Summary:

Prevention starts at a very young age, therefore we feel that starting at a preschool age is where change must begin. However, as we know children don't raise themselves, so we must also include the family. Just like the old proverb says "it takes a village to raise a child", so the whole community needs to be involved. The community we chose to focus on is South Minneapolis. In specific, we would like to collaborate with Parents In Community Action (PICA) at the McKnight location, which is the largest PICA location with a commercial kitchen and land. Here is a compressed version of our ideas.
1. Community Garden: The children will learn where food comes from, and the families can learn gardening techniques to use in the future.
2. Classes on seasonal cooking from the garden taught by local chefs or other members of the community.
a) Nutritional classes
b) Prevention classes on diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
c) Movie nights focusing on food and health
3. Incorporating exercise by organizing a "Bike Drive" where the community donates old or outgrown bikes. (Fresenius will also conduct a "Bike Drive")
a) Earn a Bike: children earn vouchers (by participation in garden and other health activities) towards a recycled bike. This program can be expanded to include the whole family.
b) Bring your Bike In Night: Bike safety and maintenance classes for the whole family.
4. Educational Field trips to farms, farmers markets, as well as biking trips to local parks, for picnics.
5. Advertise in local papers such as the Southwest Journal, and place fliers around the community. This needs to be done in order to increase the awareness and attract community members to particiapte.
If we were to win we would like to donate our winnings back into the program. Thank you for considering our idea.