The 2012 Urbanite

P r o j e c T:

HealtHy
Submission Deadline: May 31, 2012
www.urbaniteproject.com

Fho lo d c al enge

URBANITE PROJECT 2012: HEALTHY FOOD CHALLENGE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS I. Opportunity Summary Urbanite Project 2012: Healthy Food Challenge calls for creative, innovative, nontraditional ideas that address one or more of the barriers to affordable, healthy food for Baltimore City residents living in food deserts. Awards include cash prizes totaling $12,000. The challenge is jointly sponsored by the Baltimore City Health Department, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Stratford University, United Way of Central Maryland, and Urbanite magazine. II. Introduction to Food in Baltimore Introduction to Baltimore Baltimore is a city in transition from an industrial past to a future dominated by educational and medical institutions, the biotechnology industry, and the service economy. The city has more than 630,000 residents living in approximately 80 square miles, making it the twenty-first most populous city in the United States and the largest in Maryland. Baltimores collection of distinct neighborhoods forms a vibrant, diverse, and dense city on the Chesapeake Bay. Many of Baltimores neighborhoods, especially those close to the harbor, primarily consist of rowhouses and small-scale retail corridors. Baltimore has more historically designated structures than any other American city, and is widely seen as the states cultural and commercial capital. The city has also suffered from a severe population decline, having decreased by one-third since its peak of nearly 950,000 people in 1950, and therefore has a significant amount of vacant real estate (nearly 16,000 houses). What is a Food Desert? According to Baltimore Citys Food Policy Initiative and the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, food deserts are residential block groups that share the following qualities: More than 1/4 mile from a major supermarket Median household income is at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level 40 percent of households have no access to a vehicle The Healthy Food Availability Index for existing supermarkets and corner stores is low For a map of Baltimore Citys food deserts, see VII. Appendix.

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Today, 20 percent of Baltimore City qualifies as a food desert. One in four school-age children and one in four African American residents lives in a food desert. 36 percent of Baltimores neighborhoods have food deserts in them. Echoing much of America, Baltimore has become unhealthy, and studies have shown that people living in food deserts are more likely to have higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Roughly two-thirds of the citys adults and nearly 40 percent of high school students are overweight or obese. Major disparities exist between the obesity rates of whites and blacks, people with and without college degrees, and households making more and less than $25,000 a year. A recent Baltimore City report found that 43 percent of residents in the citys predominantly black neighborhoods have very limited access to healthy food, compared with just 4 percent of predominantly white neighborhoods. Institutional Partners: A team of partners is collaboratively administering the competition. The team includes: Baltimore City Health Department (part of Baltimore Citys Food Policy Initiative) www.baltimorehealth.org Maryland Department of Agriculture www.mda.state.md.us Stratford University www.stratford.edu United Way of Central Maryland www.uwcm.org Urbanite magazine www.urbanitebaltimore.com Sponsors: American Communities Trust, Enoch Pratt Free Library, The Marc Steiner Show, Richardson Farms, Zias III. Competition Explanation Challenge Statement Urbanite Project 2012: Healthy Food Challenge seeks ideas for transforming Baltimore into a healthy city. Specifically, were seeking creative, innovative, non-traditional ideas that address one or more of the barriers to affordable, healthy food for Baltimore City residents living in food deserts. Barriers to healthy food for people living in food deserts include, but are not limited to: Transportation A lack of healthy food at nearby stores A lack of healthy food options at such charitable organizations as soup kitchens, food pantries, etc. Educationa lack of knowledge about which foods are healthiest, how to prepare them, etc. A lack of food preparation appliances, equipment Timefor example, a single parent working multiple jobs has limited time to shop for and prepare healthy food. Cost of healthy food
Urbanite Project 2012: Healthy Food Challenge www.urbaniteproject.com 3

Baltimore City Food Policy Recommendations In 2010, the Baltimore City Food Policy Task Force came up with the following guidelines to work toward increasing access to healthy food in food deserts: 1. Promote and expand farmers markets 2. Support community gardens and urban agriculture 3. Expand supermarket home delivery program 4. Develop a targeted marketing campaign to encourage healthy eating among all Baltimoreans 5. Support street vending of healthy foods 6. Promote and expand community supported agriculture 7. Support a central kitchen model for schools 8. Support research on food deserts and collaboration with policy makers 9. Improve the food environment around schools and recreation centers 10. Create healthy food zoning requirements or incentives IV. Submission Guidelines Urbanite Project 2012: Healthy Food Challenge is open to any individual, group, organization, or company. This is a blind competition. Professional qualifications are not required; anyone with an engaging, creative, and unique idea for increasing access to healthy, affordable food in Baltimores food deserts is encouraged to submit a proposal. Submissions must adhere to the following guidelines: Proposal must be mounted on a single 24 x 30 board (foam core, chipboard, or similar material). Applicants should use a combination of text and no fewer than three images (renderings, drawings, photographs, diagrams, etc.) to convey their concept. Text must not exceed 500 words and must include as many details as possible about the project, including time frame for implementing the proposal, materials, dimensions, etc. Include names, affiliations, and a short biography of team member(s), along with team contact email, address, and phone number, on the back of the board. This information should not be visible on the front of the board. Mail or hand-deliver board to Urbanite 2002 Clipper Park Road, 4th Floor Baltimore, MD 21211 Urbanites phone number is 410-243-2050. Boards will not be returned, and proposals may be featured in Urbanite. If you do not want your proposal to be featured in the magazine, please clearly note so on the back of your board. By submitting a proposal, you acknowledge the possibility that your idea may be implemented by one or more of Urbanites institutional partners. Proposals may, but do not have to, focus on a specific food desert area, but they must focus on an area within the Baltimore City limits. Clearly identify the geographic location to which your proposal applies.
4 Urbanite Project 2012: Healthy Food Challenge www.urbaniteproject.com

Include a check for $30 made out to Urbanite, LLC with your submission.

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. All questions about Urbanite Project 2012: Healthy Food Challenge should be sent to urbaniteproject@urbanitebaltimore.com. V. Judgement Criteria The Urbanite Project 2012: Healthy Food Challenge team intends to award applicants that propose innovative ideas that creatively address the barriers to healthy food listed above. To that end, proposals will be judged by a jury that represents a range of disciplines and members of the local community. Submissions will be judged according to the following criteria: Ability to directly address one or more of the barriers to healthy food listed in Section III. Potential to serve as a precedent for future projects in Baltimore. In addition: Proposals should respond to the unique environment of Baltimore Citys food deserts. Innovative, creative, provocative, non-traditional ideas via proposals will be given preference over simplistic and/or traditional efforts to solve this problem. Proposals that incorporate one or more of Baltimore Citys Food Policy Recommendations will be given preference. Interdisciplinary proposals that combine approaches from more than one field will be favored. VI. Prizes One Grand Prize winner will receive a $6,000 prize. One First Runner-Up will receive $3,000 One Second Runner-Up will receive $2,000 One Peoples Choice Winner (based on number of votes collected in person and through online voting) will receive $1,000

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VII. Appendix
Bellona-Gittings Cheswolde North Roland Park/Poplar Hill The Orchards Lake Evesham Rosebank Mount Washington SabinaMattfeldt Homeland Evesham Park Glen Oaks Fallstaff Chinquapin Park Belvedere Ramblewood Loch Raven Overlea Hamilton Hills Westfield Mid-Govans Cameron Village WoodbourneMcCabe Cedarcroft Lake Walker Idlewood Mt Pleasant Park North Harford Road Taylor Heights

Cross Country

" )

Wyndhurst Glen

Woodbourne Heights

Rosemont East

" )
Reisterstown Station Pimlico Good Neighbors Levindale Coldspring Arlington Cross Keys Blythewood Roland Park Villages at Homeland YorkHomeland RadnorWinston

Perring Loch

" )
WinstonGovans Richnor Springs Wrenlane Kenilworth Park New Northwood StonewoodPentwoodWinston Morgan State University Hillen Morgan Park Lauraville

Glenham-Belhar

" )

Cylburn

" )
Keswick Hoes Heights

Evergreen

Loyola/Notre Dame

Seton Business Park

Kernewood

Cedmont

Woodmere Langston Hughes Central Park Heights Parklane Medfield

Wilson Park Waltherson MoraviaWalther

Grove Park West Arlington Dolfield

Lucille Park

TuscanyCanterbury Greenspring Towanda-Grantley Woodberry

Guilford

Pen Lucy

Original Northwood

" Beverly )
Hills

Montebello Wyman Park East Arlington Hampden Johns Hopkins Homewood Oakenshawe Mayfield Ednor Gardens-Lakeside Waverly Herring Run Park

Arcadia

" )
Howard Park

Dorchester

CallawayGarrison

Ashburton Central Forest Park

Park Circle

BelairParkside

Frankford

Cedonia

" )
Abell Better Waverly Druid Hill Park Liberty Square BurleithLeighton Parkview/ Woodbrook Charles Village Remington Coldstream Homestead Montebello Harwood Parkside Lower Herring Run Park

Forest Park Golf Course

Concerned Citizens of Forest Park

Forest Park

Purnell West Forest Park Windsor Hills Dickeyville Mondawmin Penn North

" )

Clifton Park

Belair-Edison

Garwyn Oaks

Hanlon-Longwood

Jones Falls Area Old Goucher Barclay East Baltimore Midway Darley Park South Clifton Park Four By Four

Wakefield

Mount Holly Walbrook

Panway/ Braddish Avenue

Reservoir Hill

Orchard Ridge

Fairmont

Northwest Community Action Rosemont

Druid Heights Coppin Heights/ Ash-Co-East Easterwood

Charles North Bolton Hill

" ) " )

Greenmount West

Greenmount Cemetery Oliver

Berea Broadway East Orangeville Industrial Area Armistead Gardens

Franklintown Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park Sandtown-Winchester Winchester Bridgeview/Greenlawn

" )
Upton Madison Park

Johnston Square

Biddle Street Orangeville Gay Street Middle East MiltonMontford Madison-Eastend

Mid-Town Belvedere

Pulaski Industrial Area

West Hills

Hunting Ridge

Rognel Heights

Edmondson Village

Edgewood

Franklintown Road

Mosher

Mount Vernon Evergreen Lawn MidtownEdmondson Harlem Park Heritage Crossing Seton Hill PennFallsway

Oldtown

" ) " )
Dunbar-Broadway CARE Baltimore Highlands Hopkins Bayview Eastwood Patterson Park Perkins Homes Highlandtown Joseph Lee McElderry Park Ellwood Park/ Monument Kresson

Rosemont Homeowners/ Tenants Lower Edmondson Village Uplands Ten Hills Carroll-South Hilton Saint Josephs Westgate Tremont Irvington Millhill Gwynns Falls Beechfield Yale Heights Saint Agnes Shipley Hill Allendale

" )
Franklin Square

Penrose/Fayette Street Outreach

Poppleton

" )
University of Maryland

" ) " )
Downtown

Pleasant View Gardens Jonestown

" )
Washington Hill Butcher's Hill

Patterson Place

Patterson Park Neighborhood

" )

Boyd-Booth

Union Square

" )

Hollins Market

Downtown West Barre Ridgely's Circle Delight

Inner Harbor

Little Italy

Upper Fells Point

" )

Greektown

Carrollton Ridge

New Southwest/ Mount Clare

Washington Village/ Pigtown

" ) " )

" )
Otterbein Stadium Area Federal Hill SharpLeadenhall

Fells Point Canton

Brewers Hill

" )

Graceland Park

Medford

O'Donnell Heights

" ) " )
South Baltimore Riverside Locust Point Broening Manor

Carroll Park

Carroll - Camden Industrial Area Wilhelm Park

Oaklee Violetville Morrell Park

Saint Paul

Canton Industrial Area

Holabird Industrial Park

Westport Mount Winans

Spring Garden Industrial Area

Locust Point Industrial Area Port Covington

Saint Helena

Lakeland

" )

" )
Dundalk Marine Terminal

2012 Baltimore City Food Environment

Food Desert* Healthy Food Retail Supermarket Farmers Market Neighborhood Boundaries Non-Residential^

Cherry Hill Middle Branch/ Reedbird Parks

Fairfield Area

Brooklyn

Virtual Supermarket Public Market

1 inch = 1,500 feet

Hawkins Point

Curtis Bay

Curtis Bay Industrial Area

Harbor, Lakes, & Streams Major Parks Streets

Hawkins Point

*Food Desert: An area where the distance to a supermarket is more than mile, the median household income is at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level, over 40% of households have no vehicle available, and the average Healthy Food Availability Index score for supermarkets, convenience and corner stores is low (measured using the Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey).
^ Not included in study. Non-residential areas include Colleges and Universities, Hospitals, Industrial Areas, Stadiums, and Cemeteries.

MARCH

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