Communities united for health

This presentation will share outcomes and learnings from a community team of representatives from multiple sectors and disciplines who came together to implement policy and environmental changes that support health and safety in a neighborhood in Louisville. Shawnee, a predominantly African American neighborhood, experiences inequitable health outcomes and disproportionately high rates of violence in comparison to other parts of Louisville. Through a Convergence Partnership pilot project to prevent violence and promote access to healthy food and opportunities for physical activity, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health, Center for Health Equity, Shawnee Neighborhood Association, the Office of Youth Development, the Peace Education Program, and other diverse community partners formed a collaborative to improve community safety. The team used community based participatory research techniques to develop priorities and action plans for their work in the Shawnee neighborhood in order to develop and implement community-directed environmental change. At the time of the APHA conference, the community team will have completed their project to increase visibility and safety in the neighborhood by decreasing alcohol and tobacco promotion signage, decreasing graffiti and neighborhood blight, and increasing lighting. These community changes will allow neighborhood residents to feel safer walking to grocery stores and accessing spaces for physical activity. The presenter will share the outcomes related to this unique pilot project focused on preventing violence and chronic disease as measured by enhanced partnerships, increased participation from non-traditional partners, enhanced youth-directed programming, participation consistency, and enhanced sharing of tangible resources (cash, staff time, in-kind support, and facilities).