What do urban gardens, reduced alcohol and tobacco signage, and a community bus system have to do with preventing violence?

The growing recognition of the impact of violence on health outcomes, like chronic disease, presents an opportunity to bring attention to efforts in preventing violence. Healthy food and activity practitioners are increasingly noting that violence undermines the effectiveness of their efforts to prevent chronic disease. It negatively affects where people live and shop and whether children are allowed to play outside or walk to school. Violence also alters the community environment by reducing social connectedness and disincentivizing community investments such as healthy food retail. To understand the relationship between violence and healthy eating and activity, as well as community-based solutions to address these complex issues, Prevention Institute conducted interviews and strategy sessions with community leaders and prevention experts. Furthermore, a pilot program, started in January 2010, brought together advocates and practitioners from multiple fields to implement policy and environmental approaches to address the intersection of issues. This presentation will delineate the links between violence and healthy eating and active living and share the outcomes of the pilots, highlighting how prevention efforts are helping to increase community connectedness and resident engagement and prevent violence, fostering peace and health in their neighborhoods. The presenter will discuss how efforts like the revitalization of a local park to provide safe spaces for youth and seniors and an urban garden apprenticeship and training program for youth in the juvenile justice system are increasing safety and improving the health of communities. The presentation will also discuss potential roles for violence prevention advocates in this cross-cutting work.