Healthy Living in the Bronx -- A Call to Action from the Notorious PhD

On September 22nd, community residents and organizations from across the Bronx participated in the “Just in the Bronx – Our Voice, Our Choice” summit at the Bronx Museum. The day was a testimony to famous anthropologist, Margaret Mead’s belief, “that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.” We heard from community residents, students, teachers, faith based groups, food advocates, elected officials, and Department of Health officials talk about the myriad of exciting projects they are involved in to make the Bronx a place where people are creating opportunities to eat healthier and be more physically active. The event reminded us that while there is a lot of work that still needs to be done; we’ve come a long way as a borough in improving the health of the Bronx. From Play Streets to growing healthy food in classrooms and in community gardens and window sills to community-led fitness groups, Bronxites can hold their heads up high; amazing work is being done across the borough and things are moving in the right direction. During the Action Forum community residents shared their views and indicated their willingness to continue creating this healthier Bronx that we all want.

One of the highlights of the summit was Professor Mark Naison’s keynote address which challenged us to look and understand many of the systemic causes of the unhealthy nature of our Bronx community. Professor Naison is a Professor of African-American Studies and History at Fordham University, Director of Fordham's Urban Studies Program, a community activist and remarkable rapper. Below is his speech. We hope that you enjoy it as much as we did.

Thank you to all of our community partners for making the summit a huge success. To get more involved, please check out the Call to Action from the day on the event’s Wikispace page. You may also be interested in learning more about the organizations that participated in the Action Forum, which you can do with the Action Forum Directory.

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Keynote Address – Professor Mark Naison

Since everybody in the Bronx knows me as Notorious PhD, I have to begin my speech with a line from one of the Bronx’s greatest rappers, Big Pun, whose life and early passing symbolizes the issues we are confronting here today. The line--”Iverson crossover, cheese doodles, grape soda” is one part of a litany of cultural practices which Pun found on the streets of the Bronx, some of which condemned people to an early death. This is certainly true of eating practices in Bronx neighborhoods, many of them places where it is almost impossible to find fresh fruits and vegetables, and where residents would have difficulty affording them even if they could find them. The Bronx is not only the poorest of New York’s 62 counties, it has been rated the unhealthiest, and has the highest rates of both hunger and obesity among New York’s five boroughs. Despite all the heroic efforts of people in this room, and throughout the borough, to bring healthier food to the people of the Bronx, and promote healthier lifestyles, the forces activists are up against, some of them political, some of them market driven, are making that task extremely difficult. In the remarks that follow, I will argue that the health problems of the Bronx are not primarily a result of poor choices on the part of its residents, but of policies which accentuate the poverty of Bronx residents and make their lives more difficult and stressful. And while I fully support community based health programming, I also urge people to turn their attention to policies shaped by powerful forces outside the borough which undermine the health of Bronx residents.

There are three different dynamics currently affecting the health status of Bronx residents in a negative way, each of which is rarely discussed in the medical literature—gentrification, housing and urban planning policies which promote hyper-segregation; and test driven education policies which undermine health and fitness of public school students. I will discuss how each of these shape life in Bronx neighborhoods, and intensify health problems that were serious even before their effects became visible.

First, let us look at Gentrification. The Bronx has been the site of a demographic revolution in the last 20 years, with people from West Africa, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico moving to the borough in large numbers. But this has not been an entirely voluntary migration. According to Greg Jost, Deputy Director of the University Neighborhood Housing Program, “New York’s poorest renters are being priced out of other boroughs and are moving to the West Bronx one of the last bastions of affordable housing in the borough.” When in the Bronx, Jost adds, many of these new residents are paying over half their income in rent, putting a huge dents into funds available for things like health care, food and recreation. And that is not all. According to community activists I have spoken to, the exodus from gentrifying neighborhoods like Harlem, Washington Heights, the Lower East Side and Williamsburg, has resulted in immense housing overcrowding in many sections of the Bronx, with families doubling and tripling up in apartments, people renting out rooms, and even couches to boarders, and spanking new townhouses being subdivided into illegal rooming houses where immigrants can rent rooms with communal bathrooms and kitchens at prices they can afford. These crowded conditions accentuate the risk of fires and communicable diseases, while the income pressures inhibit families abilities to purchase health food. You cannot realistically address healthy conditions in the Bronx, in my judgment, without looking at housing overcrowding, and housing affordability; both of which are at crisis levels in the Bronx The second factor is housing and planning policies which promote hyper-segregation and accentuate the concentration effects of poverty.

During the last ten years, almost every vacant lot in the South Bronx has been the site of new housing construction, some of it in the form of town houses, some of it in the form of large apartment complexes. This has definitely increased the supply of affordable housing in the borough, not enough to offset the impact of gentrification related migration, but still an impressive contribution. But while all of this new housing has gone up, it has not been accompanied by the construction of new youth or recreation centers, raising the question, where are the young people living in these new buildings going to go to get exercise or supervised recreation? If the local public schools were open to the community for this purpose, that would be different, but because of budget cuts, some of them stemming back to the fiscal crisis of the 70’s some of them more recent; those gymnasiums are almost entirely unused in after school hours. And the result is a recreation crisis- felt most acutely by youth= fostered by planners who concentrate affordable housing in already poor-segregated neighborhoods without providing the new recreation resources these residents will need. Most Bronx neighborhoods are not only FOOD DESERTS, they are RECREATION and EXERCSE DESERTS. The dangers of the double whammy should be apparent to everyone in this room. And they can only be corrected by changes in city policy regarding the relationship between housing and recreation space in all new development.

The final force, shaped by political interests outside the borough, negatively affecting the health of Bronx residents, is school policies shaped at the City, State and National level which rate teacher performance, and the fate of entire schools, on the basis of student results on standardized tests. In New York City today, both as a result of Bloomberg Administration policy, and as a condition of accepting Race to the Top Money, schools who do not meet certain performance targets on standardized tests must be closed and half of their teaching staffs removed. More than 144 such school closing have taken place already, many of them in the Bronx, despite the protests of students, parents and community members, with more slated for the future. Along with this, new procedures have been approved at the state level requiring public ratings of teachers, 40 percent of which is based on students test scores, with several years of bad ratings requiring that the teacher be removed. These two policies have created an atmosphere of near panic in the schools of the Bronx, where many of the students are children of immigrants, and a high portion have special needs. And the results have been devastating for the physical and emotional health of these students. To make sure students test well, many schools have taken time once used for gym or recess and use them for test prep; while converting after school recreation programs into study halls.

The result is that already recreation starved youngsters in the Bronx get almost no physical activity in their schools and sit at their desks all day. This in my judgment is a public health disaster, but you cannot address it without reducing the impact of high stakes testing on the careers of Bronx educators. It is a policy problem that has to be addressed at its source, City Hall, the State Capital in Albany, and the US Department of Education.

I am not pointing out these larger forces to undermine the valuable work everyone here is doing to improve health opportunities and health choices for Bronx residents. Everything you are doing builds communities and saves lives. But we also have to try to change policies at the city and national level which make this work more difficult- and build the kind of alliances necessary to do that. The people of the Bronx did not create the conditions they live in; and while they can organize to make their lives better it they will need help from both markets and government who thus far have done more to accentuate their hardships than relieve them.

The Fitness Divas Transforming Their Community One Park at a Time

Darlisa Evans, Betty Robertson and Wendy Williams are community residents who participated in exercise classes offered this past spring by Bronx Health REACH and the Institute for Family Health, and who achieved significant improvements in their health, stronger friendships and a new passion for healthy living. They remained so committed to healthy living that this summer they formed their own group – the “Fitness Divas.” In addition, to regularly providing exercise classes for their friends and neighbors in nearby parks and a local housing complex, they’ve become amazing public health and parks advocates in their own community.

 

Last Thursday, the Fitness Divas joined Bronx Health REACH for a meeting with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation to discuss the poor conditions of the parks in the Bronx and how community residents and organizations can partner with the NYC Parks & Recreation Department to make improvements to Bronx parks. Attending the meeting from the Bronx Office of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation were Robert Wright, Chief of Recreation and Deputy Chiefs of Recreation Neil Harmon and Pete Jones. During the meeting, Darlisa, Betty and Wendy discussed the poor condition of Galileo Park, where they exercise. They pointed to the fact that the park is dirty, the equipment is old and poorly maintained, the benches are waterlogged and that there is a sinkhole. Beyond the unappealing state of the park, they talked about their concern for the lack of park space for children with disabilities, especially in Plimpton Park, which is right across from a school for children with special needs. In the grand scheme of things, the Fitness Divas pointed out that the parks should not only be seen as places for physical activity but for healthy eating as well. Ideas were shared about placing Green Carts in the parks and encouraging bodegas neighboring the parks to set up outdoor stands offering water and fruits.

 

The Parks Department staff agreed that there are a number of challenges to using parks in the Bronx, especially in Community Board 5, which has the least amount of green space in the Bronx and does not even have a recreation center. However, they discussed and emphasized the important role of community members in reporting these concerns and getting involved in their local park to improve its conditions. Deputy Chief Harmon recommended a number of activities that people can to do improve the conditions of their parks:

• Contact your local Community Board and/or call 311 to make complaints. When you call 311, the claim goes directly to the Parks Manager and then he/she has 48 hours to fix the problem in the park. Also, make sure to request a meeting with the Parks Manager to meet you at the park to review the problem and see how it was fixed.
• Work with the Partnership for Parks to create a “Friends of Group” for parks that don’t have them. “Friends of” groups become part of a citywide network of people connected with and interested in improving their local parks. Anthony Martinez is the coordinator for the Bronx.
• Join the Parks Committee of your local Community Board.
• Work with your Community Board to get the Community Affairs Department of the nearby precinct to increase police patrolling near the parks.
• Set up a meeting with your local City Council member to discuss the capital funds for your local parks and increasing the number of Park Enforcement Patrol officers.
• Attend the Parks Department budget consultation/“scopes” meeting to voice concerns about local parks. Anyone from the community can attend.

In addition to this invaluable information from the Parks Department, one of the major takeaways from this meeting was the importance of community involvement in all work that we do. In order to make significant, sustainable improvements to our parks in the Bronx, community residents must be at the forefront of all activities and discussions, because they know their community best -- they know the people, the concerns, and the solutions better than anyone else. For these reasons, we strongly encourage our partners and colleagues to make sure that community residents are sitting front and center when developing and implementing programs and policies that aim to improve the health of the Bronx and reduce health disparities.

 

We can’t thank Darlisa, Betty, and Wendy enough for their energy, enthusiasm, hard work, and commitment to the health of the Bronx and our parks. There is no doubt in our mind that there will be major improvements in the parks in the Bronx in the near future because of these amazing women and others like them!

 

For more information about how you can get involved in your Community Board, click here.

 

For more information about how you can create a “Friends of Parks” group at your park, click here.

 

 

 

 

The New Parks in Hunts Point Are Great…If You Can Find Them

The POINT Community Development Corporation's Summer Youth Employment Program highlights opportunities and challenges for physical activity in Hunts Point

This summer, Bronx Health REACH and the Partnership for a Healthier New York City partnered with the POINT Community Development Corporation’s Summer Youth Employment (SYEP) A.C.T.I.O.N. program to better understand the opportunities and concerns around physical activity in the Bronx.

In early July, Candida Bido from the Bronx District Public Health Office and Paula Park presented to the youth about major health issues in the Bronx, physical activity programs, and parks usage. Most of the youth use the parks 2-3 times a week primarily for exercise/hanging out with friends, including playing basketball and bike riding; their parents do not use the parks for exercise, but they attend BBQs in the park and bring their younger children.

In late July, Elizabeth Hambley from Boogie Down Rides conducted a training and visioning session about improving opportunities for biking in Hunts Point, including working with the youth to design their ideal bike environment. Also, Juan Camilo conducted a geographic information system (GIS) mapping workshop with the youth to develop a map of assets and barriers to physical activity in Hunts Point.

In addition to meeting with community organizations to learn more about health and physical activity in the Bronx, the youth surveyed Hunts Point residents about the parks. Most of the adults surveyed knew about Barretto Point Park and Riverside Park in Hunts Point and felt safe at the local parks. About half of those surveyed thought the parks were clean. Finally, the survey asked what activities residents would like to have in the parks. The following activities were mentioned: BBQs, salsera, carnival, teen events, music/performances, block party, movie night, and swimming.

For their end of summer event, the youth led a bike tour of the parks and green spaces in Hunts Point on August 16th. “Pedal the Point” aimed to raise awareness about the opportunities for physical activity and recreation in the community and draw attention to some of the inconveniences of getting to the parks, including dangerous traffic and awful smells coming from the market. The bike route included: Riverside Park, Drake Park, Hunts Point Landing, Barretto Point Park and the Hunts Point Recreation Center. Twenty-five people attended the bike ride, including 15 youth, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, and Sustainable South Bronx. Click here for photos!

Thank you to the POINT and this amazing group of youth for an eye opening bike ride and fantastic summer! The bike tour really showcased that while there are some opportunities for physical activity in Hunts Point, it’s very hard to find the parks and very dangerous to get to them. It is critical that we make it easier to get to these parks if we hope to improve the health of Bronx residents. Possible solutions include extending the bus service to Barretto Point Park in the fall and spring and creating bike paths to Hunts Point Landing once it opens. We look forward to partnering with the POINT, Assemblyman Crespo and these amazing youth on this initiative over the next year.

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After a competitive process, Bronx Health REACH, a program of the Institute for Family Health, was selected as the Borough Lead Organization (BLO) for the Bronx by the Partnership for a Healthier New York City (Partnership). The Partnership is a newly formed nonprofit funded through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Transformation Grant (CTG) received by the New York City Health Department. CTG supports community-level efforts to reduce chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes by promoting healthy lifestyles, especially among population groups experiencing the greatest burden of chronic disease. As the BLO, Bronx Health REACH is organizing and leading a borough-wide coalition of community partners that will work with the Partnership to impact positive change in health behaviors related to healthy eating, active living, tobacco-free living and reduced excessive and underage alcohol consumption in the Bronx.

To learn more about the POINT and the SYEP A.C.T.I.O.N. program, please visit http://thepoint.org/ and http://thepointcdc.tumblr.com

To learn more about Bronx Health REACH’s work as a Borough Lead, or to join our coalition, please contact Emma Rodgers at (212) 633-0800 x1249 or erodgers@institute2000.org

For more information about the Partnership for a Healthier NYC, please call (646) 619-6499.

Creating a sustainable exercise program in the Bronx

This spring, Bronx Health REACH and the Institute for Family Health began offering a regular exercise group for community members from the University Heights area of the Bronx. Every Monday to Thursday morning the group met at PS 204 and engaged in a different set of exercises depending on the day of the week. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the group walked from PS 204 to Roberto Clemente State Park, then walked within the park, and finally back to the school for a total of almost three miles. On Tuesdays, the group participated in a Zumba class and on Thursdays, a stretch band and muscle training class.

Initially, many of the exercise group participants found it difficult to complete a full exercise routine or to complete the three mile walk without taking frequent breaks. However, over the last five months, the members have reported significant improved health outcomes, including lower blood pressure, weight loss, lower glucose levels for those with diabetes, and a general feeling of being more in control of their health. In addition, this exceptional group of women have made friendships and formed bonds with each other- exemplified by the giant water fight had on one particularly hot summer morning. The small and intimate classes offered them a way to be physically active without feeling judged and they say that this makes all the difference.

Most importantly, the women have pledged to continue exercising together even after the Bronx Health REACH HealthCorps members for 2011-2012 complete their terms and will no longer be able to lead the groups. To ensure they continue to get their daily exercise, the group has reserved a community room in the apartment building where some of the members live to hold a Zumba class every Tuesday and Thursday. It will be led by Darlisa Evans, a member from the exercise group, who initially had a very difficult time completing an entire 45 minute routine. Darlisa has an exceptional weight loss story of her own and is dedicated to helping other women and men realize that they too can lead healthier lives and lose weight. On Wednesdays another member, Wendy Williams, will be leading a yoga class, and on Mondays and Fridays, Betty Robertson, also a group member, will be leading a stretch band group and a walking group in the neighborhood park. By working together these women have turned a program led by Bronx Health REACH into a sustainable exercise program run by the participants.

Bronx Health REACH is very proud of all of these women for their commitment in creating a sustainable and long-running program without outside intervention. With their dedication, the residents of the University Heights community will have access to free exercise classes led by their own neighbors.