Rockford Public Housing residents learn how to get healthy

Thursday, March 26, 2015

By Lindsey Holden Rockford Register Star ROCKFORD — A healthier future is in store for Rockford’s public housing residents. Rockford Housing Authority, Angelic Organics and the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford are helping them go smoke-free, learn to grow their own food and live healthier lifestyles. All RHA properties have been smoke-free since May 31, which has helped some people kick the habit. “There were a lot of upset people at the time we transitioned, but we transitioned over the course of two years, so we gave people plenty of notice,” CEO Ron Clewer said. “I think people are seeing the health benefits, at least for those who quit smoking. Now we have other residents who are trying to encourage other residents to stop.” Residents of Fairgrounds Valley on the west side are part of Active Community Engagement, a program dedicated to providing health education and improving the lifestyles of RHA residents. U of I medical and pharmacy students make home visits and hold group events on health-related topics. They get together up to twice a semester to develop fitness goals. Group events, which have included a Zumba class, an anti-bullying program and a “Top Chef”-style cooking competition, allow residents to learn how they can improve their lives by doing things like eating healthier and exercising more. “The last report the Rockford Health Council did, based on the population of Rockford, found a lot of health disparities, a lot of higher incidents of anything from obesity, high blood pressure, access to nutritious foods,” said Paul Lee, the third-year medical student who heads Active Community Engagement. “That’s where we kind of centered around all our activities.” On the southeast side, Angelic Organics is helping Blackhawk Courts residents learn more about their food. The community-supported, Caledonia-based organic farm has held urban programming at Blackhawk since 2009 through a partnership with RHA and Zion Lutheran Church. Blackhawk is now home to a half-acre farm, which is used to grow produce for residents and the public. “Everybody needs to eat, and a healthy diet is the foundation for a healthy body and mind, and then from there a healthy community,” said Spencer Ellsworth, urban farm manager at Roots & Wings, a network of community-based organizations coordinated by Angelic Organics Learning Center committed to community and youth development through urban agriculture. Younger residents can participate in Roots & Wings, and some adults have been able to work on the farm as seasonal help. By contributing their time or compost to the garden, residents can earn “market money,” which they can use for produce at the farm’s on-site stand, which also accepts food stamps. Blackhawk residents can grow their own food in smaller garden plots that Angelic Organics maintains with the larger farm. Ellsworth hopes the farm at Blackhawk can serve as a jumping-off point for other urban agriculture sites in Rockford, which could potentially include Orton Keyes, another public housing development. Read the full article here.]]>