A Decade of Advocacy: The Strategic Alliance for Healthy Food and Activity Environments
It's been over ten years since the Strategic Alliance first convened to shift the public debate on food and physical activity away from a primary focus on personal responsibility, and toward the roles that corporate and government practices have on the places where people live, work, play, and learn. Our newest document, A Decade of Advocacy: The Strategic Alliance for Healthy Food and Activity Environments, highlights the milestones we've achieved as an Alliance, shares the roadmap and unique network structure that has guided our work, and outlines key future priorities as we continue to build a steady drumbeat for equitable policy and environmental changes. Click here to learn more and read the full document.
Creating Healthy Spaces in Los Angeles County
In September 2011, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation brought together a group of experts to discuss the important role that public land use decisions play in health, and to explore ways to create healthier environments in LA County for physical activity and access to healthy food. Several Strategic Alliance steering committee organizations participated in the convening-including Prevention Institute, California Center for Public Health Advocacy, PolicyLink, and Samuels and Associates. Read the full report here (the report can be found under the "Diabetes Prevention" heading).
Promoting Physical Activity through Shared Use of School and Community Recreational Resources
This new research brief, prepared by Active Living Research, summarizes research on community access to school sport and recreation facilities outside of school hours. One study, for example, found that minority and lower-income neighborhoods were half as likely as White, higher income neighborhoods to have at least one physical activity facility in their community. The report describes challenges commonly associated with the shared use of recreational facilities, and opportunities for policy-makers at the state and local level. Click here to access the report.
Regional Food Hub Resource Guide
Regional food hubs are key mechanisms for creating consistent and reliable supplies of largely locally and organically produced foods. The US Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Wallace Center, its National Good Food Network, the National Association for Produce Market Managers and Project for Public Spaces, have just released their Regional Food Hub Guide. The document outlines the current state of food hub development, provides examples from operating food hubs, and shares funding opportunities and best practices for those interested in playing an active role in food hub development. Click here for the full report.
Safety-based Prioritization of Schools for Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Projects: A Process for Transportation Professionals
The National Center for Safe Routes to School's new resource describes a straightforward way to identify the schools and specific locations that have the greatest need for pedestrian infrastructure improvements. Click here to learn more.
