Hill Food Project to host a Winter Farm Share where employees, patients and community residents can purchase 6-8  seasonal vegetables and one fruit on the first and third Tuesday of every month (from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.) for only $10. Customers can pay in person with cash, credit card, debit card, EBT, SNAP and Health Bucks and can also purchase online by visiting the Corbin Hill website.

Nutrition Education Advocates Educate City Council Members on the Importance of Nutrition Education in Public Schools

This post is written by Moria Byrne-Zaaloff, MPH, Program Coordinator for Creating Healthy Schools and Communities at Bronx Health REACH. 


The energy in the room was palpable as I entered the New York City Council hearing room surrounded by advocates, councilmember staff and a flock of media corralled in the corner. I was there to testify on behalf of Bronx Health REACH, alongside other advocates, teachers, parents and students from across the five boroughs on the importance of nutrition education in schools. The hearing was in response to the Nutrition and Education Reporting bill sponsored by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and City Council Member Mark Treyger, Chair of the Education Committee and supported by many in the nutrition education community.

Currently, information on nutrition education programming in schools isn’t publically available. Bronx Health REACH and other organizations viewed this hearing as an opportunity to highlight the importance of nutrition education and the barriers to it in New York City public schools. The Bill would require the New York City Department of Education to submit an annual report of food and nutrition education classes, conducted by school teachers/staff or external partners in each New York City public school to the New York City Council. The report would account for the frequency and total minutes of instruction, number of students taught, total instruction time by teachers and outside organizations, and number of school teachers/staff who received training in each NYC public school.

Minutes before the hearing began advocates and the co-sponsors of the proposed legislation, Councilman Mark Treyger and Manhattan Borough President Gayle Brewer, gathered for a rally on the steps of City Hall declaring food and nutrition education essential to student health. Councilman Treyger spoke of the gaps in our current education system including a lack of professional development training. He cited the commissioner’s report from 2015 which showed that “over 90 percent of our educators teaching health and wellness are not even licensed to teach health.”

While this data may be remarkably different after the rollout of HealthEd Works, a promising pilot program of the DOE to bring nutrition education programming, professional development training, and resources to 500 public schools in the next few years, parents deserve to know whether their children are currently receiving the same educational programming as resource-rich public schools.

At the hearing, Councilmembers Mark Levine, Brad Lander, Andy King, and Debi Rose asked questions and spoke in support of the proposed legislation, but it was the voices of the students, teachers and advocates that were the most powerful. Maria Mohammed, a Bronx high school graduate, spoke about how students are not being fully educated about the harms of processed food. “What are we going to tell them 5 years from now? We are sorry that we failed you and need to do better for the next generation.” Pam Cook of Teacher’s College spoke on behalf of Meredith Hill, Assistant Principal of Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Engineering who wrote, “When we educate students about what they put in their bodies, they gain power--the power to be educated consumers making healthy choices.”

As a public health professional working in NYC for the past couple of years, I spoke about the constant frustration and burn-out I have seen in the teachers working at our Bronx partner schools who face the challenges of not having enough time to fit nutrition education in the schedule for all students, vague guidelines from the NYC DOE regarding how many hours or lessons per semester should be dedicated to nutrition education in elementary and middle school, and insufficient professional development training in nutrition education. Working in neighborhoods with limited funding, capacity, training and resources leaves many of the energetic and self-motivated teachers ill-equipped to meet students’ needs for nutrition education.

Seeing the level of enthusiasm and commitment in the hearing room to ensure that all NYC public school children receive adequate nutrition education to equip them to make healthy food choices, reawakened the hope of a better future for NYC schoolchildren. On a separate note, seeing the civic process at work  made me feel grateful to live in a country where your voice can be heard.

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.

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.

Emma Rodgers Recognized as One of NYC Food Policy Center's 40 Under 40

At a June 7th event, Bronx Health REACH's Emma Rodgers was recognized by Hunter College's New York City Food Policy Center as one of the 2018 class of 40 individuals under 40 years old who are working to transform the food system. The Center’s honorees include policymakers, educators, community advocates, farmers and innovators who are making significant strides to create healthier, more sustainable food environments and to use food to promote community and economic development. Emma is the Senior Program Manager at Bronx Health REACH. Congratulations Emma! We are honored to have you as part of the Bronx Health REACH team.

Stevenson Farm Share is a Hit with IFH Patients and Community Residents

The Corbin Hill Food Project Summer Farm Share Program, supported by Bronx Health REACH and hosted by the Institute for Family HEALTH (IFH) Stevenson Family Health Center has become a staple among IFH patients and Soundview residents looking to purchase affordable local, farm fresh vegetables and fruits. Every Tuesday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. the Farm Share is set up either inside (or outside weather permitting) the Stevenson Health Center where customers can purchase a variety of local and seasonal vegetables and fruit for only $10. Customers place their orders by Tuesday and pick them up the following Tuesday.

The program began a year ago with GrowNYC’s Fresh Food Box Program and has since changed hands with Corbin Hill Food Project's Farm Share. In the beginning, around 15 to 25 customers per week signed up to receive farm shares that has since increased to 25 to 35 customers per week! Joseph Ellis, our Community Health Worker along with the Institute for Family Stevenson Health Center's Tiffany Diaz are there every week setting up the Farm Share and greeting customers.

"Customers enjoy coming to the Stevenson Farm Share because it’s so close to where they live," said Joseph. "Customers have told us that the produce sold at the Farm Share is fresher and lasts a lot longer than what their local supermarket sells, and with the summer growing season here, there is more of a variety of vegetables and greens offered. Customers use the recipes we give out, and with our regular customers spreading the word about the Farm Share, more people have signed up."

The Farm Share is scheduled to run through November. Customers can pay with cash, credit card, debit card, EBT, or SNAP. Interested participants can sign up in person or online. For further information call (718) 589-8775 ext. 2832. Sign up now to enjoy fresh, local veggies and fruits!