Oakland, CA

about

The Healthy Eating and Active Living Initiative is cultivating a culture of physical activity among the ethnically-diverse communities of the Lower San Antonio district of Oakland. Led by the East Bay Asian Youth Center, the partnership envisions safe parks and school grounds that are heavily used by residents; a wide array of recreation and routine physical activity programs offered through schools, community organizations and the city; revitalized commercial districts that are accessible and safe for pedestrians and bicyclists; and, eventually, trails leading to and along the Oakland estuary where they connect to a number of parks.

In order to accomplish this vision, the East Bay Asian Youth Center organized and supported parent action committees to prioritize changes and lead a resident-driven effort to advocate for health-related improvements. The partnership also engaged the expertise and resources of organizational partners such as the Oakland Unified School District, the City of Oakland, the Alameda County Health Department, Urban Ecology, Cycles of Change, and a variety of other community organizations.

One of the partnership's active living projects includes an extensive effort by Urban Ecology and the East Bay Asian Youth Center to engage residents to identify barriers to physical activity and priorities for improvement in all of the targeted parks, schools, and streets. Cycles of Change, another partner, has expanded an effort to engage youth in bicycling through bike safety and maintenance classes, group rides, the provision of safe bike storage, and a bike-to-school program. Partners have catalyzed improvements to the grounds and buildings at Garfield Elementary and Franklin Elementary to make them more useful and friendly for physical activity. They have also initiated a pedestrian safety effort at Garfield Elementary that includes significant traffic calming and crossing improvements, traffic rerouting, and a walk-toschool program. finally, partners are involved in an effort with a variety of community organizations to revitalize the 23rd Avenue commercial corridor with pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented improvements.

our story

Evangelina Lara is one of those modest people who makes things happen. She is a Garfield Elementary parent leader working with the East Bay Asian Youth Center to help organize her community. She has been responsible for recruiting 30-50 Latino parents to attend each of the partnership's planning and design workshops for the neighborhood. It takes a lot of phone calls and a lot of cajoling to convince parents who are often working more that one job to come out on a Monday night for a two-hour meeting, but Sra. Lara knows it is necessary for a healthier, more active community. Once a teacher in Mexico, she now studies English at a local community college in Oakland. In her spare time, she leads some of the other mothers at Garfield Elementary in physical exercises. She is almost always in a sporty gym suit and is in great shape.

opportunities

The Lower San Antonio district is a diverse, low-income, immigrant neighborhood. The population is mixed, with 31% Asian, 36% Latino, 19% African American, and 14% Caucasian residents. Efforts to engage or organize them effectively must be conducted in several languages. The poverty rate is 24%, disease rates are above the county average, and many immigrant families are challenged by changing traditional dietary habits. The community is densely populated, and there are many concerns about crime.

Although Oakland's landscape includes a number of hills, the climate is mild and very conducive to outdoor activities. The community is bounded on two sides by major recreational resources, Lake Merritt and the Oakland estuary. The presence of hills creates beautiful views of San Francisco and the bay from the highest points in the community, including San Antonio Park and the schoolyard of the Roosevelt Middle School.

The partnership's plans include coordinating and launching social marketing campaigns to encourage walking to Garfield Elementary School, biking to Roosevelt Middle School, and/or use of new recreational facilities at San Antonio Park; raising money and gaining city authorization to fully fund a series of pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements and schoolyard improvements at Garfield Elementary School; and raising $1 million for streetscape improvements along Foothill Boulevard near the 23rd Avenue commercial corner.

accomplishments

Hired staff and a consultant to design neighborhood-based social marketing campaigns aimed at walking to Garfield School, biking to Roosevelt Middle School, and/or using San Antonio Park.

Re-sodded and provided new drainage infrastructure for the ball field at Garfield School/ Park, and conducted a bathroom renovation at Franklin Recreation Center/Park.

Secured $160,000 for pedestrian safety improvements at Garfield Elementary School, and incorporated a matching amount in a larger Safe Routes to School grant proposal to the State of California. Secured $150,000 to design streetscape improvements at 23rd Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

Raised $20,000 from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to purchase and install a bike storage cage at Roosevelt Middle School.

Helped create and fill a full-time position for a recreation center director at San Antonio Park, and completed park improvements including a new soccer field with artificial turf, a new tot lot, a new half basketball court, a renovated children's play area, and a new picnic area.

Created and expanded a sports mini-grant program with an emphasis on supporting soccer and basketball teams; supported ballet folklorico, capoeira, hip-hop dance, and wrestling through additional summer mini-grants.

Completed major physical and behavioral assessment and design workshops around three schools, three parks, and one commercial area in order to finalize the neighborhood's action agenda for physical change.

Working in partnership with the Alameda County Health Department and Oakland Unified School District, secured a four-year $816,000 'Healthy Eating and Active Communities' grant from The California Endowment.

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