Food for Health. Building a Healthy Food System for NYC

Transcription

1 Fd fr Health Building a Healthy Fd System fr NYC Edited by Lisa Sharn Harper, New Yrk Faith & Justice Kerry Birnbach, New Yrk City Calitin Against Hunger Dr. Niclas Freudenberg, Hunter Cllege Schl f Public Health Jaime Gutierrez, New Yrk Academy f Medicine Diana Rbinsn, United Fd and Cmmercial Wrkers Lcal 1500 Jaime Stein, Sustainable Suth Brnx This issue guide was created with the help f staff frm Everyday Demcracy, in additin t the create an issue guide tl n their Issue Guide Exchange website:

2 Octber

3 Intrductin THE ISSUE Meet Luna. On ne f the httest days in July 2010, Luna enjyed a beautiful day with fresh air, pen space, and the kind f discveries reserved fr three-year-lds. It was the first time she ever went t the beach and her nly care in the wrld was whether the seagulls wuld steal her lunch. Luna lives n the edge f the Bedfrd- Stuyvesant neighbrhd f Brklyn, New Yrk, the predminately African American/Black hme t Spike Lee s cinematic masterpiece, D the Right Thing. Accrding t the NYC Department f Health and Mental Hygiene, Bedfrd-Stuyvesant is als hme t particularly brutal ecnmic and health disparities. Luna is 2.8 times mre likely t experience a diabetes hspitalizatin and 2.3 times mre likely t die frm the disease than her cusins wh live a few shrt miles away in the mstly white affluent cmmunity f Tribeca in Manhattan. Luna s father, wh grew up in the deeply impverished East New Yrk cmmunity f Brklyn has already develped the disease. T bt, back hme in Bedfrd-Stuyvesant, ver 70% f Luna s African American/black and Latin playgrund friends will be verweight r bese as adults. This puts them at greater risk f heart disease than children in mre affluent areas. Luna is nt alne. The health gaps in Luna's neighbrhd are shared by several neighbrhds in New Yrk City, deemed "fd deserts" by the city planning cmmissin and the Department f Health. They include the Suth Brnx, Nrthern Manhattan, and Central Brklyn. That means it is hard t find healthy, fresh, affrdable fd within walking distance in these areas. Meanwhile, these areas are lined with unhealthy fast-fd ptins. THE TIME IS NOW! In the U.S. the fd and health gap is nt a new prblem. It dates back t the days f antebellum slavery. Yet, tday, we stand at a pssible turning pint in the histry f ur city. At this mment New Yrkers have a unique pprtunity; the Mayr's Office f Lng-term Sustainability is cnsidering whether it will include fd as a part f the city's 25 year plan fr sustainability (PlaNYC2030). Meanwhile, the City Cuncil is wrking ut a plan fr a just and sustainable fd system fr New Yrk City. Finally, Brugh Presidents are setting agendas fr what it will take t build a healthy fd system fr their residents. Nw is the time t engage. Many things cause fd and health disparities: Persnal fd chices Lack f access t healthy fd Pverty Histric and current day structural racism Peple frm different backgrunds r experiences ften view these issues in different ways. Finding cmmn grund fr slutins is hard. Mst f the time, peple wh see things differently dn't take the time t talk t each ther, much less wrk tgether. 3

4 OUR PROCESS Cmmunities need t find answers and take actin n many different levels. The dialgue-t-change prcess brings all kinds f peple tgether t share different views and experiences. In the prcess, they begin t build strnger relatinships and wrk tgether t find slutins. We believe this is necessary fr lng-term change t ccur. The "Fd, Faith, and Health Disparities Summit" is a key step amng many that cmmunity members, faith leaders, advcates, and gvernment representatives will take tgether as we build a healthy fd system fr all New Yrkers! This guide is develped t address tw key fd-related health disparities facing New Yrk City: diabetes and heartdisease. The secnd wrd in ur summit's title is "Faith". This is intentinal. We believe the fd and health gap affects individuals, families, and cmmunities n multiple levels including the level f the spirit r sul. As such, we value the participatin f peple f all faiths (including thse with n faith) and we welcme all t bring the whle f their experience int the dialgue. WHAT IS A DIALOGUE-TO-CHANGE PROGRAM? It's when peple all ver the city meet in dialgue circles small, diverse grups ver the same perid f time. All the dialgue circles wrk n the same issue, and seek slutins fr the whle city. As a result, peple frm many backgrunds frm new netwrks in rder t wrk tgether. They see cmmn grund and want t take actin fr themselves, in small grups, as vters, r as part f a larger effrt. A dialgue circle is a grup f abut 10 peple frm different backgrunds and viewpints wh meet ver the curse f several sessins t talk abut an issue. In a dialgue circle, everyne has an equal vice, and peple try t understand each thers' views. They d nt have t agree with each ther. The idea is t share cncerns and lk fr ways t make things better. A trained facilitatr helps the grup fcus n different views and makes sure the discussin ges well. This persn is nt necessarily an expert n the issue. DISCUSSION AGENDA Saturday, Octber 30, :30-9:00am Arrival and Check In / Cntinental Breakfast 9:00-9:15am Orientatin 9:15-10:30am Sessin One: Wh are We? What is ur Visin fr a Healthy Fd System fr NYC? 10:30-10:35am Break 10:35-12:00pm Sessin Tw: What is at the Rt f the Prblem? Why is this a Prblem in ur City? 12:00-1:00pm Lunch Time Panel Discussin n Appraches t Change 1:00-1:15pm Break 1:15-2:45pm Sessin Three: Appraches t Building a Healthy Fd System fr All New Yrkers 2:45-3:00pm Break 3:00-4:30pm Sessin Fur: Mving t Actin. What Can We D? 4:30-5:00pm Light Meal 5:00-6:30pm Actin Frum 4

5 SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS FACT SHEET Fr Sessin Tw Mre than half f adult New Yrkers are verweight (34%) r bese (23%), and nearly half f all elementary schl children (43%) and Head Start children (42%) in New Yrk City are verweight r bese. (NYC DOHMH Epiquery, CHS 2009) Between 1995 and 2005, the percentage f New Yrkers with adult nset diabetes dubled frm 4% t 8%. As f 2009, apprximately 10% f New Yrkers (r 559,000 New Yrkers) reprt having diabetes and mre than 200,000 additinal adult New Yrkers remain unaware that they have diabetes. (CDC, BRFSS 95-05; NYCDOHMH Epiquery, CHS 2009; NYCDOHMH, 2006) 31% f East Harlem adults are verweight and anther 31% are bese, which is the highest prprtin f bese adults amng all neighbrhds in New Yrk City. (2006, NYC DPHO) In 2009, New Yrk City s emergency fd prviders (EFPs) such as sup kitchens and fd pantries, reprted a 20.8% increase in need fr their services. 55% f surveyed agencies did nt have enugh fd t meet their demand. (2009 NYC Calitin Against Hunger Annual Survey) In 2009, West Queens had the highest percentage (30%) f uninsured individuals in New Yrk City and the Suth Brnx had the highest percentage f individuals with Medicaid (30%). (NYCDOHMH Epiquery, CHS 2009) Currently, 1.76 millin New Yrkers rely n SNAP/fd stamp benefits. (U.S. Census, 2009 American Cmmunity Survey) The average fd stamp benefit is $3 per day. (Fd Research and Actin Center) A recent study published by the Archives f Pediatrics & Adlescent Medicine reprts that half f U.S. kids will receive fd stamps. (NYC Dept f Scial Services Human Resurces Administratin, August 2010) Diabetes disprprtinately affects lw-incme peple, ethnic minrities, and senirs. In 2009, Black, Latin, and Asian/Pacific Islanders in New Yrk City reprt diabetes rates at 12%, 13%, and 10% respectively. The New Yrk City average is 9% and the natinal average is 7%. White New Yrkers reprt diabetes rates at 7%. New Yrkers with the lwest incmes have diabetes rates twice as high (14%) as New Yrkers with the highest incmes (7%). There are 11,600 fd retailers in NYC: 550 are traditinal grcery stres that carry healthy, affrdable fd. 10,000 are bdegas. 800 are pharmacies like Rite Aid and Walgreens. (UFCW Lcal 1500 s Building Blcks Prject Research frm the Dept. f Ag and Markets Fd Retail lists.) Accrding t the American Jurnal f Preventive Medicine, the presence f a supermarket reduces the prevalence f verweight and bese residents. Only 8% f Black Americans live in a census tract with at least ne supermarket; 31% f White Americans live in a census tract with a supermarket. 5

6 SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS 1.4 millin New Yrkers live in hmes that can t affrd enugh fd. Seven New Yrk City Cngressinal Districts faced severe fd hardships in , with mre than 1 in 5 residents in each f thse districts answering yes t the questin: Have there been times in the last mnth when yu did nt have enugh mney t buy the fd that yu r yur family needed? NYC Cngress District Cngress Member Lcatin % Residents Fd Hardship Natinal fd hardship rank (answered Yes ) (ut f 436) 16th Serran Suth Brnx 39.9% 1 10th Twns Central Brklyn 30.8% 6 15 th Rangel Nrthern Manhattan 24.1% th Velasquez Brklyn/Queens 24% 50 7 th Crwley Queens/Brnx 22.5% 75 6 th Meeks Queens 21% 114 (tied) 17th Engel Brnx/Westchester 21% 114 (tied) 6

7 SESSION ONE Wh are we? What is ur visin fr a Healthy Fd System fr NYC? Intrductin (10 mins) In this sessin, we will get t knw ne anther, talk abut what is imprtant t us, and see hw we want t wrk tgether. Each persn will answer these questins: 1. Wh are yu? Where were yu brn? Where did yu grw up? 2. Where d yu live? 3. Why did yu cme tday? 4. What is yur favrite fd--healthy r unhealthy? Part One: Setting grund rules (15 mins) We need t create sme grund rules t help ur discussin wrk well. Here are sme ideas. Are there rules yu wuld like t add? 1. Listen t ne anther. Treat each ther with respect. 2. Each persn gets a chance t talk. 3. One persn talks at a time. Dn t cut peple ff. 4. Speak fr yurself. Dn t try t speak fr "yur grup." Use "I" statements. 5. It s OK t disagree. 6. Stick t the issue. 7. If yu talk abut peple wh are nt here, dn t say their names. 8. Sme f the things we talk abut will be very persnal. We will nt tell these stries t ther peple, unless we all say it is OK. "What is said here, stays here." Part Tw: What is my cnnectin t the issue? (40 mins) 1. What des a regular dinner plate lk like fr yu? What can we see abut yur life by lking at yur dinner plate? 2. Hw des yur faith influence what yu cnsume? 3. Hw have health disparities affected yu, yur family, and yur cmmunity? Cnsider faith, traditin, cmfrt, family, emplyment, energy level. Health Disparities are gaps in the quality f health and health care acrss racial, ethnic, sexual rientatin and sciecnmic grups. 7

8 4. What is the fd system 1 like in yur cmmunity? Where d yu get fd in yur neighbrhd? 5. Hw wuld yur cmmunity benefit frm a healthy fd system? When yu imagine yur cmmunity as a healthy cmmunity, what d yu see, hear, smell, feel? Hw des it affect children, families, play and wrk? 6. Ideally, what wuld a healthy fd system lk like in NYC? What wrds cme t mind when yu envisin a healthy fd system? Basic Fd System: Prductin Prcessing Access Distributin Cnsumptin Waste Management Wrap-Up (10 mins) What did yu learn in this sessin? What stries tuched yu r surprised yu? What d yu hpe we can accmplish tgether? 1 Diagram: frm the city f Vancuver, Canada website: 8

9 SESSION TWO What Is At The Rt Of The Prblem? Intrductin In Sessin One, we talked abut ur persnal cnnectin t fd, faith, and health. In this sessin, we will talk abut what the fd and health gaps lk like in ur city and neighbrhds. We will als discuss a range f views t help us explre the rts f the prblem. This will help us develp actin ideas in later sessins. Part One: Getting Started (5 mins) Review the grund rules. D changes need t be made? Our facilitatr will review the ntes frm Sessin One and sum up the main ideas frm that discussin. This will help us t be ready fr ur wrk tday. Discussin Questins n the Infrmatin Sheet (20 mins) The "infrmatin sheet" (pages 5-6) prvides infrmatin t help us understand what the fd and health gaps lk like in ur city. Use these questins t talk abut the data: When yu lk at the infrmatin, what stands ut? Why? Des anything surprise yu? Why? What verall themes and trends d yu see? Wh is affected by the fd and health gap? Part Tw: Explring the Fd and Health Gap in NYC (60 mins) Peple have different ideas abut the situatin. One view cannt tell the whle stry. We may agree with each ther n sme pints, and disagree n thers. That is OK. Each view stated here is in the vice f a persn wh thinks it is a very imprtant idea. As yu read the views, think abut these questins. Are these the kinds f things peple are saying in ur cmmunity? Which views cme clsest t yur wn way f thinking? Why? Is there a view yu wuld like t add? D sme f these views surprise yu? Is there anything that yu dn t agree with? 9

10 Views 1. Peple are making bad persnal chices. We are respnsible fr ur wn fd chices. If we decide t eat unhealthy fds instead f healthy fds we are causing ur wn health prblems. 2. Certain neighbrhds are under-resurced with healthy fd ptins r ver-resurced with unhealthy ptins. Nt everyne has equal access t healthy and affrdable fd. In additin, in many cases peple in underresurced areas have mre access t unhealthy fds. This results in unhealthy eating habits and dietrelated diseases. They can't help it. The prblem is structural and ut f their cntrl. 3. Smetimes hunger and besity are bth results f pverty. Pverty causes bth hunger and besity. Lw incme husehlds ften chse unhealthy fds because they are cheapest. Cheap fds help make ends meet. The prblem is cheap fds tend t have mre fat and less nutritinal value. S, eating cheap unhealthy fds leads t besity, but peple's bdies are still hungry fr real nutrients. 4. There is a stigma arund receiving help. It's embarrassing t receive fd stamps and ther gvernment help. The prcess f enrllment itself is demeaning and peple lk dwn n thers wh receive this kind f help. S, a lt f peple reject the idea f seeking help altgether. Withut help unhealthy fds becme their best ptin because they are the mst affrdable. 5. Histrical racism and current day structural racism bth play key rles in fd and health disparity tday. Sme peple have faced centuries f racism: frm being legally barred frm purchasing land r grwing their wn fd t lack f access t higher educatin, etc. They have been denied basic rights that lead t ecnmic pprtunity. As a result, these cmmunities have been frced t live in underdevelped neighbrhds with limited access t healthy fd. 6. Peple dn't knw abut the ptins they have. Gvernment ften fails t educate peple abut the fd and health ptins available t them. Gvernment shuld d a better jb advertising the benefits lw-incme peple can receive, such as fd stamps, cash assistance, insurance plans such as Healthy New Yrk, etc. As a result, prgrams such as fd stamps and cash assistance, as well as the free schl breakfast prgram, are widely underutilized. Lwincme peple are missing ut n prgrams that help them receive prper nutritin. 7. Sme peple's culture r traditin predispses them t unhealthy fd chices. Sme peple just like their traditinal fds t much t give them up. Traditinal fds hld a lt mre meaning than just a meal. They can mean family chesin, traditin, cultural cnnectin, etc. S, flks are chsing family and culture ver health. Plus, thse fds tend t be filled with fat, carbhydrates, sugar, and salt, which makes them taste amazing. Yet, thse same ingredients make them a big cause f health disparities in ur cmmunity. 8. There are real bstacles t receiving help. Many peple wh culd qualify fr fd stamps--the elderly, especially thse with Alzheimer's Disease, the disabled, and thse wh are seriusly ill--cannt physically "shw up" fr the fingerprinting required by New Yrk State fr fd assistance applicatins. Develpmentally disabled r mentally ill adults may nt have the assistance nr the wherewithal needed t negtiate the system. 10

11 Wrap-Up (5 mins) Turn t yur neighbr. Discuss the fllwing: Hw did this sessin g? What views d we agree abut? What views d we nt agree abut? What themes keep cming up in ur discussin? 11

12 SESSION THREE Appraches t Building a Healthy Fd System fr All New Yrkers! Intrductin In Sessin Tw, we talked abut why the fd and health gap is a prblem in ur city. Nw, we will talk abut hw we can start t clse the gap. In the next sessin, we will talk abut specific actin ideas. Part One: Getting Started (5 mins) 1. Please keep ur Grund Rules in mind. 2. Brief sharing: thughts n what we learned in the last sessin. Part Tw: Appraches t Change (60 mins) We ve talked abut hw ur city is ding. Nw, we will explre sme ways t imprve things. What appraches will wrk well? What will help us deal with the fd and health gap? What can we accmplish within ne year? Use these questins t think abut the different appraches: 1. Have we already tried any f these appraches? If s, what happened? 2. Which appraches d yu like best? Why? 3. What ther appraches can yu think f? 4. Which appraches address the fd and health gap in different types f institutins (gvernment, businesses, schls, nnprfits, etc)? 5. What appraches might we be able t help mve frward because they already have tractin in NYC? 6. What appraches wn t wrk? Why? Appraches 1. Increase access t healthy affrdable fds. In rder t eat healthier fds, that kind f fd needs t be available in the cmmunities where peple live and shp and wrk. T many New Yrkers live in fd deserts, where healthy fd is nt available r csts t much. T fix the prblem, New Yrk needs t make healthy fd like fruits, vegetables, and whle grain and lwfat dairy prducts mre available in every cmmunity, well-ff r pr. It als needs t make sure that all New Yrkers eligible fr fd benefits can actually get them. Actins that smene wh agrees with Apprach 1 might supprt: Mre farmers markets, fd cps, cmmunity-supprted agriculture prjects (CSAs) r urban farms Mre supermarkets in pr neighbrhds 12

13 Mre subsidies fr fruits and vegetables in the Federal Farm Bill; less fr crn, sy and sugar Expansin f Fd Stamps (SNAP) and lwer barriers f enrllment Ensure that supermarkets have higher quality and fresher fd 2. Decrease prmtin and access f unhealthy fds. In recent years, the availability f fds high in the fat, sugar, salt and calries that cntribute t besity, heart disease and diabetes has increased dramatically. Simply making healthy fd mre available will nt lead t imprvements in health if peple are still eating a Big Mac every day r washing dwn their fruits and vegetables with a 32 unce Cke. T make healthy chices easy chices, we need plicies that will prtect peple frm deceptive r manipulative fd advertising, restrict the ability f the fd industry t prfit by prmting unhealthy prducts, and reduce the number f places that sell the fds that cntribute t disease. Actins that smene wh agrees with Apprach 2 might supprt: Restrictins n fd advertising t children Zning changes t limit density f fast fd utlets in neighbrhds Taxes n unhealthy fds Restrictin n use f public benefits t purchase unhealthy fds Rewarding use f public benefits t purchase healthy fds 3. Fcus n children. B y preventing children frm experiencing hunger, besity r ther fd-related health prblems, we invest in their future and ur wn. Offering children healthier diets helps them t d better in schl, establishes lifetime health habits and shws ur respnsibility fr prtecting the next generatin. Because s many children spend time in schl, schls are a gd place t start ffering children healthier fd. Actins that smene wh agrees with Apprach 3 might supprt: Better quality schl fd Free schl breakfast and lunch fr all Schl-based cmmunity gardens t grw their wn fruits and vegetables Reinstate Hme-ecnmics class t teach healthy cking in schls Prtect children frm unhealthy fd advertising Mre and better nutritin educatin in schls Use mre fd frm lcal farms in schl fd prgrams Empwer parents with childhd nutritin educatin 4. Educate peple abut the benefits f eating healthy fd. Outreach and educatin can prvide individuals with creative and engaging pathways tward healthy fd chices. A fd educatin system built by cmmunity grups and faith based rganizatins can prvide the supprt and creative ideas many individuals need t maintain a cmmitment t lifestyle change. In additin, by making healthier fd chices, cmmunities can use their buying pwer t shift market demand tward healthier fd ptins in their neighbrhds. 13

14 Actins that smene wh agrees with Apprach 4 might supprt: Cking classes that incrprate healthy versins f traditinal meals in faith cmmunities and cmmunity centers Health educatin classes ffered in faith cmmunities and cmmunity centers Fd and health media campaigns Increase the number f nutritin and diabetes advcates and educatrs in NYC 5. Take persnal respnsibility t make healthy fd chices fr myself and my cmmunity. Ultimately, access, educatin, and affrdability can nly g s far tward changing ur fd system. Lifestyle changes and lifelng eating habits can nly cme frm persnal cmmitment. The rad t a healthy fd system fr all New Yrkers starts with each f us. We can all take actin t chse healthier fd fr urselves and ur families and t mdel healthier eating fr ur children. Plus, a healthy fd system will empwer individuals t becme active stakehlders in fd chices fr their cmmunities. Actins that smene wh agrees with Apprach 5 might supprt: Eat a healthy balanced diet Exercise at least 20 minutes per day Take vending machines ut f church buildings and ffices Start a walking club Start a healthy cking club 6. Build alternative fd system in my cmmunity. Cnventinal fd access pints may nt be the best slutins fr ur cmmunity. Creative fd system alternatives based n cmmunity needs and interests may g further in galvanizing cmmunity-wide fd health. Lcal fd systems that depend n healthy, affrdable lcal fd ffer peple chices and create an alternative t the mainstream fd system, which emphasizes prcessed prducts that are ften prduced in ways that harm the envirnment and health. Actins that smene wh agrees with Apprach 6 might supprt: Jin r start a fd cperative Jin r start a CSA (Cmmunity Supprted Agriculture) prgram Grw yur wn fd Faith cmmunities start a CSA cperative t help lwer-incme peple have greater access t fruits and vegetables Churches with land start a cmmunity garden Faith cmmunities can register with the Department f Health t use the Health Bucks prgram t increase cngregants access t healthy fd 14

15 7. Build a strng fd wrkfrce. Fd is a business. Individuals can participate in this business as grwers, eaters, wners, and emplyees. The fd industry is ne f the biggest emplyers in New Yrk and the natin. It prtects every eater t have farmers and farm wrkers, chefs, fd service wrkers, checkut clerks, and ther wrkers in fd business wh earn a living wage, understand hw gd nutritin prmtes health and wh are given the skills t grw and prepare safe and healthy fd. In additin, having a health wrkfrce that can prvide accurate and culturally relevant educatin and cunseling n diet and health will help peple make healthier fd chices. A healthy fd system will empwer individuals t recgnize each f their rles within the fd system, their cnnectedness and their pwer t create change. Actins that smene wh agrees with Apprach 7 might supprt: Supprt supermarkets and bdegas that pay a living wage and ffer benefits t their wrkers Supprt supermarkets and bdegas that prepare their fd wrkers fr advancement int management psitins Advcate that supermarkets receiving city r state benefits shuld be required t hire a percentage f their wrkers frm the neighbrhd Wrap-Up (25 mins) What gd things are we already ding? Hw can we build n these? What else will help us make prgress? What prblems will we face? What actin ideas shuld we make sure we cme back t in Sessin 4? 15

16 SESSION FOUR Mving T Actin. What Can We D? (Ttal: 1.5 hurs) Intrductin In this sessin, we will mve t actin. First, we will brainstrm actin ideas; next, we will lk at the assets we have; we will then cnnect ur actin ideas with ur assets; and, finally, we will set pririties fr actin tward a healthy fd system fr New Yrk City. Part One: Brainstrm Actin Ideas (20 mins.) Turn t yur neighbr. Tgether, think abut the appraches discussin. Were there actin ideas that yu think wuld wrk well in ur city? Are there ther actin ideas that weren't listed? Try t cme up with specific actins that fit with the appraches we think will wrk best. Hw many different ideas can we cme up with? Make a list f actin ideas in the fllwing categries: Things that yu can d n yur wn Things yu can d with ther small grups f peple New Partnerships, cllabratins, r prjects New Plicies Institutinal change 16

17 Part Tw: Cmmunity Assets Brainstrm (15 mins.) Every city and every neighbrhd has strengths r assets. Assets can be peple, places, r rganizatins. Whatever makes ur city r neighbrhd a better place is an asset. "Brainstrming" is a creative way fr a grup t cme up with lts f ideas in a shrt amunt f time. Build n ne anther s ideas. All ideas are OK. Dn t stp t discuss r judge them. The facilitatr will write dwn every idea. Use these headings as a guide: COMMUNITY ASSETS Peple Places Institutins/ Organizatins Funding Surces Other Things t cnsider: 1. Wh has talents and skills that they might ffer? 2. What grups in the cmmunity can help us make ur neighbrhds healthier? 3. What surces f funding d we have in ur city? 4. What grups d yu belng t? Hw can they help? 5. Can yu think f anything else? Part Three: Cnnect Actin Ideas with Assets (10 mins) Pst list f actin ideas beside the assets, and talk abut which nes can be linked. Keep these cnnectins in mind as we priritize ur actin ideas. 17

18 Part Fur: Set Pririties fr Actin (40 mins) Lk at ur list f ideas fr actin. Nw we are ging t narrw it dwn t a few ideas t take t the actin frum where peple frm all the discussin grups will meet t share their ideas. These questins will help us set pririties fr actin: Which ideas are easiest t get dne? Wh wuld wrk with us n these ideas? Which ideas might d the mst gd? Which ideas might have a lng-term impact? >>> As a grup, chse tw r three ideas that are imprtant and dable. Each persn will receive three green dts and ne red dt. Please place the three green dts n the actin ideas yu believe we need t d within the next 6 mnths t 1 year. Place the red dt n the actin idea we definitely shuld nt d within the next 6 mnths t 1 year. Pririty Actin ideas 1) 2) 3) Write the tp tw r three ideas n a flip chart labeled Pririty Actin Ideas. Then, cnsider the fllwing questins: What wuld it take t make this happen? What cmmunity assets culd we use t mve this idea frward? What kind f supprt d we need t take these steps? Wh else culd we link up with? Hw d we begin? Part Five: Get Ready fr the Actin Frum (5 mins) The facilitatr will explain the agenda fr the actin frum. 18

19 SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS Actin Frum Dialgue-t-change prgrams lead t actin in many ways. One way t d this is thrugh an Actin Frum. This is a large-grup meeting at the end f a rund f dialgues. Ideas frm all the study circles are presented at the Actin Frum. There are usually several actin ideas that many peple supprt. T mve these ideas frward, peple frm wrking grups. Sme peple may jin these wrking grups. Sme may chse t help in ther ways. In prgrams that cntinue ver time, mre and mre peple get invlved, and many kinds f actin ccur. Agenda: Actin Frum (1.5 Hurs) Each dialgue grup psts their tp three actin pririties n the wall. 1. Scial time: Refreshments, Entertainment, Gallery Walk (time t read summaries frm each circle psted arund the rm) 2. Welcme and Intrductins Mderatr welcmes everyne and intrduces spnsrs. Review agenda. Talk abut the study circle effrt in the cmmunity. Thank facilitatrs and ther key vlunteers. 3. Reprts Frm the Dialgues Three representatives frm predetermined dialgue circles speak fr a few minutes, sharing their experience. Be sure t include visin, cmmunity assets, and the tp three actin pririties they identified. 4. Mving t Actin Mderatr identifies the mst cmmn themes fr actin frm all dialgues, and invites participants t sign up fr an actin grup r task frce. Sign-up sheets are passed arund. Peple chse wrking grups, and check the bx f the wrking grup they want t jin. Lgistics team cllects the sign-up sheets. Cnverts them int cmprehensive excel sheet and sends excel sheet t Wrking Grup facilitatrs. Wrking Grup facilitatrs cntact grup members with details abut date, time, lcatin f first Wrking Grup meeting. 5. Keynte Address: New Yrk City Cuncil Speaker Christine Quinn While the sign-up sheets circulate, MC intrduces Speaker Christine Quinn. Speaker Quinn respnds t what she has witnessed f this Actin Frum and shares with the grup abut her tp pririties fr strategic actin, inviting the cmmunity t partner with her t pass Fd Wrks legislatin. 6. Clsing remarks Lisa Sharn Harper ffers clsing remarks describing hw the actin effrts will be tracked and tied t further rganizing. Next steps. (Include plans fr anther rund f dialgues, celebratin, r check-in meeting.) 19

20 SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS Tips fr Facilitatrs A study circle facilitatr des nt need t be an expert n the tpic being discussed. But the facilitatr shuld be the persn best prepared fr the discussin. This means: Understand the gals f the study circle. Be familiar with the subject. Think ahead f time abut hw the discussin might g. Prepare questins t help the grup cnsider the subject. If yu are well prepared, it will make it easier fr yu t give yur full attentin t hw the grup is acting and interacting, and t what individuals in the grup are saying. Here are a few mre tips: Stay neutral! The mst imprtant thing t remember is that, as a facilitatr, yu shuld nt share yur persnal views r try t push yur wn agenda n the issue. Yu are there t serve the discussin, nt t jin it. Welcme everyne and create a friendly and relaxed atmsphere. Well-placed humr is usually appreciated. But, make sure yu d nt ffend anyne r make hurtful jkes. Explain the purpse f the study circle, and help the grup set grund rules. At the beginning f the study circle, remind everyne that the purpse f the study circle is t wrk with ne anther t lk at the issue in a demcratic way. Als remind them that yur rle is t remain neutral, keep the discussin fcused, and guide the cnversatin accrding t the grund rules. Start with the basic grund rules listed in Sessin One, then ask participants t add their wn ideas. Stay aware f and assist the grup prcess. Remember, yur main rle is t help the grup stay fcused n the subject. Help the discussin flw by keeping track f hw the participants are cmmunicating with each ther wh has spken, wh hasn t spken, and wh needs mre time t make a pint. Make sure everyne gets a fair hearing. Cnsider splitting up int smaller grups. This will help put peple at ease. Only interfere with the discussin if yu have t. Dn t allw the grup t turn t yu fr answers. Resist the urge t speak after each cmment r answer every questin. Let participants respnd directly t each ther. Always be thinking abut hw t mve the discussin frward. Once in a while, ask participants t sum up the mst imprtant pints that have cme ut in the discussin. Remember that sme peple are uncmfrtable reading ut lud. Dn't g "arund the circle" reading passages; instead, ask fr vlunteers. Dn t be afraid f silence! Peple smetimes need time t think befre they respnd. Try cunting silently t ten befre yu rephrase the questin. This will give peple time t cllect their thughts. Dn t let anyne take ver the cnversatin; try t invlve everyne. Remember that a study circle is nt a debate. It's a grup dialgue. If participants frget this, dn t hesitate t ask the grup t help re-establish the grund rules. Keep track f time! 20

21 SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS Help the grup lk at varius pints f view. Make it clear t participants that yu will never take sides n the issue; yur rle as a facilitatr is t be fair and act neutral. Use the discussin guide t help participants cnsider a wide range f views. Yu might ask participants t cnsider a pint f view that hasn t cme up in the discussin. Ask the grup t think abut the advantages and disadvantages f different ways f lking at an issue r slving a prblem. Ask participants t think abut the cncerns and values that underlie their beliefs. Help participants identify cmmn grund, but dn t try t frce agreement. Ask pen-ended questins that dn t lead t easy answers. Open-ended questins are questins that can t be answered with a quick "yes" r "n." They push peple t think abut why they believe what they d. Open-ended questins als encurage peple t lk fr cnnectins between different ideas. Get familiar with the fllwing questins. They are a great resurce during any study circle. General questins: What seems t be the key pint here? D yu agree with that? Why? What d ther peple think f this idea? What wuld be a strng case against what yu just said? What experiences with this can yu share with the grup? Culd yu help us understand the reasns behind yur pinin? What d yu think is really ging n here? Why is that imprtant? Hw might thers see this issue? D yu think thers in the grup see this the way yu d? Why? Hw des this make yu feel? Questins t use when there is disagreement: What d yu think s/he is saying? What bthers yu mst abut this? What is at the heart f the disagreement? Hw des this make yu feel? What experiences r beliefs might lead a reasnable persn t supprt that pint f view? What d yu think is really imprtant t peple wh hld that pinin? What is blcking the discussin? What might yu be willing t give up in rder t cme t sme agreement? What dn t yu agree with? What d yu find mst cnvincing abut that pint f view? What is it abut that psitin that yu just cannt live with? Culd yu say mre abut what yu think? What makes this s hard? What have we missed that we need t talk abut? 21

22 SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS Questins t use when peple are feeling hpeless: Say a little abut hw that makes yu feel. Is there any hpe? Can the prblems that yu are talking abut be slved in any way? Hw? Clse with a summary f the discussin and set the stage fr the next meeting. When the circle is ver, be sure t prvide time fr evaluatin. Give peple a chance t talk abut the mst imprtant thing they gt ut f the discussin. Yu might ask them t share new ideas r thughts they ve had as a result f the discussin. Ask: What are the key pints f agreement and disagreement abut tday s sessin? What have yu heard tday that has made yu think, r has tuched yu in sme way? If yu will be meeting again, remind the grup f the readings and subject fr the next sessin. If the grups are meeting because they hpe t have an impact n cmmunity decisin making, be sure t dcument what happens in the discussins. In many study circles, participants recrd cmmn cncerns and pints f agreement and disagreement, as well as ideas fr actin steps. After the last sessin, prvide sme time fr the grup t fill ut a written evaluatin. This allws participants t cmment n the prcess and give feedback t the facilitatr. Thank everyne fr their cntributins! 22