COMMUNITY WELL-BEING
Exhibiting some of the widest disparities among the 25 cities - these indicators include measures of quality of life and opportunity. Many of these factors are interconnected with health and wealth outcomes.
General Trends
As you can see from the chart above, disparities are widest in this category, specifically as related to air quality, access to healthy food, park access, and mobility. Outliers in air quality include Little Rock and Oxnard as having the poorest air quality, with cities in the Northeast beating out Boulder for highest air quality.
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Cities in the South and Southwest scored highest in access to healthy food, however many cities that performed above average in this category also had high rates of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure - indicating access alone is not enough to improve these outcomes.
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Boulder, Akron, and Salt Lake City top the list for mobility, which measures a city's walkability, likeability, and public transit rankings.
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Little Rock, Richmond, and Akron scored lowest in freedom from gun violence, which measures firearm-related deaths from three sources. Ann Arbor, Oxnard, and Worcester had the highest freedom from gun violence scores.
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Cities that generally performed well across all indicators in this category include Ann Arbor, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Boulder, and Tempe.
Averages
SELECT FINDINGS
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, MI scored well across most indicators, but has lower-than-average air quality and has implemented programs to reduce emissions from transportation and industry. Ann Arbor is rich in outdoor recreation assets, and has a number of farmers markets and community-supported agriculture programs that provide access to fresh, locally-grown food.
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Ann Arbor has a relatively low rate of gun violence, but has implemented programs such as the Community Action Network to address issues related to violence and safety.
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Akron, OH
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Akron, OH has experienced air quality issues due to its history as an industrial center, but has taken steps to improve air quality through programs such as the Akron Clean Air Program.
Akron scores well on park access with the majority of residents living near a park or greenspace - but proximity does not equal quality and many of these areas are disused or are of low quality. Akron has implemented a park improvement plan that aims to improve access to parks and recreational facilities throughout the city. Akron has the second highest mobility score, owing to its walkable neighborhoods and high public transit ranking.
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Similarly, Akron scores highly on food access, and yet health outcomes do not reflect this - with Akron residents having the second highest rates of diabetes among the 25 cities. Akron, has implemented the Akron Food Policy and Planning Taskforce, which works to improve access to healthy food in the city.
Beaverton, OR​
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Beaverton, which scores well across all indicators, ranks #1 among the 25 cities in park access. Beaverton has implemented the Beaverton Creek Trail, which provides pedestrian and bicycle access to parks and natural areas throughout the city.
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Syracuse, NY and Worcester MA​
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Syracuse, NY has a number of parks and green spaces, including the popular Onondaga Lake Park and the Burnet Park Zoo. Worcester, MA also has a number of parks and green spaces, including the popular Worcester Common and the Green Hill Park. Both cities have implemented programs to improve access to parks and green spaces, such as the Syracuse Connective Corridor and the Worcester Parks Stewardship Program.
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Both cities have also implemented programs to improve access to healthy food options in underserved areas, such as the Syracuse Food Justice Collective and the Worcester Regional Food Hub.
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Syracuse, NY has implemented the Save Our Streets (SOS) program, which aims to reduce gun violence through community engagement and conflict resolution. Worcester, MA has implemented the Worcester Initiative for Supported Reentry (WISR), which works to reduce recidivism and prevent gun violence by providing support to individuals transitioning back into the community from incarceration.
PROMISING PRACTICES
A selection of ideas to inspire change. Download the report for a full list of recommendations and promising practices
Akron Park Improvement Plan​
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Akron has launched multiple synchronous initiatives centered around community involvement to improve the quality of the area's outdoor recreation assets. The Akron Parks Challenge, for example, invites neighborhood residents, leaders and organizations alike to pitch their vision for their favorite park and how they can partner to achieve the change they wish to see. The program issues small grants towards park improvements putting park improvement funds into the hands of the residents who will be directly affected by park changes.
Worcester Initiative for Supported Reentry​
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The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts has provided over $2.3 million to Advocates, Inc. for WISR, Wiser Men and Wiser Women to reduce recidivism among men and women who were formerly incarcerated, thereby improving public safety and public health. Key elements in achieving this goal included access to social and health services, housing placement, and employment readiness and job placement.
Allentown Healthy Corner Store​
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In Allentown, Pennsylvania, the city has implemented several initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles and combat chronic diseases. Allentown has teamed up with The Food Trust to bring the Healthy Corner Store initiative to the city which works with store owners to ensure that residents have access to delicious, nutritious food and information to choose healthier options through in-store nutrition education, nutrition incentives and technical assistance.
Rochester ROC The Riverway​
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Rochester, New York has implemented a number of initiatives to address the high rates of chronic disease in the city, including the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities program, which promotes healthy eating and physical activity in underserved neighborhoods. The city also hosts a variety of community events and initiatives to promote physical activity, such as the ROC the Riverway initiative to promote use of the city's waterfront. The city is also home to several major hospitals and medical centers, which provide access to healthcare services for residents.
