VISIONING FOR A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY

Health of Codman Square

Community Meeting

Report April 2012

Sponsored by Codman Square Neighborhood Council, Boston Public Health Commission

and Boston Alliance for Community Health

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Health of Boston Meetings Each year, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) holds meetings with the community to share data from our annual Health of Boston report and to listen to residents’ concerns about their health. The goals of these meetings are to increase awareness of the impact of social and economic factors like racism on health and to help improve health in our communities through effective partnerships. In December, BPHC held the last of four 2011 community meetings along with the Codman Square Health Council, Codman Square Neighborhood Council (CSNC), BOLD Teens, the Millennium Ten Initiative and the Boston Alliance for Community Health (BACH). The health topics discussed were chosen by the Codman Square organizations to address important issues in their neighborhood and to support the meeting’s purpose as a visioning session.

The visioning is one phase of Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP), the health planning process that BACH has adopted. MAPP is a community-driven planning process for improving community health. Led by public health and community leaders, working together with a diverse group of residents and other

partners, this framework helps communities to prioritize health issues and identify resources to address them.

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BPHC Executive Director, Dr. Barbara Ferrer

A packed room of participants discussed their visions for the neighborhood.

Introduction The Codman Square “Visioning for a Healthy Community” meeting was held on December 7, 2011. It focused on BPHC’s priorities for the city of Boston - reducing obesity, low birth weight, and Chlamydia - as well as other health issues affecting Codman Square/South Dorchester. The meeting also highlighted the problem of racial and ethnic health inequities and the social factors contributing to these unjust differences in health outcomes. More than 100 people attended the event, which was held at the Great Hall in Codman Square. Attendees included residents, representatives from BOLD Teens, CSNC, Codman Square Health Center, Boston Cyclists Union, Boston EMS, Boston Police Department, Dorchester Community Food Co-operative, Health Resources in Action, Sportsmen's Tennis and Enrichment Center, Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Neighbors United, BACH, Department of Public Health, Redefining Our Community, St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center, local businesses and staff from BPHC. State Representative Russell Holmes and Boston City Councilor Charles Yancey were also in attendance.

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Dr. Ferrer answered questions posed by Codman Square residents.

How Healthy Is Codman Square/South Dorchester?

The specific goals of this meeting were: (1) to share information about the health status of residents of Codman Square, which was compiled in the 2011 Health of Boston report; (2) to identify assets in the community and vision a healthier community as part of the MAPP process; and (3) to identify opportunities and next steps individual residents could take to help realize their vision for the community at large.

Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Executive Director of BPHC, presented South Dorchester demographics and health data, focusing on rates of obesity, low birth weight, and Chlamydia. She also explained the influence that racism and other factors have on health outcomes. One statistic that Dr. Ferrer presented is that Codman Square/South Dorchester has lower rates of diabetes related hospitalizations than five Boston communities (Roslindale, Roxbury, South End, Mattapan, and North Dorchester). However, this rate is higher than those of the remaining nine neighborhoods and is much higher than that of Boston overall. Dr. Ferrer concluded the presentation by describing BPHC’s specific initiatives for combating this health issue. She focused part of her presentation on the recent BPHC media campaigns to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, sports drinks, and energy drinks (including websites Sugarsmarts.com and Fat Smack), and related policies to help people make healthy choices.

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BPHC staff provided information about the sugar sweetened beverage

campaign.

Community participated in small group discussions on community assets and visions.

Following the presentation, Codman Square/South Dorchester residents and service providers shared their thoughts. Questions posed by the community included: what is the city doing to provide opportunities for physical activity through biking and other ways, along with comments stressing the importance of thinking about racial disparities in health and

the role of the community in coming together. In closing, Dr. Ferrer expressed interest in working more closely with the community to further health improvement efforts.

Small Group Discussions

Following the question and answer period, participants were given the opportunity to vision individually and with other people at their tables about the following questions:

1. What are the assets, strengths, and resources within the Codman Square

AND Dorchester communities? 2. What do you envision/hope for in your community within the next 5 years? 3. What will you personally do within the next year toward achieving the

vision?

After participants wrote down their own lists on individual worksheets, tables discussed their group responses. These were then reported back to the larger audience, and at the same time projected onto a screen, prompting a final discussion of what action is needed to continue these conversations and ultimately to address the issues raised.

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Dorchester Winter Farmers’ Market

Assets

The discussion groups shared many ideas about the strengths and assets within the Codman Square / South Dorchester community. The following is a summary of some of the recurring themes.

Food access was one theme continually highlighted as an asset within the community, particularly farmers’ markets

and community gardens. Corner stores and food pantries in community churches were also noted.

Another major asset participants discussed was their high regard for their fellow residents, specifically referencing the strong leadership, partnerships, organizing efforts, and engagement in community and civic activities. This is evidenced by the numerous groups, coalitions, and councils, which participants listed, including:

Codman Square Neighborhood Council and Health Council

Greater Four Corners Action Coalition

Four Corners Main Streets

Talbot Norfolk Triangle

Restoring Our Community

Ashmont Hill Association

Melville Avenue Association

CIA- Civic Improvement Association

Participants also noted the diversity among residents as an asset.

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Codman Square Neighborhood Council at Wainwright Park

Services and resources geared toward children and youth were another major strength considered among participants, including programs like BOLD Teens, Youth Works, the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and day care centers. Schools such as the Codman Academy, Epiphany School, Dorchester Education Complex, Henderson School, and UMass Boston were specifically noted, along with the 26 parks and recreational areas, including Franklin Park and Pope John Paul Park.

Participants frequently listed community and public resources such as the library, YMCA, churches, banks, and the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation as community assets. Additionally, the greater Codman Square neighborhood is home to 120 stores/businesses and 60 churches. Other assets included access to public transportation, affordable housing, and health care centers. Lastly, many pointed out the cleanliness of the neighborhood, yard sales, and the Talbot Ave bike lanes.

Visioning Through a number of community and neighborhood council meetings, residents have developed several long and short-term visions for a healthy Codman Square. Consistent with community needs and assets, the visions for Codman Square focus on the following three themes:

1. Healthy Eating/Active Living

2. Peace Promotion

3. Tobacco-Free Living

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Young Cyclists in Franklin Park

Active living and healthy eating/food access were significant pieces of the vision of the community. Many participants imagined a healthy community as one with active and healthy residents. Their vision for healthy eating in Codman Square was having access to good, healthy, and affordable food. Participants wanted to see more farmers’ markets, more “real” food, and centrally located grocery

stores, food co-ops, and fruit stands. They also wished for more affordable restaurants that were independently owned and part of the community - places where people could sit and socialize with their neighbors and friends. Others noted having a coffee shop or bakery that offered free wireless internet could benefit the community as well. In addition to healthy eating, other specific ideas that would promote healthier and more active residents included more public swimming pools, reduced cost gym memberships at places like the YMCA and Healthworks, and better bike safety via bike locks at T stations, improved storage, and biking paths.

This vision for Codman Square built upon previous years’ work that brought the hugely successful farmers’ market, as well as several renovated parks to the neighborhood. Building on the vision of healthy eating and food access, Codman Square is working on the short-term goal of renovating the America’s Food Basket store on Washington Street, as well as installing bike racks at Dr. Loesch Family Park (formerly Cronin/Wainwright Park).

Peace Promotion was another consistent theme during the December meeting, which resonated with a majority of participants. Safety, reframed positively as “peace promotion,” has been part of an ongoing vision of the Codman Square Neighborhood Council through the

Youth and police at Movie Nights

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leadership of the BOLD Teens. Previous work toward this vision includes: increasing youth jobs, organizing job fairs, the BOLD Teens Youth Police Connection events, and partnership with the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. Residents want to have safer homes, neighborhoods, parks, and streets. They wish for less violence and more resident/community accountability in order to promote and maintain public safety. Many agreed that residents do not feel safe enough to spend time outside, walking, biking, or engaging in other various activities. Some participants mentioned that knowing your neighbors increases the feeling of safety. Programs like Neighbors Helping Neighbors can assist in this process. Resources such as neighborhood watch groups were specifically mentioned as particular means to achieving this. The group also mentioned the desire to have less police presence in the area. The long-term vision for peace promotion is a Codman Square where all is peaceful and everyone gets along with each other.

Tobacco-free living has been and continues to be a strong desire of the Codman Square neighborhood. Previous work has focused on policy initiatives that included banning the sale of tobacco in Boston pharmacies and developing smoke-free housing. The Breath of Life Dorchester (BOLD) Teens have been instrumental in moving the community toward achieving its vision of tobacco-free living. Through their work on tobacco policy advocacy, as well as social marketing, the BOLD teens have helped advance the community’s vision. Short-term goals toward this vision are that several parks, as well as the

Codman Square Health Center’s campus, be designated smoke-free areas. The community’s long-term vision for tobacco-free living is that no tobacco products are sold in the City of Boston.

BOLD Teens created tobacco warning labels in 2007.

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Other Visions

Some participants suggested concrete ways to improve resident safety and overall health. They highlighted the need for better lit streets, sidewalk accessibility, and more benches. Participants also noted a desire for more affordable housing and environmentally friendly buildings. They expressed the need for more funding for renovations of old buildings, more LEED1 (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, and solar paneling. The long-term vision of Codman Square Neighborhood Council is that all new housing be LEED Certified. Participants mentioned the desire for an overall cleaner environment, specifically through smoke-free parks, a guaranteed clean water supply, and more green spaces. Another vision shared was for better supports and resources for young people. Participants wanted more of their community resources allocated to the needs of the young people in order to promote healthier lifestyles and create more opportunities for them. Participants want better youth centers, more after school programs, and more organizations like BOLD Teens. Mentoring was also talked about repeatedly as a means to promote healthy teen activity and community engagement. Participants specifically wished for more youth job opportunities that lead to meaningful employment. Finally, they noted the need for continuous support and programming for youth through adulthood.

Other important pieces of the vision for the Codman Square/South Dorchester community included having more family-friendly events such as parades, picnics, fairs, festivals, and summer concerts. Participants wanted to see more local businesses, like book stores. They also wished

1 An internationally recognized mark of excellence in building design, construction and operation.

Dorchester’s first LEED-H Platinum home. A 3-family built in Codman

Square.

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for additional social service programs, especially for the elderly, as well as easier and more frequent transportation for all residents.

Next Steps The following action items reflect the direction in which the Codman Square Neighborhood Council may be moving as a result of the visioning discussion:

Update 2012 priorities to reflect visioning process Continue to assess Codman Square community needs and assets through

the MAPP health planning process Distribute findings of this report via a marketing campaign to highlight

community vision, health status and strategies to make a healthier Codman Square

Develop neighborhood watch groups Increase Neighbors Helping Neighbors program Open Dr. Loesch Family Park Continue the Codman Square farmers’ market and increase involvement of

local food stores Continue to increase access to healthy food options in the community Secure continued funding for BOLD Teens, especially for work on tobacco-

free living and peace promotion Complete expansion of the Codman Square Health Center into the

Codman Square Health and Education Center

BOLD Teens concluded a successful community meeting with Dr. Ferrer.

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The Codman Square Neighborhood Council is made up of residents and community partners seeking to improve living and working in Codman Square. It works to empower residents by increasing communication between the Codman Square community, government departments and elected officials to move Codman Square forward.

Millennium Ten empowers families to increase their economic mobility and re-brand Codman Square/Four Corners as a neighborhood of choice.

For copies of this report and the presentation from the meeting go to http://www.bphc.org/about/policyandplanning/Pages/Home.aspx or contact Aliza Wasserman at BPHC, awasserman@bphc.org or 617-534-7781. For more information or to get involved, contact Bill Loesch at the Codman Square Neighborhood Council at bill.loesch@codman.org or 617-650-2049.

MAPP Process Diagram

MAPP is a practical way to engage community partners to assess the Codman Square community and create strategies to achieve the vision of a healthy Codman Square.