We are proud to highlight the work done by the REACH Community-Academic Grants Program recipients, who are addressing issues of health equity by partnering with community residents and leaders.
Thanks to REACH PI Sara Elnakib and colleagues, New Jersey residents now have a one-stop source for information on different aspects of the state’s food system. “This new website will make it much more streamlined, and less time-consuming, to find and share important information about projects and issues of importance to nonprofit[s] and... other community-based food access and food system organizations...," says Jeanine Cava of the NJ Food Democracy Collaborative.
One lasting product of a REACH-funded investigation into housing equity is this important report. Together with their Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy colleagues and the Unity Square Community Center, Eric Seymour and Kathe Newman produced this record of how homelessness and housing precarity has changed in New Brunswick. The report maps efforts to address needs and identifies ideas to address challenges.
This video, produced as part of the Rutgers Excellence campaign, highlights the important work of the Rutgers Health Service Corps (RHSCorps). Overseen by REACH PI Ethan Halm, this initiative connects students with impactful service-learning opportunities in the communities surrounding Rutgers. By enhancing partnerships with community-based organizations, Dr. Halm and his colleagues are addressing health inequities and preparing the next generation of health care workers.
City officials celebrated the recent opening of Hope Village II, a 20-bed bridge housing community, to be supplemented with greenhouses, community gardens, and food and nutrition education workshops. REACH PI Veronica Jones, in collaboration with community partner, Al-Munir Consulting, has developed education around food cultivation, preparation, and nutrition to support food access and community placemaking in this new space.
The Rutgers Institute for Corporate Social Innovation, led by REACH PI Jeana Wirtenberg, recently collaborated with Newark Science and Sustainability Inc. to host the 12th Annual Sustainable Living Empowerment Conference. Round table discussions focused on community and economic development, exploring barriers and opportunities involved in pathways to an equitable green economy.