Our initiative seeks to accomplish our food system, active living and school wellness goals by continuing to place an emphasis on building the capacity of our growing cadre of youth and community residents, so we are enabled to better solve the community issues and empowered to take action to improve community conditions.

We will cultivate leaders by building capacity around understanding policy, conducting research, and presenting data and our broad collaborative goals to policymakers. By the end of three years, our residents –adult and youth – will be sitting side-by-side with city officials to continue carrying-out long-term systems and policy transformations in the city of Holyoke. We have the commitment of three core organizations grounded in the Holyoke community – Nuestras Raíces, Holyoke Health Center, and the Greater Holyoke YMCA – to lead the implementation of our priorities.

Through our participatory prioritization process, our collaborative identified five main foci for our food and fitness action plan; yet, it is the synergy of these priorities and foundation of youth and community engagement that transforms the health and wellness of the Holyoke community and brings about sustainable community change.

1) Youth & Community Engagement

We will build the capacity of our growing cadre of youth and supportive community residents, so we are enabled to better solve the community issues and empowered to take action to improve community conditions. We will cultivate leaders by building capacity around understanding policy, conducting research, formulating policy solutions, and presenting data and ideas to policymakers.

2) Food System Priority

All Holyoke residents, regardless of their income, race or neighborhood, will have access to fresh, local, healthy and affordable food. Mobile produce carts and more community gardens will provide residents with options for eating healthy food.

3) Transportation System Priority

Holyoke’s roadway system will allow and encourage safe and active use for all users of the public right-of-way, particularly pedestrians and bicyclists. Downtown institutional and infrastructural assets will be anchored by creating the Holyoke Health Corridor that will catalyze highly visible opportunities for health & development in a continuous space where residents feel welcome, safe, and can engage in healthy activity for all.

4) Parks & Recreation System Priority

Recreational facilities and open spaces throughout the community will have increased connectivity to increase walking and biking and will be welcoming to families.

5) School System Priority

School wellness will become a priority within the Holyoke Public School System culture and overall school environment. Schools will promote and encourage healthy eating, physical activity, and nutrition & physical education among students with active and engaged teachers and parents/guardians. The schools will become a place where kids learn healthy lifelong habits and prepare themselves to succeed in the classroom and beyond.

6) Statewide Policy (Boston/Holyoke Collaboration) Priority

The Boston and Holyoke Food & Fitness Collaboratives will collaborate to build capacity for statewide policy change and support the formation and development of the Massachusetts Food Policy Alliance.