Thank you for listening to Health in the Margins, a special series hosted by Tinu Abayomi-Paul that explores topics in minority health and healthcare through conversations with experts and community members. The first series touches on food, fitness, and language through the lens of diversity, and uncovers solutions and opportunities to increase access to care for all communities. 

We learn how cultural awareness in fitness and wellness programs can improve the health of a community. We discover that proper cultural translation is critical to addressing the language disconnect that impacts healthcare and health education. And we get a chance to speak to inspiring advocates who are creating mission-driven food markets to increase access to healthy foods in low-income communities. 

There’s far more to be explored and more inspiring stories to tell. For now, Health in the Margins is taking a hiatus as the team explores more stories and solutions, and we’re looking forward to sharing more with you soon. In the meantime, be sure to follow Tinu on Twitter, @tinu, and on Instagram at @asktinu.

For more, empowering content to support the health of you, your loved ones, and your communities, visit empoweredus.org to check out our other podcasts and projects. 

Empowered Us is a storytelling and resource hub led by Good Days, a national nonprofit that lifts the burdens of chronic illness through assistance, advocacy, and awareness. Visit MyGoodDays.org to learn more.  

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In this episode, Tinu speaks with Ben Perkins, the Director of the Board for Wholesome Wave and Philip Sambol, Executive Director of Oasis Community Partners. Together, they discuss the impact of healthy food access, how to create mission-driven markets in low-income communities, and the importance of democratizing wellness.  

“When engaging in communities, we have to have fidelity to those communities. What does fidelity mean? It means being in an authentic relationship with the community so that whatever solution is created is a co-creation, not the old model of experts coming in, swooping in, and telling communities what they need, that ultimately the community has to be part of the solution. And that is foundational.” - Ben Perkins 

• 02:16 Ben and Philip’s 3 aspects that make up their identities 
• 05:07 What is a food desert 
• 09:59 The impact of community grocery stores 
• 12:47 What is food insecurity and how does it happen in low-income communities 
• 16:22 How do institutions facilitate better solutions to nutrition insecurity in lower income communities 
• 19:25 How can small grocery stores operate in a way that is beneficial to consumers and the business 
• 27:00 Impacts of a lack of healthy food options in low-income communities 
• 29:24 Solutions that are available, and need in the future, to alleviate food access issues 

1) Large grocery store chains are not profitable in certain areas, which can create a lack of access to healthy foods in these neighborhoods. To combat this, smaller grocery stores can function in these regions by being large enough to support full, fresh food access, while being small enough to be run by a local team. Grocery stores like these, including Good Food Markets, thrive by being mission driven. 

2) Poor nutrition is one of the leading causes of sickness in the United States. On top of it creating preventable health issues, it also depresses the earning power of these communities and reduces opportunities for success in educational settings. 

3) The most effective way to ensure communities embrace nutritious food, and a healthy lifestyle, is by democratizing wellness, which allows people to reclaim their autonomy and sovereignty over their own communities, bodies, and health choices through creating community ownership.  

4) Finding a solution for food access takes time and flexibility. It requires patience and a willingness to invest in a long-term model. The goal is to reduce downstream cost of health issues by investing in upstream solutions. 

1) If you are interested in introducing health education and nutritional access to a community through a grocery store, or otherwise, consider partnering with community groups to bring events and programs to meet people where they are. Social impact and financial sustainability are equally as important for nutrition access ventures. 

2) If you are a local leader, or government official, examine neighborhoods where fresh food access may be minimal. Call in community members, local businesses, and philanthropies to support nutrition access and education. 

Ben Perkins is the Director of the Board for Wholesome Wave. Wholesome Wave is a nonprofit organization that combats food and nutrition insecurity across the country by partnering with local organizations to co-design culturally competent programs. 

Philip Sambol is Executive Director of Oasis Community Partners, a DC-based nonprofit dedicated to improving food access and community health. Oasis operates the Good Food Markets social enterprise grocery store chain in the DC area. Good Food Market is a mission-driven business committed to developing retail solutions that work for food desert communities, while addressing food access, economic, and health disparities. Good Food Markets is one of the organizations that Wholesome Wave has partnered with in the DC area. 

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In this episode, Tinu speaks with Gabrielle Cole - the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Fit and Food Connection – an organization focused on offering people living in food and fitness deserts access to free nutritious food and physical activities while encouraging and supporting healthy living. Gabrielle will elaborate on why underserved communities have less access to fitness and fitness education, the impact of community engagement, and tips for how to promote a healthy, active lifestyle in families.

“There are a variety of programs in our underserved communities. However, they’re at capacity or there's a disconnect between the community being served and the program leaders, the local officials or the executive directors or the investors... In our communities that suffer the most, there is a disconnect with the community engagement, what the community needs.” - Gabi Cole 

• 01:47 Gabi’s three aspects of herself that relate to her work as a disability and diversity advocate
• 03:19 Accessibility to fitness in low-income areas
• 07:02 The impact of quality and affordability on fitness access
• 11:49 The impact of stress on health and how to reduce stress 
• 17:43 Improving body image
• 20:20 Maintaining fitness with a chronic illness
• 25:50 How to help your community and advocate 
• 29:52 Gabi’s hope for the future of healthcare 

1. Some of the issues around lack of physical exercise in low-income communities are a social issue that stems from affordability and quality programming. For effective physical activity to be implemented there needs to be space for all its participants, enough staff, and facilities that are usable. 
2. Physical exercise is just one of the many components to living a healthy lifestyle. Being well rested, promoting positive mental health, and eating nutritious meals also are necessary to maintain your health.  
3. Our bodies and the conditions our bodies face change daily. Maintaining physical fitness is a lifetime process that will change and shift over time. 

1. If you are trying to incorporate fitness into your lifestyle, start with small and attainable goals that work for your lifestyle and schedule. For example, I carry weights with me back and forth to the restroom. 
2. If you are considering bringing fitness programs to underserved communities consider the cultural needs of the residents before implementing fitness programs. Getting the perspectives of what future participants want is key to engagement.  
3. If you are a parent promoting a healthy lifestyle for your kids through physically moving together and showing them the value of fitness will allow your children to learn from an early age. 
4. If doing physical exercise alone feels difficult for you, try getting in walking, running, or training group together. Holding one another accountable can promote more effective change. 

Gabi was born and raised in North St. Louis City, Missouri. She moved to Chicago after high school to study Political Science and Sociology at DePaul University. She later returned and obtained a Master of Science in Non-Profit Management from Fontbonne University. She is currently a Nonprofit Executive, consultant and Adjunct Professor. 

Her passion for human services and overall wellness drove her to research and develop a local wellness nonprofit program established in 2012 for underserved families in the St. Louis area. Because of this, she has exceptional leadership experience with racial equity and anti-racism work, creating and leading successful programs, direct practice with vulnerable families, public relations, organizational planning. Her honesty as a community health leader, great educator, and professional work has humbled her viewpoint in working with at-risk communities. 

She believes that social and community organizations should be mission-driven and stay true to their values. Gabi is a member of the American Public Health Association and has been recognized for several outstanding leadership and fundraising awards. Gabi is married with two children and resides in North Saint Louis City. 

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The Health in the Margins podcast is a podcast that hosts conversations between experts and community members to investigate disparities and uncover solutions related to diversity and disability in healthcare.

On this show, Tinu will be speaking with a variety of guests, including community leaders, government policymakers, and many more incredible people making strides to better the healthcare experiences of all people.

Tinu Abayomi-Paul is a writer, an activist, a disability advocate, and the founder of the organization Everywhere Accessible.

Through her organization, she curates a free 40-page list of patient-facing hashtags for the disabled and chronically ill Twitter community. In February 2022, her ideas for a better Black Disability experience will be featured in The Black Agenda, edited by Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman.

She is also a member of Global Healthy Living Foundation's COVID-19 Patient Leadership Council Board, National Pain's Community Council, as well as Women Who Tech's US Start-Up Advisory Board 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.