(OR13-03-25) Greenlining: Developing a Partnership for Community-Based Participatory Research to Promote Healthy Eating on the South Side of Chicago

Objectives: Greenlining is a community-based participatory research (CBPR) collaboration with Urban Juncture and Boxville® within Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. It aims to (1) partner with local stakeholders to address health and nutrition needs; (2) identify community strengths and gaps/barriers in resources while enhancing engagement in health, food access, and nutrition; and (3) implement programs/interventions that address community needs.

Methods: Community events in 2024 helped build partnerships, facilitate CBPR research methodology, and understand determinants for healthy eating. We performed a 1-mile community mapping at their Juneteenth Celebration to determine health/nutritional resources. Next, we disseminated mapping results and led a focus group conversation at “Vitals Check: A Community Health Forum” to explore barriers to healthy eating, preferences for culturally tailored dietary interventions, and potential solutions from the community’s perspective. Insights from the conversations at Vital Check informed a successful pilot community cooking demonstration where we collected data via the Cooking Survey for Community Based Health and Needs Assessment and a focus group.

Results: Preliminary data showed that 12 community members mapped 20 local grocery stores, farmers’ markets, community gardens, and corner stores, rating them based on accessibility and quality. Eleven of 20 were within a 1-mile radius of Boxville®. Twenty-two people participated in the focus groups at “Vitals Check” and the cooking demonstration. All participants identified as African American, 48% female, 52% male, and ranging from 25-73 years old. Most were single (71%), born in Chicago (73%), employed full-time (59%), completed some college or above (86%), had access to a car (81%), with a household income of < $100,000 (85%). Focus group data revealed most participants faced key barriers such as cost, food literacy, and access to healthy food options. They expressed strong interest in hands-on learning opportunities and called for affordable, culturally tailored, and accessible nutrition solutions.

Conclusions: Findings emphasize the importance of culturally adapted nutrition education and the benefits of sustained community investment to promote healthy eating.

Funding Sources: UIC/NIH BIRCWH, UIC Bridge to Faculty