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About Office of Food Access and Healthy Communities
We have updated our name to reflect the evolution of our work!
Read more
Shape Up Somerville (SUS) is nationally and internationally recognized for its groundbreaking work and galvanized the Mayor to champion bold action and data driven policies to build a healthier & more equitable community. It was the first community-based environmental approach research study to address the rising rates of childhood obesity in the early 2000’s. The study and the work that ensued afterwards was made possible by the collaborative and foundational efforts of community-based organizations and partners, Dr. Chris Economos and her team at Tufts University, and the administration of Mayor Joe Curtatone.
Since its inception, both the SUS office and the greater field have grown to understand the deep systemic roots of obesity and thus have aimed to change the work of promoting holistic health and wellbeing from targeting the individual to targeting environments, systems and policies.
This office spends a lot of time working on food systems issues to achieve health equity given the strong connection between community level food access and health outcomes. However, there’s a complex intersection of several drivers of health such as safe, walkable neighborhoods, green spaces, access to education and healthcare, and affordable housing. Therefore we’ve included “Healthy Communities” in our name to show our commitment and effort in cross-sector work to build healthier communities. This office will continue to remain fluid; backboning emerging work as appropriate and supporting other interdepartmental and community-based programmatic, policy and systems work to collectively improve health outcomes.
The new name and logo aims to reflect this interplay of factors. To remain consistent with the collective efforts behind SUS, community partners weighed in on the updated name and logo influencing the final product.
Contact Information
Contact Information
Lisa Robinson
Director, Office of Food Access & Healthy Com
Monday - Wednesday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Phone Number
x
4312
Email
Address
50 Evergreen Ave.
Somerville, MA 02145
United States
Employee Directory
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Community Food System Assessment
Examining Somerville’s food landscape as it relates to food security and access, the food economy, food waste and recovery.
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Somerville Food Action Plan
Goals, recommendations, and actions identified by the Community Food System Assessment workgroup and report on ways to improve our local food system.
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Free Taxis to Groceries & Medical Appointments
Free rides to groceries and medical appointments for transit-dependent Somerville residents with limited incomes.
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Somerville Mobile Farmers' Market
Bringing fresh, local produce to a street near you. This website has our hours, weekly produce offerings, and information on how to apply for food assistance benefits in Somerville.
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SomerVoice
Stay posted on big projects that are building healthy communities.
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Somerville Food Security Coalition
Find low cost, healthy food in Somerville ● Keep: 95210 Campaign.
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9-5-2-1-0 Campaign
Shape Up Somerville, Somerville Public Schools, and Cambridge Health Alliance's campaign to promote balanced, healthy lives.
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DTA Finder
Connects you to ways to buy seasonal affordable produce with SNAP. All Somerville farmers markets accept SNAP and have a $15 SNAP/P-EBT match.
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Community Gardens
Find out how to get involved with community gardens in Somerville.
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Somerville Public School Food and Nutrition Service
Stay connected on what’s for lunch and more!
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Click N' Cook
Find recipes based on what you have in the house using Click ‘n Cook! Select the items you have to use, and this digital database will find recipes using those items.
Want to get involved with OFAHC initiatives? Email us at OFAHC@somervillema.gov for volunteer and internship opportunities.
Getting Around Somerville
Grab a Map and Get Outdoors
You don't need an expensive gym membership to stay fit in Somerville! Check out the links below for a guide to some great exercise spots in the City:
- Bicycle Routes
- Walking Routes
- Somerville Parks
- Interactive Map: Parks & Community Gardens
- Somerville PEP Map (via the Somerville Hub)
- Somerville Public School - Home Learning and Activity Resources
More Ways to Stay Active and Have Fun
- Take part in the Mayor's Parks Pass Challenge.
- Find fun activities and learn how to book fields on the Recreation Department's website.
- Visit the Somerville Hub to learn about StoryWalk and other activities.
- The Council on Aging offers health and wellness programs for seniors.
- Hubway now has reduced-price memberships available to income-eligible residents (click here for more information).
- Visit your school’s community page on the Somerville Public School website to view safe walking or biking routes to your school.
- Check out affordable options in your community, including YMCA, Assembly, 5ks, and the Armory.
Get Involved with OFAHC
Want to get involved with OFAHC initiatives? Email us at OFAHC@somervillema.gov for volunteer and internship opportunities.
Safety and Sustainability
Read about how Somerville strives to support low carbon, safe mobility with our Vision Zero Action Plan and Climate Forward Plan.
Shape Up Somerville in the Media
- Featured in the book Feeding Cities by Christopher Bosso
- Mayor Curtatone’s Culture of Curiosity - Bloomberg Harvard - City Leadership Initiative
- Community Health and Data reports from Cambridge Health Alliance
- TuftsNow "Parents' BMI Decreases with Child Involved in School-Based, Community Obesity Intervention
- Collective Impact (3-2014)
- WBUR (7-23-2013)
- Boston Globe (7-9-2012)
- USA Today (4-12-2009)
- Urban Health Promotion Case Studies Report
- Feeding Cities: Improving Local Food Access, Security, and Resilience
Resources
- Somerville Hub
- Well-Being Report
- The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative
- Somerville Food Security Coalition
- Shape Up Somerville Primer
- Shape Up Under 5 (Contact shapeupunder5@somervillema.gov)
- School Wellness Policy
- Somerville Urban Agriculture Programs
- Somerville Bike Committee
- Early Childcare Advisory Committee
- City of Somerville Employee Wellness
- SomerServe
- Somerville by Design
- Sustainaville
- Community Health (via Cambridge Health Alliance)
- Sign up for the Resistat newsletter to stay informed and learn about community engagement opportunities.
- Neighboring communities doing this work: Cambridge, Everett, and Medford
Want to get involved with OFAHC initiatives? Email us at ofahc@somervillema.gov for volunteer and internship opportunities.
Do you lead exercise programming or offer nutrition lessons?
No we don't, and here's why: the Office of Food Access and Healthy Communities works to improve the environment we live in: rather than offering exercise classes, we work to make sure that everyone has access to safe active transit like well-maintained bike lanes and wide sidewalks; rather than offering nutrition lessons, we work to make sure that healthy food is affordable and accessible to all in Somerville, even if you don't have a car. However, we would be happy to connect you to places who do offer that programming! Check out our Ways to Get Going and Fresh & Local Food tabs for some of our favorite City resources.
What do you mean by Social Determinants of Health?
The WHO defines the Social Determinants of Health as "conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources at global, national and local levels. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries". This CDC infographic highlights how root factors such as income, education, safe neighborhoods and housing impact an individual's health.
What are you currently reading to inform your work?
Glad you asked! Right now, we regularly refer to readings on the MA Food System Collaborative website as well as Food Solutions New England’s 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge. Also, read our Facebook and Twitter pages for some of our past favorites with commentary.
I’d like to learn more about the Office of Food Access and Healthy Communities or past work of Shape Up Somerville, or bring its principles to my community. How can I make that happen?
Visit the Media Coverage & Resources tab, which has all of our best background information. If you still have questions after you check out those resources, get in contact with us at the phone number or email provided above and we'll set up a time to meet.
How can I take part in OFAHC initiatives?
Email us at OFAHC@somervillema.gov.
Programs & Initiatives
Free rides to groceries and medical appointments for transit-dependent Somerville residents with limited incomes.
Want to get out and about as a family? We’ve got the perfect opportunity!
Our Urban Ag program brought first Urban Ag Ordinance in New England, the Urban Ag Ambassadors program, new farms, and more.
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