CitySquare has led the way in opening the Dallas Farmers' Market to low-income customers by helping negotiate the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, fomerly known as "food stamps") to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local producers.
The new policy delivers a true win-win to the market and those who trade there.
Farmers now have a larger market for their produce. Customers now have a grocery venue that supplies fresh, healthy food. Profits and health status both improve!
Rev. Gerald Britt, VP of Public Policy, and his associate, Keilah Jacques worked hard to see this new policy implemented!
Here's a video report from Channel 8!
Showing posts with label food security. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food security. Show all posts
Friday, June 15, 2012
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
At CitySquare, we believe in health for all. Over 600,000 residents of Dallas County lack health insurance, which means they are forced to use emergency rooms as their sole source of medical care. Often, these crises could have been prevented with proper preventative health care. A simple cavity becomes an abcess with infection. Uncontrolled diabetes becomes a life-threatening blood sugar crisis. A heart condition becomes fatal without proper medication and maintenance.
Not only does lack of healthcare affect the health of individuals in our community, but it impacts their ability to work and to be the type of parent, spouse or community member they could otherwise become.
Join us for a free screening of the provocative documentary about the correlation between obesity and poor health, “Killer at Large: Why Obesity is America’s Greatest Threat.”
WHEN 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 23, 2011
WHERE Angelika Film Center & Cafe
(5321 East Mockingbird Lane, Suite 230, Dallas, TX 75206)
Obesity rates in the United States have reached epidemic proportions in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that at least 110,000 people die per year due to obesity and 1/3 of all cancer deaths are directly related to it. From our human evolution and our changing environment to the way our government's public policies are actually causing obesity, Killer at Large shows how little is being done and more importantly, what can be done to reverse it.
Killer at Large also explores the human element of the problem with portions of the film that follow a 12-year old girl who has a controversial liposuction procedure to fix her weight gain and a number of others suffering from obesity, including filmmaker Neil Labute.
[Brought to you as a service of the Public Policy Department at CitySquare.]
Monday, May 10, 2010
Food
Food.
We all must have it to survive.
Those of us who enjoy ready access to it don't give it a second thought most of the time. Because of the richness of our blessing, we often miss the significance and power of food.
Food acts as an organizing force for social action.
Families and friends gather around tables every day to share meals. Along wtih meals come plans for and reports on the day, ideas, dreams, fears, confessions and actions.
Food levels us. Since every single one of us must have it, we must admit that our connection is communal, viseral, organic and universal.
Evil people use food as a weapon.
Loving people use it to create ordinary forums for celebration and discovery.
Food determines health.
Food affects learning.
Food is all about togetherness, hope and being human.
Food anchors us to the earth.
Food draws out celebration. . .it is the stuff of parties, wakes and home-goings, committee meetings, community organizing gatherings and late-nite, bedtime snacks.
Have you noticed? Food facilitates conversation, connection and communion.
Consider the place of "the meal" in Christianity, Judaism and Islam--central, reoccurring and defining.
Food is about hard work, growth and the promise of another day.
Food seems to track right along with fellowship.
Food makes children laugh and run and play.
The lack of food makes the same children cry and sit and wonder.
Sharing, providing, distributing, manufacturing, growing, harvesting, selling, gathering and eating food nudges up against the Sacred.
Think about it when you enjoy your next meal.
Food--not something to take lightly or for granted.
We all must have it to survive.
Those of us who enjoy ready access to it don't give it a second thought most of the time. Because of the richness of our blessing, we often miss the significance and power of food.
Food acts as an organizing force for social action.
Families and friends gather around tables every day to share meals. Along wtih meals come plans for and reports on the day, ideas, dreams, fears, confessions and actions.
Food levels us. Since every single one of us must have it, we must admit that our connection is communal, viseral, organic and universal.
Evil people use food as a weapon.
Loving people use it to create ordinary forums for celebration and discovery.
Food determines health.
Food affects learning.
Food is all about togetherness, hope and being human.
Food anchors us to the earth.
Food draws out celebration. . .it is the stuff of parties, wakes and home-goings, committee meetings, community organizing gatherings and late-nite, bedtime snacks.
Have you noticed? Food facilitates conversation, connection and communion.
Consider the place of "the meal" in Christianity, Judaism and Islam--central, reoccurring and defining.
Food is about hard work, growth and the promise of another day.
Food seems to track right along with fellowship.
Food makes children laugh and run and play.
The lack of food makes the same children cry and sit and wonder.
Sharing, providing, distributing, manufacturing, growing, harvesting, selling, gathering and eating food nudges up against the Sacred.
Think about it when you enjoy your next meal.
Food--not something to take lightly or for granted.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Urban Farm at Paul Quinn College
Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College, possesses a clear vision for the renaissance of the historically black college. A new factor in Dr. Sorrell's dream involves engagement, big time engagement, in the urban farming movement that is gaining strength in Dallas.
Recently, I visited the Paul Quinn campus and captured the video posted below. The school recently plowed up its football field as a part of its conversion into an "urban farm."
The idea is to involve students and neighbors in the farming/gardening. The crop will be distributed to the growers, the community and hopefully a market.
Students at the school will benefit from the experiences of the farm in numerous ways. Much about the plan is still being worked out, but I believe Dr. Sorrell is really onto something important and special.
The revival of this important community institution may be one of the results of this innovative approach to community health and development.
Stay tuned.
Recently, I visited the Paul Quinn campus and captured the video posted below. The school recently plowed up its football field as a part of its conversion into an "urban farm."
The idea is to involve students and neighbors in the farming/gardening. The crop will be distributed to the growers, the community and hopefully a market.
Students at the school will benefit from the experiences of the farm in numerous ways. Much about the plan is still being worked out, but I believe Dr. Sorrell is really onto something important and special.
The revival of this important community institution may be one of the results of this innovative approach to community health and development.
Stay tuned.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Help me raise $5,000 and serve 5,000 meals
Please join my campaign to raise $5,000 to provide 5,000 nutrious meals to low-income families living in inner city Dallas.
Check here to learn how to join my team today.
Every cent will go to purchase nutritive food products.
Or, even better, create your own team and help us expand the effort beyond belief!
Thanks in advance for your support!
Check here to learn how to join my team today.
Every cent will go to purchase nutritive food products.
Or, even better, create your own team and help us expand the effort beyond belief!
Thanks in advance for your support!
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