Strategies for Achieving our Vision
We implement projects in neighborhoods with community partners, (including youth), build community coalitions, and replicate and link these projects across the city, connecting neighborhood work with citywide initiatives. We leverage the W.K. Kellogg Foundation investment with in‐kind and financial resources from public and private sources. Our core strategies serve many goals; categorized in three areas:
School Food Systems
Community Food Environments
- Increase markets for local/regional foods through direct sale and retail venues.
- Increase access and affordability of healthy food in retail outlets, especially independent stores in low‐income neighborhoods.
- Build a sustainable infrastructure by supporting community coalitions focused on healthy food systems.
Active Living
- Increase active transportation: develop and fully implement Complete Streets Guidelines.
- Convert small‐scale underutilized open space to play areas, gardens and pocket parks so residents can be physically active near their homes.
- Expand program offerings of community centers to meet the needs of adults and youth; incorporate more local representation on their boards.
How we Implement these Strategies
Youth Leadership
Our Youth Advisory Board has launched a campaign in partnership with BPS' Farm to School initiative, is engaged in organizing neighborhood activities and recruits additional youth advocates from high schools throughout Boston. YAB members take part in food and fitness education, skills development and are supported in developing leadership roles. Goals of the Youth Advisory Board include:
- Youth are actively participating in the Farm to School effort
- Youth leaders engage their peers with knowledge and tools to improve their health and communities
- Youth leaders engagement with BCFF expands their education, career, and leadership opportunities
Neighborhood Coalitions
Our work is focused at the neighborhood and citywide levels. We currently work with two neighborhoods to strengthen coalitions addressing healthy food access and active living. They include the Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition and the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing. Both represent the diversity of Boston’s residents. These organizations have demonstrated capacity to engage youth and adults in building healthier communities. As BCFF community conveners,have received funds to build coalitions, increase capacity and coordinate activities chosen by the coalition, and aligned with BCFF goals and strategies. Community representatives are compensated for serving on BCFF committees, as co-chairs of BCFF committees, and for representing their communities on various boards and councils related to food and fitness.
You can learn more about each of our neighborhood coalitions by visiting their websites below.
Mattapan Food & Fitness Coalition
Neighborhood of Affordable Housing
Empowerment of Community Leadership
The BCFF Community Resources Committee provides technical assistance and training to build capacity for effective action on issues such as food access, racism, health equity and community engagement to community coalitions, the Youth Advisory Board, parents and others active in the BCFF. Trainings will bring together current leaders and new participants across communities, the school food environment and active living systems to integrate the BCFF work with grassroots priorities.
Our working committees also serve as mentors to community representatives, providing content based knowledge to support and strengthen their leadership and advocacy skills.