Growing Food Security in Mattapan: The Mattapan Food

and Fitness Coalition

Vivien MorrisGlorie Vital

Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition

October 10, 2009Food Policy Council Day

Community Food Security Coalition MeetingDes Moines, Iowa

Overview

□A little about Mattapan□Describing the Mattapan Food and

Fitness Coalition□Defining healthy food access

problems in Mattapan□Strategies utilized by the MFFC□Accomplishments, challenges and

lessons learned

Mattapan

Map of US with Boston and Des Moines

Mattapan: A few facts

□Southernmost community of Boston□Population 44,000□18% of families and 25% of children live

below the poverty level□91% of residents are people of color□Largest Haitian population north of New

York□35.7% of population is under the age of

20

More Facts

□No full service grocery store lies within the Mattapan boundaries

□Residents report not being able to shop where they’d like because of distance and high food prices

□Mattapan has the highest obesity rate of any community in the state

Mattapan Retail Food Establishments

Obesity in BostonAdults Who are Overweight or Obese by Neighborhood, 2003 and 2005*Boston 50%Allston/Brighten 38%Back Bay** 36%Charlestown 48%Dorchester 64%E. Boston 58%Fenway 32%Hyde Park 64%Jamaica Plain 37%Mattapan 70%Roslindale 60%South Boston 55%South End 44%W. Roxbury 50%** Boston Sample Only** Back Bay includes the North EndData Source: Behavior Risk Factor Survey:: BRFSS, Boston Public Health CommissionData Analysis: BPHC Research Office

The Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition

The Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition – History

□ January 2007, launch of the Mattapan Food and Fitness Initiative

□ 2007,first Farmers Market□ 2008, first Mattapan Moving for Life Event□ 2008, Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition Vigorous Youth

begun □ 2008, conducted community assessment and hosted

community wide planning meetings (co-sponsored with the Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness)

□ 2009, Promoting healthier menus in local restaurant□ 2009, MFFC Vigorous youth interview mayoral candidates

on plans and policies on food and fitness□ 2009, Strategic planning process completed

The Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition – Who we are

□ Individual Mattapan residents□ Mattapan Community

Development Corporation□ Mattapan Community Health

Center□ Mattapan Board of Trade□ Mattapan Cultural Arts Council□ Mattapan Family Services and

ABCD□ Colorado Street Neighborhood

Association□ Church of the Holy Spirit□ Jubilee Christian Church□ Mattapan Civic Association□ Mildred Avenue Community

Center

□ City Natives Nursery/BNAN, Mattapan

□ Nutrition and Fitness for Life Program, BMC

□ Brookwood Community Farm□ Powisett Farm□ BOND of Color□ Boston STEPS, BPHC□ The Harvard Prevention Research

Center□ Haitian American Public Health

Initiative□ Friends of Young Achievers School□ Youth and Family Enrichment

Services □ And growing

Mattapan Food and Fitness Survey Results 2008

□102 surveys conducted July – October 2008 by 15 youth

□7 key informant interviews conducted

□Two focus groups conducted with 16 total participants

□Part of larger project with Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness

Where people shop, Mattapan

19% Do NOT shop

at their favorite storebecause:

Time to get there (26%)Cost (21%)

Difficult to access (5%)

Factors Influencing Food Purchasing, Mattapan

0%

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40%

60%

80%

100%

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Health

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Local

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No impactSome impactGreat impact

Mattapan residents care most about taste, price, and health.

Reasons for non-use of neighborhood fitness

activities, Mattapan

Safety in parks is a big concern in Mattapan

Multiple Approaches to Addressing Healthy Food Access

□Community engagement in goal setting

□Improving Healthy Food Access□Health Education□Leadership Development

Community Engagement in Goal Setting

□ Monthly community meetings

□ Community assessment process led by youth (in collaboration with BCFF)

□ Community Report Back and discussion meeting

□ MFFC website: www.mattapanfoodandfitness.org

Improving Healthy Food Access

□Farmers Market□Build a Garden

(BAG) project with The Food Project

□Work with local restaurants

□Political Action Committee (just begun)

Farmers Market

□ Youth visits to farms□ Special outreach and

support to elders□ Health education at

market□ Harvest Festival□ Culture

(translation/personal shopping assistance)

Efforts to Address Local Concerns in the Mattapan

Farmers Market□ Convenience

□ Market located in heart of Mattapan Square

□ Cost□ Venders price items

with sensitivity to local economic hardships

□ WIC and Senior Farmers Market Vouchers

□ EBT (Food Stamps) accepted and doubled in value

Making the Farmer’s Market Mattapan-Specific

□Culturally specific produce

□Discussions on local vs. non-local produce

□How to keep food prices low

□Youth leadership

Making the Farmers Market Mattapan-Specific, cont.

□Using market to build vibrancy in community, educate, and enrich other programs/institutions

Health Education

□Partners provide health education at farmers market, and other venues

□Trips to local farms□Brookwood□Powisett

Leadership Development

□Vigorous Youth (food assessment, work with other youth, video project, etc.)

□Healthy Communities training program

□Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness trainings on research methods

□Anti-Racism and Health Equity trainings

□Videography training

MFFC Highlights and Accomplishments

□ Coordinate the Mattapan Farmers Market, bringing fresh, affordable and locally grown produce and health promotion activities to Mattapan 2007, 2008, and 2009; special elder outreach and transportation in 2009

□ 200 attendees at the Mattapan Moving for Life event in 2008 and 2009 learned about local fitness resources and engaged in traditional and non-traditional physical activities

□ Local teens surveyed community residents to determine their visions for a healthier Mattapan

□ Partnership with other Mattapan organizations to show films on racial equity and health (“Place Matters”) in 2008

MFFC Highlights and Accomplishments, cont.

□Successful effort to get local restaurant to cease offering and promoting unhealthy menu option

□Multiple successful community meetings in 2009 to engage community members in selecting action priorities

□Partnership with The Food Project to build raised bed gardens at the homes of Mattapan residents

□Partnership with the Boston Collaborative for Food and Fitness to affect city wide policy change

Challenges

□Limited assets (volunteer organization with no staff, no office or our own meeting space; limited ability to stipend youth)

□Need to get at root causes, not just symptoms

□ Reaching out to entire community (all ages, organizations, etc.)

Lessons Learned

□Uncover assets within and outside the community

□Our youth are our most valuable asset

□Build relationships through joint action

□Think big but take doable steps

□Commit to our goals□Be patient and

believe

“Mattapan will become known as one of the healthiest communities in Boston, with easy access to affordable and healthy food. Our streets will be clean, safe and walkable. Our residents of all ages and abilities will take regular advantage of the abundant and inviting play spaces and recreational opportunities.”