Recently, I had the opportunity to discuss with Dr. Maya Rockeymoore the critical and engaging role park and recreation agencies play in underserved communities. Dr. Rockeymoore is the president and CEO of Global Policy Solutions, the Washington, D.C.-based firm known for making policy work for people and their environments. The conversation we had gave insight into the complexities and possible remedies to the (still) startling figures of obesity in children of color from low-income communities.
Dr. Rockeymoore’s areas of expertise include health, social insurance, income security, education, women’s issues and youth civic participation, and she serves on the board of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, as well as the National Association of Counties. She is the author of The Political Action Handbook: A How-To Guide for the Hip-Hop Generation, co-editor of Strengthening Community: Social Insurance in a Diverse America and also a feature blogger for The Huffington Post. Dr. Rockeymoore will also speak as a keynote panelist in the Opening General Session at the 2014 NRPA Congress.
Gina Mullins-Cohen: The prevalence of obesity among African-American and Latino youths between the ages of 2 and 19 is considerably higher than that of the national average, which sits at 16.9 percent. The obesity rate for African-American youths is 20.2 percent and the rate for Hispanic youths is 22.4 percent. Studies show some of the culprits to be junk food advertising specifically targeted to this demographic, limited availability to healthy foods, and limited access and availability to safe recreational facilities and parks. How important is the role of the local, community park in helping people of low income and minorities to be healthy?
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore: Increasing physical activity is a key component to reducing childhood obesity rates. Studies have shown that kids who live close to public parks and recreational facilities are more likely to be active. This is especially important for low-income communities and youths of color who are less likely to have alternative means for physical activity such as a private gym. But we need to ensure that our parks and recreational facilities are clean and safe, so that residents — both young and old — will be comfortable being active in them on a daily basis. Simple measures like increasing lighting in parks and more supervised activities can go a long way.
Mullins-Cohen: What are some of the basic steps park and recreation agencies can take to decrease these high percentages of obesity for African-American and Latino children?
Dr. Rockeymoore: Building a park or new recreational facility is fantastic, but we can’t expect that all residents will use these facilities without a little encouragement. I think park and recreation agencies can help promote physical activity through innovative, culturally-aware programming and community engagement. Local partnerships with schools, faith-based groups and farmers’ markets are also great opportunities to bring in youths (and parents) and show them how they can use their parks and facilities to be healthy.
Mullins-Cohen: Can you explain the cycle of health issues that overtake lower-income communities and how those issues can negatively impact an entire city, county or state?
Dr. Rockeymoore: Poverty has a direct impact on health disparities today. Lower-income families are more likely to have limited access to nutritious, affordable foods and fewer opportunities and time to be physically active. Additionally, lower-income residents often have less access to quality healthcare services. All of these factors often lead to higher obesity rates and prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease. Breaking the cycle of poverty is critical for both the economy and health of our nation, and policy makers at all levels of government, including park and recreation agencies, should play a role.
Mullins-Cohen: A recent blog entry you wrote for The Huffington Post acknowledges the inequity of a wealth gap that continues to shape the future of Latinos and African-Americans. This gap increased during the recent recession. How does such an ongoing financial disparity impact the overall health of these communities in the short and long term?
Dr. Rockeymoore: Census data shows that for every dollar of wealth held by the typical white family, African-Americans and Latinos own only six and seven cents, respectively. Furthermore, these families are cash-poor with relatively little to fall back on in the case of emergencies. This lack of financial flexibility directly affects the ability of these families to pay for quality health services, nutritious food or even paid recreational opportunities such as gym or athletic league memberships. With the nation’s demographics dramatically shifting, it is important to understand that the financially tenuous situation of African-Americans and Latinos has an effect on the entire country. What will it mean for our nation’s overall economic and physical health if the majority population is unhealthy and mired in poverty? If decision makers at every level of society fail to prioritize strategies to close economic and health disparities, it will certainly mean that these disparities are likely to grow, not lessen, given today’s prevailing trends. We all have a responsibility to do everything in our power to make sure that this does not happen.
Mullins-Cohen: Our country is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, yet a lack of equity still exists in many areas of our society in regard to low-income people and people of color. Research shows the two groups of people still fall prey to socioeconomic and industrialized bullying through advertising and propagandist media — both strong economic forces. What can we do, as park and recreation professionals or even as individuals, to stop this trend that denies justice and opportunity to so many?
Dr. Rockeymoore: The marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages throughout our communities is a serious public health concern. Research shows that food and beverage companies continue to target African-American and Latino youths more and more through both traditional and digital media, such as cellphone games. While changing corporate marketing practices is a complicated process, I think park and recreation agencies can help limit their influence by ensuring only healthy foods and beverages are sold in their vending machines and stores, as well as limiting junk food advertising in their space.
Mullins-Cohen: NRPA’s Three Pillars of Conservation, Health and Wellness, and Social Equity represent areas in which park and recreation agencies can create and achieve positive change within the community. How do you think park and recreation agencies can build a better future for our children and our communities by using the pillars as a strategy?
Dr. Rockeymoore: As public areas and facilities designed for activity and recreation, parks and recreational facilities play an obvious role in encouraging physical activity among all residents, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. But, these public areas can also help increase access to healthy foods through farmers’ markets, healthy vending and other opportunities. There’s no silver bullet when it comes to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic. We need comprehensive strategies that will help increase physical activity among residents as well as improve access to healthy foods for all residents. Park and recreation agencies are in a great position to do both, which is why I see them as key partners in helping address health disparities and reversing the childhood obesity epidemic.
Gina Mullins-Cohen is NRPA’s Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publications.