On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel explores the importance of access to healthy food for all socio-economic groups and neighborhoods. He is joined by his friend, Taja Sevelle, founder of Urban Farming, a non-profit organization dedicated to solutions that create healthy communities. Several studies have investigated disparities in the distribution of neighborhood vegetation, the proximity of residences to playgrounds, and the accessibility of supermarkets and grocery stores, but few have examined access to fast-food outlets and convenience stores as a function of neighborhood racial and socioeconomic demographics. The neighborhood environment can help promote and sustain beneficial lifestyle patterns or can contribute to the development of unhealthy behaviors, resulting in chronic health problems among residents. What can we do about it? Empower communities to have more control over their food sources. In Phase I, Urban Farming installed over 150 community and school gardens of free food in 25 states in the U.S., as well as a school garden in Montego Bay, Jamaica. There are now over 66,000 gardens worldwide in over 60 countries that are each a part of the Urban Farming Global Food Chain®. As of October 2020 Urban Farming has helped 1,050 families and individuals start their own gardens. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

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