Introducing Bronx Health REACH's 2011-2012 Legacy Grantees!

As a Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities (CEED), Bronx Health REACH provides seed grants to fund new projects which aim to eliminate health disparities related to diabetes prevention, management, and treatment. Grants are made to non-profit organizations on behalf of community coalitions serving primarily African American and/or Latino populations. Funding ranges from $25,000-$30,000 with 3-5 grants made per year. In addition to funding, grantees receive technical assistance from Bronx Health REACH to implement year long projects.

Bronx Health REACH awarded three grants for 2011-2012. Please read about these great organizations - we look forward to seeing their projects move forward!

THE POINT Community Development Corporation, Bronx, NY

THE POINT is a non-profit organization dedicated to youth development and the cultural and economic revitalization of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. THE POINT’s Legacy Project aims to reduce the high prevalence of diabetes in Hunts Point by educating youth and community members about health and nutrition and improving community access to affordable and nutritious foods. Teens participating in THE POINT’s community leadership group, A.C.T.I.O.N. (Activists Coming To Inform Our Neighborhood), will take part in education sessions on diabetes prevention and be trained as peer educators. Sessions will include hands-on workshops to construct new bed gardens and will distribute produce to the Hunts Point community through the Corbin Hill Farm Share. To share knowledge throughout the community, A.C.T.I.O.N. will lead education sessions at MS 424’s after-school program to increase awareness of healthy eating for diabetes prevention. THE POINT also plans to produce a Hunts Point gardening manual, do community outreach on healthy eating, and promote the Corbin Hill farm shares to families in the Hunts Point area.

Seeds in the Middle, Brooklyn, NY

Seeds in the Middle fights childhood obesity by taking an integrated approach to health and creating a sustainable infrastructure that engages the entire community: children, parents, and educators. Seeds in the Middle’s Legacy Project will further establish its Hip2B Healthy program in PS 221 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and develop a model for replication to expand to neighboring schools. The Hip2B Healthy program incorporates a school garden, a school-run healthy market, chef’s nights, in-school cooking classes, and fitness opportunities including Zumba, soccer, and track, to create a healthy and nourishing environment for the school community. Seeds in the Middle also works with teachers to develop an integrated curriculum on health and gardening.

Manhattan Middle School for Scientific Inquiry (MS 328), New York, NY

MS 328 is a public school in Washington Heights, a neighborhood with high rates of obesity and diabetes. The middle school’s Legacy Project adds a focus on diabetes and food access to a school wide sustainability curriculum.   MS 328 will expand an organic school garden and greenhouse and create a garden curriculum to make connections between growing and eating healthy food. The school will also develop three units of study focused on diabetes for use in biweekly student advisory classes and will work to change the school food system at MS 328 by increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables and decreasing the processed foods served in the cafeteria.