Steps to A Healthier Brownsville: Reducing incidence of chronic diseases in high crime areas to create safe and healthy spaces

It is essential to integrate violence prevention initiatives with obesity and chronic disease prevention in high crimes areas as violence has been shown to be a barrier to physical activity. In Brownsville, Brooklyn, obesity, diabetes, and violent crime rates remain disproportionately high: Brownsville's 2010 obesity rate was 29.1%, compared with 25% Brooklyn wide, diabetes rate was 11.6% compared with 10.2% Brooklyn wide and its violent crime rate was 9.8%, compared with 5.1% Brooklyn wide. In 2010, Brownsville Partnership launched Steps to A Healthier Brownsville initiative, which seeks to reduce diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Essential in this initiative has been the integration of violence prevention. This initiative includes a youth run farmers market with complementary place-making and health promoting programming to promote healthy food choices, mitigate violence crimes on a high crime corner, and provide alternative options for at-risk youth in Brownsville. An urban walking trail through previously underutilized and poorly lit spaces in Brownsville consists of wayfinding signage with healthy messaging designed by Brownsville residents. This promotes healthy living while increasing foot traffic and defining a space for physical activity. Resident-led walking tours and community planning meetings with city agencies promote physical activity, while also identifying unsafe spaces to activate. Creating safe spaces is the first step in facilitating physical activity for obesity and chronic disease reduction in high crime areas. Integrating violence prevention in initiatives focused on obesity and chronic disease prevention is essential in areas with high rates of violent crimes to this effort.