University Economic Development Association

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CSUN Champions for Change: Growing a Healthy Community!

Award Category: Talent + Place
Project Site: CSUN Champions for Change: Growing a Healthy Community!
Submitted By: California State University Northridge and
Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics
Contact: Annette Besnilian, Executive Director, 818.677.4343

Abstract

CSUN Champions for Change: Growing a Healthy Community! program targets its community garden and nutrition education in Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, California area. The program aims to serve disadvantaged and underrepresented communities by making a positive change in the health and wellbeing of at least 70,000 residents in Canoga Park, Van Nuys and surrounding areas. This program utilizes a Social Ecological Model by providing nutrition education classes (individual), engagement in building school gardens (community), and collaboration to increase access to healthy foods (environmental). To date, 72,000 residents have received education and access to healthy foods through the edible gardens, community and school events, and individual classes and workshops. We have built a community-wide coalition and task force in addition to a train-the-trainer model to ensure sustainability of the program.