HEP 452 Module 2 Assignment Community Organizing

Market makeovers (MM) refers to practical, homegrown solutions to healthy food access in communities. Based on the definition, Market Makeover is a comprehensive strategy for addressing the grocery gap in food deserts in areas that have limited access to quality, healthy food, an overabundance of fast foods, and alarmingly high rates of chronic conditions related to poor diet (Butterfoss, 2007). Based on the need to provide people with access to healthy foods, market makeovers have involved the physical transformation of the existing corner stores, the addition of fresh produce, business training for store owners and operators, education and community engagement, and social marketing to change health behaviors and increase fresh fruit and vegetable consumption.

The example of marketing makeover (MM) provided in this week’s materials involves Public Matters Market Makeovers, a group that has dedicated to greening the food desert – one corner store at a time. Public Matters has been doing Market Makeovers since 2007, starting in South L.A with the Healthy Eating Active Communities (HEAC) Initiative.

Grassroots organizing involves building community groups from scratch, and leadership is developed where none existed before (Butterfoss, 2007). Based on the example provided – Public Matters, local youths and residents play a crucial role in the hands-on work transforming markets and educating the community about the benefits of fruits and vegetables. They implement the solution, and in so doing take ownership of it. Based on this, there are no groups that have been brought together, and thus, it does not represent a coalition-building but rather building community groups from scratch, which may later be involved in joining a coalition. Based on this, Market makeovers exemplify grassroots organizing, and to some extent coalition-building to help the communities achieve a healthy diet.

The social action model helps in exemplifying Market Makeovers as it is key to sociopolitical empowerment for work with oppressed groups, communities, and organizations. The social action model guides social workers on how to take action by using empowerment-based practice, collaboration and partnership, alliances and development, and action plans. The reason why I believe that the model exemplifies Market Makeovers is that it helps the community to identify the health need in the community, and through this, it begins grassroots organizations that involve local community members who are empowered to help close the health gap. For example, in the example of Public Matters Market Makeovers, local youths and residents have been involved in playing a crucial role in the hands-on work transforming markets and educating the community about the benefits of fruits and vegetables. They implement the solution, and in so doing take ownership of it. Through this, these youths have been able to close the health gap by greening the food desert, providing the community with an opportunity to eat healthily.

References

Butterfoss, F. D. (2007). Coalitions and partnerships in community health. John Wiley & Sons.

Public Matters Market Makeover. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/v0iqbvpL–s