Paul Bass File Photo
Jonathan Gibson checks out Helen’s Grocery in the 2007 survey.
Young people in orange “CARE” T‑shirts are returning to six New Haven neighborhoods this week — because they care how people eat and breathe.
The people are survey-takers working for the New Haven group Community Alliance for Research & Engagement — aka CARE.
For the third time in seven years, they’re surveying adults — 1,300 of them this time — in West River/Dwight, Dixwell, Fair Haven, Hill North, Newhallville, and West Rock about what they eat, about their health,a bout where they do or don’t exercise in their neighborhood. The six neighborhoods have above-average rates of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high-blood pressure, and hunger. In fact, four of ten adults reported going hungry at least once within 30 days in past surveys. (The figure was one in tow adults in the Hill.)
CARE has used the data from these surveys in the past to help neighbors create community gardens, push for more healthful options at corner stores, calm traffic, reclaim public spaces. (Read about that here, here, and here.)
Paul Bass Photo
Alycia Santilli, CARE’s director of community initiatives, and West River’s Ann Green (pictured above), a member of CARE’s steering committee, spoke on the latest edition of WNHH radio’s “Dateline New Haven” about what they’ve learned from their past work — what has succeeded, what hasn’t — and the changes they hope to help spark in New Haven moving forward.
Click on the audio file to listen to the program or find it in iTunes or on any podcast app under “WNHH Community Radio.”