LaVonna Blair Lewis, PhD, MPH¹, Mia Boykin, BS², David Sloane, PhD³, Lori Miller Nascimento, MPH⁴, Joyce Jones Guinyard, DC⁵, Gwendolyn Flynn⁵, and Allison Diamant, MD, MSHS⁶. (1) Health Administration Program, University of Southern California, School of Policy, Planning and Development, Ralph and Goldy Lewis Hall 309, Los Angeles, CA, CA 90089-0626, (213)740-4280, llewis@usc.edu, (2) African Americans Building A Legacy of Health, Community Health Councils, Inc., 3761 Stocker Street, Suite 201, Los Angeles, CA 90008, (3) School of Policy, Planning and Development, University of Southern California, 650 Childs Way, RGL 313, Los Angeles, CA 90089, (4) Department of Family Medicine, Division of Community Health, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 3716 South Hope Street, Suite 233, Los Angeles, CA 90007, (5) REACH 2010 African Americans Building a Legacy of Health Project, Community Health Councils, Inc., 3741 Stocker Street, Ste. 208, Los Angeles, CA 90008, (6) Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, UCLA, 911 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095

What impacts do relatively small grants--$5,000-7,500—have on a community based organization’s willingness to participate in efforts to document the nutrition and physical activity resources in a given geographic area? The Economic Parity Advisory Group of the AABLH project used the minigrant process to explore this question in three target communities in Los Angeles County—South LA, Inglewood, and Long Beach. Thirty-two minigrants were awarded, allowing markets, restaurants, and physical activity resources to be assessed. Consumer preferences for nutrition venues and resources in the target communities were also documented. Lessons learned from the first group of minigrants were used to improve the process for subsequent grants and over time, more community based organizations submitted applications to participate in the assessments; grantees participated in community forums that presented the data; helped review new minigrant applications; and facilitated advisory group meetings. More importantly, grantees documented increased individual and organizational awareness and changes that support increased healthy food options and physical activity programs.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe how the minigrant program was used to develop community capacity to assess existing resources for nutrition and physical activity
• 2. Develop an understanding of training and development needs of small and large community based organizations
• 3. Recognize ways that organizations changed as a result of their participation in the minigrant program
• 4. Articulate suggested ways to improve organizational and community capacity for building healthier communities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.