Authority Health Launches “Healthy and Resilient Communities” to Bring Fresh Food to Detroit

Authority Health has introduced a new program aimed at combating unhealthy eating habits in Detroit’s “food swamps” — areas with limited access to nutritious food but abundant fast food options. The initiative, called “Healthy and Resilient Communities” (HaRC), will make fresh, healthy food more accessible in neighborhoods where it is most needed, including areas on Detroit’s east and west sides. The three-year initiative, funded by a $5 million state appropriation resulting from the Michigan Coronavirus Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Task Force, will feature coolers stocked with healthy food options in convenience stores, a food truck offering fresh food samples, and neighborhood-based community health workers providing education about the connection between food, health, and the importance of having a primary care home. Loretta V. Bush, president and CEO of Authority Health, emphasized the urgent need for such a program, particularly in Black and brown communities hit hardest by COVID-19. “The pandemic’s devastating effect on communities of color exposed pre-existing health disparities, many of which are linked to chronic diseases that can be prevented or managed through good nutrition,” said Bush. She also pointed to a pilot program called “Mi Plato, Mi Vida” (My Plate, My Life) launched in Southwest Detroit,...