Marketmakeovers.org: A Digital Video-based Guide to Corner Store Conversion

Introduction: Artists have a long history of activism in political and social justice movements, but have often been underutilized in public health efforts. Artists are able to capture the narratives and images that illustrate the multiple determinants of health, as well as document community-led efforts and build momentum in existing public health campaigns. The unique skill-set of media artists is critical to moving public health's social justice agenda forward, particularly in a digital age. This is shown through a case study of Marketmakeovers.org, a dynamic online video-based resource about the process of making over small corner stores to carry healthier food choices. This project features the video work of South Los Angeles Healthy Eating Active Community Initiative (HEAC), local high school students and Public Matters, LLC.

Methods: Marketmakeovers.org is a community-wide intervention whose theoretical underpinnings are rooted not only in public health promotion, but in the arts and education as well. In depth interviews, visual narrative analysis and ethnography are used to investigate how the project harnesses the power of the Internet for social justice efforts and applies public health principles to the arts.

Results: The initial findings show that digital, artist-led interventions, when designed in partnership with public health agencies, are effective in creating local policy change. Additional findings indicate that youth participants better understand the multiple factors that impact community health outcomes, as well as their ability to participate in policy change.