Youth-led Solutions to Healthy Living "HEALTHY FOODS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS,” a young
PUFFA is one of nine community-led
as how to advocate for change, and peer-
projects nationwide funded by the W.K.
to-peer learning opportunities with youth
female voice says as an image of a dis-
Kellogg Foundation’s Food and Communi-
from across the country. They also learned
tressed Philadelphia neighborhood flash-
ties Initiative to transform food systems
basic nutrition principles.
es on the screen, followed by another
and environments locally. On behalf of the
Through the conference, the Philadel-
with shelves full of potato chips, candy
Philadelphia partnership, Health Promo-
phia delegation learned of Food Empow-
and soda. “Corner stores put junk food
tion Council, a PHMC affiliate, adminis-
erment Education Sustainability Team
in the front so it’s in plain sight,” the girl
ters PUFFA.
(FEEST), a group formed in Seattle, WA.
continues. “The majority of the produce
The Photovoice project, led by PUFFA’s
is rotten,” she adds as images of rotten
lead evaluator Thomas Jefferson Medical
tomatoes appear on the screen, “and fast
University, is just one of the many ways
food is on every corner.” Another voice
PUFFA has engaged youth to become per-
intones, “There is faulty equipment at
sonally involved in creating an equitable
parks—rusted jungle bars, swings miss-
and just local food system. Findings from
FEEST gathers young people to prepare
“ Through PUFFA, youth are learning the IMPORTANCE OF EATING HEALTHY."
ing, basketball hoops with no nets…many
four Photovoice projects helped inform
and share healthy, delicious food in a
citizens told us they don’t like to go to the
PUFFA’s 2009 comprehensive community
space where they can become actively en-
park due to unsafe activities.” These im-
action plan. Now with the plan in hand and
gaged in issues of food resources. At the
ages and voices are part of a Photovoice
the goal of changing policies and environ-
end of each month, FEEST youth invite
assessment conducted in summer 2009
ments to support healthy people living in
neighbors of all ages to attend a communi-
by youth participants in Philadelphia Ur-
healthy places, PUFFA youth are working
ty potluck dinner, which regularly attracts
ban Food and Fitness Alliance (PUFFA).
diligently to shape their communities and
more than 50 community members to in-
The project documented the many barri-
environments.
teract with young people. Sankofa and
ers to healthy eating and active living in
Last year, two local high school stu-
Epps decided to bring the concept back to
four Philadelphia neighborhoods. Through
dents, Sarahn Sankofa and Omar Epps, at-
Philadelphia. They organized students to
Photovoice—a process that blends a
tended a conference in Chandler, AZ, spon-
cook monthly as a team. With the help of a
community-based approach to photogra-
sored by W.K. Kellogg Foundation. There,
nutritionist, the youth eat together family-
phy and social action—50 PUFFA youth
in a local delegation including members
style while learning more about food in
participants recorded and reflected their
from Fair Foods, the School District of
their communities and discussing ways to
communities’ strengths and concerns,
Philadelphia, the Enterprise Center CDC,
effect change.
identified issues and proposed solutions
Common Market, Southeast Philadelphia
“We’ve taken the model from Seattle and
to food access and fitness opportunities.
Collaborative, Nu Sigma Youth Services,
brought it here to Philadelphia,” says Tiffa-
What they saw: little or no access to fresh
the Philadelphia Department of Public
ny Spraggins, a senior at Temple University
food and produce, unsafe playgrounds
Health and Department of Parks and
who worked as a supervisor with the youth
and sidewalks, vacant spaces, and under-
Recreation, the Philadelphia Foundation
in the summer of 2010 and now serves as a
used resources. Their recommendations:
and the Pennsylvania Horticultural So-
youth engagement supervisor. “We have a
beautify communities, increase access to
ciety, the teens gained insight into what
nice little group. A lot of them are athletes.
healthier foods by making them more visi-
others around the country were doing to
Some of them are vegetarians. What makes
ble and affordable, and encourage citizens
promote healthy eating. They participated
them special is that they’re a select group
to exercise more.
in dynamic skill-building workshops, such
of youth-led youth who have come togeth-
page 4 PHMC.ORG