Mass in motion municipal wellness and leadership program
The Blue Hills Community Health Alliance is proud to be part of a regional partnership to expand access to healthy and affordable food. The organization is one of 10 recipients of the Mass in Motion Municipal Wellness and Leadership program (Mass in Motion), an initiative of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to lower the risk of chronic disease by increasing access to healthy food and safe physical activity in 42 cities and towns.
Food insecurity became a priority for many communities during the pandemic, as residents faced transportation and other environmental barriers that hindered access to healthy, affordable foods. These persistent barriers are still felt in communities already impacted by inequitable systems and opportunities. The goal of the partnership is to help solve each municipality’s unique challenges by collaboratively addressing the barriers that prevent residents from accessing healthy food options. Central to these efforts is a focus on structural racism and other systems of oppression that lead to ongoing health disparities.
The 10-year Mass in Motion grant began in 2022. Bay State Community Services serves as the grant manager, with CHNA 20 staff providing backbone support to participating partners. The inclusion of community-based organizations as an eligible lead funded agency is new for Mass in Motion and recognizes the importance of cross-sector collaboration to advance this type of work. The municipal partners, including Milton, Quincy, Randolph, and Weymouth, have designated MiM/Wellness coordinators who act as department leads, responsible for both facilitating program strategies and engaging residents with lived experience of food access inequities. Several community-based organizations and healthcare systems are currently involved, and we always welcome new partners!
To learn more about the statewide Mass in Motion program, visit https://www.mass.gov/orgs/mass-in-motion. To get involved in the regional partnership, please contact CHNA 20 Director, Ashley Stockwell, at astockwell@baystatecs.org.