Table of Contents
Partner organizations help healthy habits take root in underserved LA communities
In our Los Angeles neighborhoods, powerful things are growing not only in our community gardens, but also in our kitchens, classrooms and everyday options.
CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) brings free nutrition education and wellness support to those eligible for the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), focusing on helping families and seniors develop healthy habits.
As a version of the California SNAP-ED program, CFHL is implemented statewide by four agencies. These institutions reached 1.8 million Californians in FFY in 2024, making healthy choices easier by improving access and appeal to healthy eating and physical activity through direct education and local changes.
In counties across the state, the CFHL, UC programs are provided by the UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE). CFHL, a UCCE partner in Los Angeles County, is a partner with trusted local organizations such as the Hope sull Housing Foundation and the All Peoples Community Center. Together, they provide nutrition and wellness classes that bring resources to communities that are often overlooked and make a real difference in people's lives.
The programme is centered around the neighborhood that serves it. One is a shared recipe, one family meal, one small change. One such site is Oaks in Florence, an affordable residential community for the elderly in Bell city. The community primarily serves Hispanic seniors, many of whom face barriers such as limited access to healthy foods, chronic health conditions and lack of culturally relevant nutrition education.
Service tailored to local needs
Bilingual CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Community Education Specialists, launched the Food Smarts curriculum, a series of interactive classes that encourage participants to share their experiences, explore new ideas and adopt sustainable, healthy habits.
“We're a great opportunity to learn more about our efforts to help people understand how we're doing,” said Daisy Valdez, community education supervisor at CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE in Los Angeles County. “Our goal is to help seniors and families make informed and sustainable choices.”
Valdez also highlights the disparities in food access across the county. “There are areas where there are lots of high quality food options, and some are overflowing with fast food and ultra-processed products,” she said.
Before starting a new class cycle, CalFresh Healthy Living, the UCCE team meets with participants and understand their interests and needs. These conversations have led to lasting changes, including the development of community gardens and the more welcoming dining environment at the centre.
The real story, the real transformation
The impact of the CFHL, UC programme is evident by the voices of participants who have experienced the change. In the 2024 federal fiscal year, California CFHL collaborated with more than 850 community partners to reach 181,700 across California, improving health, habits and community connections.
One Oaks residents in Oaks, Florence, shared that she was consuming a large amount of fast food and sweet drinks while living with diabetes. After attending class, her habits changed dramatically. “Now I love salads and fruits. I feel so good,” she said.
Another resident explained how traditional rice and bean-based diets evolved. “I started adding spinach, lettuce and carrots,” she said. “I thought it wasn't 'real food', but now I love it! ”
All People's Community Center participants recovered from gallbladder surgery attended classes with their 5-year-old daughter to learn more about healthy eating. “My wife and I should now plan a meal together, cook more at home and avoid fast food,” he said. “Even my daughter knows which food is good for her.”
Health data demonstrates the need for nutrition education
Recent data highlight the importance of these efforts. Nearly 30% of Los Angeles County residents experience nutritional anxiety, according to the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research Center's Food Insecurity in Los Angeles County: Updated Fall 2024. This has serious consequences. In Los Angeles County, one out of 10 adults suffer from type 2 diabetes, according to the Department of Public Health. Their data also show that 27.8% of residents have high blood pressure.
Access to affordable fresh food is essential for new habits to stick to. Therefore, CFHL and UC have integrated initiatives to support nutrition education. One example is a collaboration with Growgood Farm. This brings low-cost seasonal fruits and vegetables to communities like the Oaks in Florence once a month. Residents can use the snap perks to purchase fresh produce without leaving their neighborhood. You can enhance lessons from the classroom with actual access.
The programme strengthens stronger and healthier communities
This transformation is not limited to participants. The staff at these centers also experience personal growth.
Karla Amsk, the service coordinator for the three community sites, is reflected in the connections residents are building in gardening. “It feels like they're doing something good for them,” she said. “CalFresh Healthy Living, UC, has been very helpful to the community.”
Yvette Sánchez, coordinator at All Peoples Community Center, also saw a change in her own health. “I had stomachaches every day. I decided to learn more about nutrition and lose weight,” she said.
She attended Ingrid Alarcón, a UCCE Community Education specialist, a workshop led by the CFHL. “I remember being told, 'Make sure your plate has color,'” Sanchez recalls. “Now, I'm including more vegetables and diversity to stay healthy.”
Her story is just one of many examples in Los Angeles County where CFHL, UCCE and partner organizations help participants take charge of their health.
