University of Evansville partners with City of Evansville for community nutrition initiative

The University of Evansville has partnered with the City of Evansville for a community nutrition initiative led by the university’s Center for Innovation & Change. The City of Evansville received a $125,000 Nutrition Access, Affordability, and Education Grant from the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA). The grant will support expanded access to nutrition education and healthy foods at the six schools within the Evansville Promise Neighborhood, which is housed at the University of Evansville.

According to an article on the University of Evansville’s website, Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry is quoted as saying of the grant funding, "Access to healthy food is fundamental to the health and well-being of our community. This grant will help us continue breaking down barriers to nutritious food while expanding programs that improve quality of life for Evansville residents. It is a recognition of our community's commitment to addressing food insecurity and health disparities through collaboration, innovation, and solutions that are driven by the people we serve."

The six schools in the Evansville Promise Neighborhood are Evans School, Delaware Elementary School, Lincoln School, Lodge Community School, Glenwood Leadership Academy, and Bosse High School. According to the webpage for the Evansville Promise Neighborhood, it “focuses on building strategic partnerships that unlock resources and empower residents to lead the change they envision for their community.”

The Evansville Promise Neighborhood schools will benefit from the initiative through expanded healthy food access, nutrition education, and family engagement programs. Among the specific efforts at each school that will be funded by the grant are expanded healthy food pantries, community garden snack walls, cooking classes, and healthy food workshops. 

Only seven cities around the country were selected for the Nutrition Access, Affordability, and Education Grant from the AAMA and the ABFHA. Those selected were cities that are led by African American mayors and that are working to improve community health outcomes.

For more information about the University of Evansville, visit the school’s website.