Evidence-based
community health.
Every claim we make is grounded in peer-reviewed research and credible data. The crisis is real — and so is the evidence for what works.
Americans in food deserts
Value of unpaid caregiving annually
Life expectancy gap in food deserts
Research by category.
USDA Food Access Research Atlas
19 million Americans live in food deserts — defined as low-income areas more than 1 mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or 10 miles in rural areas.
Food Desert Concentration Study
Birmingham, Alabama has 69% of its population living in food deserts, the highest concentration among major U.S. cities.
Life Expectancy and Food Access
Residents of food deserts face a 2-year life expectancy gap compared to those with adequate food access — a gap that mirrors other health disparity markers.
Diabetes Prevalence in Food Deserts
Communities without full-service grocery stores show significantly higher A1C levels and diabetes diagnosis rates, even after controlling for other socioeconomic factors.
Redlining and Food Access
Historical redlining maps directly correlate with current food desert locations, demonstrating that today's food access inequities are a direct legacy of housing discrimination.
Retail Consolidation Effects
Dollar stores replacing full-service grocers perpetuate poor nutrition while claiming to provide "access" — a pattern the Institute for Local Self-Reliance calls the "food mirage."
Economic Value of Family Caregiving
Unpaid family caregivers provide an estimated $470 billion in care annually — more than total Medicaid spending — yet receive minimal support or recognition from policy.
Caregiver Stress and Health Outcomes
Family caregivers experience significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and physical health problems due to the chronic stress and isolation of unpaid caregiving.
Community Health Worker Effectiveness
CHW programs demonstrate significant return on investment through reduced hospitalizations and improved chronic disease management — with the strongest outcomes when workers receive fair wages.
Cultural Tailoring in Health Education
Culturally adapted nutrition programs consistently achieve better engagement and health outcomes than generic interventions, particularly for chronic disease management.