Best Babies Zone-Oakland: Linking Health and Wealth

In Alameda County there is on average a 13 year difference in life expectancy driven by race, place, and income.  Research demonstrates that health inequities are the result of broad social, economic, and environmental factors that affect one’s experiences and opportunities over a lifetime.

Recognizing that a community’s economic landscape shapes health, Best Babies Zone Oakland is focused on community-informed solutions to economic challenges in a small, geographic region of East Oakland. After completing a multi-sector, resident-informed, Human-Centered Design (HCD) process as a way to build momentum in the neighborhood, an economic revitalization vision was created.

From that vision the Castlemont Community Market emerged, serving as a stepping stone to generate a grassroots local economy and business opportunities for East Oakland residents. The market provides space for vendors and community members to buy and sell products made in their neighborhood and a community gathering space. Over the past 12 months, the market has grown consistently, with a selection of 20 local vendors/entrepreneurs participating on a regular basis. Community attendance at the market continues to increase along with the circulation of local dollars ($3,000).

The HCD process allowed for quick prototyping, resident engagement, and ultimately the creation of the market. The market is an opportunity to lift up local talent, work across sectors, actualize the health-wealth connection, and provide a community gathering space to build social cohesion. Challenges include: prioritizing the business interests of all the vendors, and joint-ownership of the market.