I would develop a system to get affordable and fresh produce to low-income families. The food system in America is perpetuating the obesity and health problems in America. If people do not have enough money to live on, it is only logical that they would purchase inexpensive, easy to cook, pre-packaged meals high in carbohydrates. However, these meals also carry the most sugar and sodium content and do not provide the nutrients that our bodies need to be healthy.
I would therefore establish a ‘mobile farmers market’, such as a prefabricated school bus that could take these healthy foods to neighborhoods where local grocery stores or neighborhood corner stores were insufficient. The food would be subsidized so it becomes the affordable and logical choice for locals. I would also provide basic recipes and teach cooking classes to educate people on how to cook fresh produce in their everyday lives.
On a micro level, the social entrepreneur project would benefit individual, low-income communities. Locals would grow accustom to the farmers market’s regular weekly attendance and do their grocery shopping accordingly. They would also be able to teach their children about healthy eating habits. On a macro level, if this program were successful in a target city, for example, New York City, it could expand nationally. If this project could contribute to reducing the amount of obesity in these urban areas, it could have drastically positive effects on our healthcare system as a prevention mechanism.
I think donors would find this idea strong and easily digestible. It does not have a complex business model, it does not necessitate massive amounts of start up costs, and it has the potential to create a big shift in people’s mindset and health. Michelle Obama’s ‘Lets Move’ campaign has done a lot to publicize health issues, especially in kids and school systems in the recent years. I therefore also believe that there are federal grants that would contribute to funding the project. I would develop short promotional videos and a website to increase exposure to the project and I would attend conferences related to health and education. I would then write a significant amount of grant proposals.
