The re-development experience of South Memphis, TN, exemplifies truly transformative change that tackles the needs of a community faced with multiple disadvantages by leveraging cross-sector partnerships and social capital.
It all began in South Memphis, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designated Enterprise Community where 97 percent of residents are African American and the poverty rate is 35 percent. South Memphis residents lack access to healthy, affordable fresh fruit and vegetables while experiencing a prevalence of food deserts and disproportionately high incidences of diet-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
These issues came to the forefront in 2008 when approximately 1,000 South Memphis residents gave interviews and attended community meetings to develop the South Memphis Revitalization Action Plan (SoMe RAP). A faith-based community development corporation known as The Works, Inc. spearheaded SoMe RAP in an effort to transform South Memphis from a distressed community into one of the region’s premier urban neighborhoods. The Works, Inc. assembled a steering committee of 22 local organizations, including small business owners, schools, churches, nonprofits, neighborhood associations and residents to compile input from the community and develop the plan.
SoMe RAP identified healthy living as a key focus area after the South Memphis residents voiced their concerns about having limited access to nutritious food. In 2010, South Memphis residents, The Works, Inc., its parent organization - St. Andrew AME Church, and the University of Memphis all collaborated to convert property owned by the church into the South Memphis Farmers Market, a seasonal food market offering high quality, low cost healthy foods. As an added benefit, advocates periodically attend the outdoor market to provide health-related information, including health care enrollment options.
A salient feature of South Memphis Farmers Market is that this initiative has engaged a diverse group of funders impressed by the level of community buy-in generated during the initial SoMe RAP planning phase. Steering committee members have leveraged local and national-level contacts to procure funding from philanthropic organizations, faith-based organizations, two federal sources and the University of Memphis. The Works, Inc. has entered into a contract with the university that enables graduate students to conduct ongoing research and provide volunteer support in South Memphis.
So far, this project has leveraged $888,673 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families; $350,000 from the Plough Foundation; more than $250,000 in research and in-kind services from the University of Memphis; $124,000 in donated land from St. Andrew; and thousands of dollars more from neighborhood and church volunteers.
Since its inception, the South Memphis Farmers Market brand has expanded to include ‘The Grocer,’ a full service green grocer, and ‘The Kitchen,’ a cooking education and demonstration kitchen. The Grocer has proven to be a valuable addition to the outdoor South Memphis Farmers Market, with a large number of shoppers coming to The Grocer to purchase supplemental items that allow their produce purchases to be turned into complete healthy meals for their families.
As a complement to the South Memphis Farmers Market and The Grocer, The Works began offering cooking and nutrition classes on site in ‘The Kitchen.’ Using the Cooking Matters curriculum, program participants attend six weekly cooking classes, which focus on healthier preparations for popular local dishes. Students also learn smart shopping techniques to minimize food waste and to maximize their food budget. To date, these classes have served 52 students, with an impact of over 150 people in their respective households.
As the initiative continues to engage donors, class offerings will expand to address the dietary needs of participants with heart disease and diabetes. The new classes will target the prevalence of these and other chronic conditions in the greater Memphis area, and will also include classes targeting teens and elementary school students.
South Memphis’ strategy, which started with the goals of healthy food access and food security, has since blossomed into a project that engages citizens, fosters comprehensive community development, partners with faith institutions and a local university and leverages both public and private funding. I am convinced their example will inspire and enable other communities to chart a similar course. South Memphis proves for us all that big dreams can come in small packages!
To learn more about the South Memphis Farmers Market, visit http://theworkscdc.org/smfm/.