The Importance of Implementing "Community" in South LA

In order for progress to be made on the issue of food deserts in South LA, the community must be engaged through civic engagement. 

I have been emphasizing and hinting at the importance of civic engagement throughout my blog entries. Civic engagement is important for citizens of a community to be more involved in that it allows them to offer specific recommendations to the department of Los Angeles Public Health Council. In order for change to occur, citizens must realize that by being active, patient, persistent and diligent, they can  produce results. Solving policy issues is a dynamic and long-term process. The implementation of a citizen-centered approach from South LA residents is an essential step toward producing long-lasting change towards building self-governance, fostering social justice and citizen empowerment.

Building partnerships with nonprofit organizations such as Public Matters has been a proactive step from South LA residents into transforming food deserts into food oases.  The project that the nonprofit organization implemented, called, “Market Makeovers” focuses on civic engagement. On its website, the organization outlines the project for community change:

·      Designed to serve a national community

·      Features the work of South LA Healthy Eating Active Community Initiative (HEAC), local high school students and work from the nonprofit itself by using South LA’s corner stores as “case studies” for the corner store transformation

·      Combination of pragmatic information and innovative strategies to combat the food desert issue that’s prevalent in South LA

·      Innovative video content through three media channels

·      An evolving guide for progression towards achieving the policy solution of food oasis

A policy problem cannot have an easy “one fits all” solution as every societal problem is bound to have many different facets. This is not an overnight solution. Many people who live in middle-high income neighborhoods have probably never experienced the hardships that low-income people have to undergo on a daily basis. Because my meals center on fresh food, not having access to fresh fruits and vegetables is unimaginable for me. Market Makeovers campaign is an efficient step towards alleviating the problem of food deserts in a low-income urban communities like South LA. However, there are other sustainable grassroots efforts (ie. community gardens, community supported agriculture, etc.) in which South LA residents can engage in with the city of Los Angeles and business (private and nonprofit). Maybe the city of Los Angeles should look into policy reform/new policy initiatives of other cities such as New York's Health Bucks program for the movement towards change?