livewell communities: collaborating for the benefit of community health in tough economic times

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LiveWell Communities:Collaborating for the Benefit of Community

Health in Tough Economic Times

APA ColoradoFriday, October 4th, 2012

Snowmass Village

LiveWell Colorado

LiveWell Colorado is a non-profit organization committed to reducing and preventing obesity among all Coloradans by promoting healthy eating and active living in the places we live, work, learn and play.

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IntroductionsRachel Cleaves, Colorado Center for Community Development, UCD

Lisa Malde, LiveWell Chaffee County

Melissa Trecoske Houghton, LiveWell Longmont

Wendy Peters Moschetti, WPM Consulting

Who is in the room?

LiveWell Westwood: Grassroots Partnerships for a Healthy Built

EnvironmentBy Rachel Cleaves

LiveWell Westwood Community Coordinator

Social Determinants of Health in Westwood, Denver

Demographics• 80% Latino• 50% Spanish-speaking

Built Environment Factors• Wide streets / Narrow sidewalks• Few walkable destinations• Very under-served for parks / rec• High levels of litter and graffiti• Dark streets and alleys• No grocery store• No community center

Mission

LiveWell Westwood increases safe and affordable active living and healthy eating for all who live, work, play, and learn in Westwood.

LiveWell Westwood is funded by LiveWell Colorado for approximately $1 million dollars over 7 years

Needs & Assets

Physical Activity Levels (n=185)

5.95% 15.68%

54.05%24.32%

69.73%

0.00%20.00%40.00%60.00%80.00%

No

Dat

a

Inac

tive

Low

Act

iviti

y

Act

ive

Insu

ffici

entl

y A

ctiv

e

% of Respondents Who Walk or Bike Currently

56.96%

43.04%

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%

Yes No

Needs & Assets

Westwood Unidos Values

1. Residents at Center2. Inclusive3. Democratic4. Transparent5. Uniting6. Listen for what to do

Asset-Based Approach

Listening Conversations• Hired 3 residents as

“Community Connectors” to connect with other residents

• Conducted hundreds of “Listening Conversations”

• Identified community leaders and invited them to participate

Resident-Centered Organization

• Formed Action Committees to work on the projects residents’ identified

Leadership Team- Guides process

- Awards mini-grants

Built Environment

Action Committee

Youth Action

Committees

Safety Action Committee

Education Center Action

Committee

Westwood Unidos

Food AccessAction

Committee

Lead Organizations

BuCu West Business

Association

Revision International

Extreme Community Makeover

LiveWellWestwood

$50,000

Westwood Unidos

Urban Land Conservancy

$25,000

Partner OrganizationsGang

Reduction Initiative$10,000

Denver Community

Planning

Denver Parks and Rec$4,500

Denver City Council

Denver Foundation

$25,000

• 2009: The 1.2 AC site was purchased with a GOCO Land Acquisition Grant & a Community Development Block Grant in a transaction through Trust for Public Land.

• 2010-2011: Extensive clean-up of the site included the demolition of the existing trailer homes & bar & environmental clean-up.

• 2012: The design consultant, Stream Design LLC, was hired for the planning & design of the new neighbor-hood park.

• DPR partnered w/ LiveWell Westwood to assist with community outreach.

Parks and Rec Partnership

Parks and Rec Partnership• Provided $4,500

• Hired 2 community residents

• Surveyed door-to-door within ¼ mile

• Distributed surveys through schools, churches

• Met with school children

Surveys and data collection

• Up to 70 – 80 residents attending meetings

• Residents personally invited through a phone call and postcard

• Display boards used pictures for all literacy levels and languages

• Pizza, simultaneous translation, and childcare were provided for busy and diverse families

PUBLIC MEETINGS

ULC is working to identify a permanent

community center property, and dialogue is starting with Parks &

Rec

Through WU network, a

community space was donated Mon - Thurs

Residents teach sewing, zumba,

nutrition, English.

200 students per week within

2 weeks

Residents expressed desire for educational,

training, and community

center

Educational Center

Other City / LWW Partnerships:Sidewalks widened around Munroe Elementary

Morrison Road corridor plan conducted

Bike lanes installed and traffic calming measures implemented

Neighborhood Plan process slated to begin soon in partnership between Westwood Unidos and Planning Department

ConclusionThink outside the box: diverse residents, city agencies, and organizations often have common goals.

Taking a resident-centered approach increases opportunities for funding and partnership.

City agencies can connect in a meaningful way to residents by working with strong resident-led organizations.

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HEAL and the Built Environment

HEAL GuidesRural and Small Town Communities– Identify, preserve, and promote land for human food

production

– Make every kitchen a community kitchen

– Promote healthy food retail of all shapes and sizes

Urban and Suburban Communities– Review regulatory impediments to urban agriculture

– Use zoning to mitigate unhealthy food retail

– Strengthen support for backyard gardens

www.livewellcolorado.org/ruralhealguide www.livewellcolorado.org/urbanhealguide

www.livewellcolorado.org/HEALlibrary

HEAL Library

Key TopicsBicycling

Walking

Trails and Parks

Complete Streets

School Environments

Community Food Production

Food Processing and Distribution

Healthy Food Retailing

Contribute to the Library

Visit www.livewellcolorado.org/heallibrary

Sharing relevant codes, ordinances, resolutions, policies and other tools

Email advocacy@livewellcolorado.org – provide the information requested in the Field Definitions

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Thank You! Please Contact Us!

Rachel Cleaves, Rachel.Cleaves@ucdenver.edu

Lisa Malde, lmalde@chaffeecounty.org

Melissa Trecoske Houghton, mhoughton@longmontymca.org

Wendy Peters Moschetti, wendy@wpmconsulting.net