Community-Engaged, Student-Led Mapping of Food Access in Rural Tennessee

Prepared by:

Wansoo Im, Ph.D. & Lisa McGee, M.Ed

Professor

HBCU Wellness Project

Meharry Medical College

HBCU Wellness Project: Strategy & Impact

• Program Leadership: An initiative of Meharry Medical College led by Lisa McGee, MEd, with community mapping leadership from Dr. Wansoo Im.
• Funding & Mission: Supported by legislative appropriation to mitigate health disparities while training the next generation of health professionals.
• Academic Core: A peer-reviewed curriculum covering epidemiology, research ethics, and the social determinants of health.
• Key Impact Metrics:
• Student Reach: Successfully trained over 1,000 students from HBCUs.
• Partner Institutions: Includes Fisk University, Lane College, and LeMoyne-Owen College.

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Who Are the Student Health Ambassadors?

SHAs are full-time students at participating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who receive specialized training in public health principles and community engagement.

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Key Responsibilities & Impact

• Community Engagement Leadership
• Build bridges between academic institutions and local communities.
• Engage residents and collaborate with community-based and faith-based organizations.
• Data & Mapping Expertise
• Collect, analyze, and map food accessibility data.
• Transform complex information into visual representations to highlight community needs and resources.
• Driving Social Change
• Act as "Agents of Change" to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to health.
• Focus on delivering support to underserved communities in culturally sensitive ways.

North Nashville, TN

Commonly referred to as the "Historic Jefferson Street Neighborhood," has a rich history as a Black community that has faced significant health equity challenges. Unfortunately, the area has high poverty rates, limited access to healthy food options, and a disproportionate number of residents who suffer from chronic illnesses, such as hypertension and diabetes. These factors have contributed to persistent health disparities in the community.

Community Assets that could affect hypertension

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• Access to healthy food
• Availability of places for physical activity
• Park, recreation facilities, walkable street
• Availability of healthcare service
• Community Safety
• Environmental pollution
• Neighborhood walkability
• Social supports

Grocery Stores (USDA used)

• Supercenters
• Walmart
• Target
• Supermarkets
• Kroger
• Publix
• Aldi
• Large grocery stores
• Trader Joe’s
• Whole Foods Market
• The Fresh Market

The Data Skew: Gentrification in North Nashville (37208)

Community Mapping�is defined as

“using mapping technology to identify, understand, analyze, resolve, disseminate community issues with the explicit intentions of education, engagement and empowerment”

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- Wansoo Im & David Tulloch

Potential Improvement

• More accurate local food provider data
• Enhanced spatial analysis
• Accessibility based on mobility
• Cultural considerations
• Food quality and affordability
• Healthy food options
• Food education and literacy
• Community engagement & Empowerment
• Policy and Advocacy

Could you provide further suggestions or comments on ways to improve food accessibility in North Nashville?

• Extend supplemental SNAP benefits
• Better understand how and where gentrification is impacting food insecurity
• Share more on what we can do to help.
• Advocating through policy
• Invite local elected officials
• Expand the area

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Rural Tennessee Health & Economic Challenges

• Regional Focus: Addressing rural counties with significant food access challenges and health disparities.
• Food Insecurity & Economics:
• Bedford County: 15% food insecurity rate and 12.4% poverty rate.
• Lauderdale County: 18% food insecurity rate and 18% poverty rate.
• State Benchmarks: Local food insecurity rates significantly exceed the Tennessee state average of 12%.
• Systemic Barriers: Up to 20% of residents lack reliable transportation, creating a critical hurdle for food access.
• Health Impact: There is a documented correlation between these access issues and high rates of chronic diseases in these areas.

Key Outcomes of the Project

• 260 food provider locations mapped�across Bedford and Lauderdale counties, creating a comprehensive food access database.
• Customizable online map platform�allowing students to filter and display food providers by category, location, and services.
• Multiple data layers available�including vehicle access, unemployment rates, poverty levels, minority populations, and health status indicators at the census tract level.
• Interactive data visualization�enabling correlation analysis between food access and socioeconomic factors.

Key Findings: Identifying Food Deserts

• Market Dominance & Limited Choice:�Food access is largely limited to major chains (e.g., Walmart, Food Lion), with few local or independent options.
• Barriers to Assistance:�Limited SNAP/WIC participation reduces access to federal nutrition support.
• Inconsistent Availability:�Farmers markets operate seasonally or on restricted schedules, limiting fresh food access.
• Economic Disparities:�Basic foods like milk, eggs, and produce cost more than the state average.
• Geographic Isolation:�Large areas lack nearby food providers, creating significant food deserts.

Transportation Barriers

20%

of residents in Lauderdale County lack access to private vehicles

• Limited Public Transit:�No public transportation in Ripley and minimal service in Bedford County.
• Long Travel Distances:�Rideshare options are too expensive for routine grocery trips.
• High Transportation Burden:�Rural residents often travel 10+ miles to reach the nearest grocery store.
• Student Observations:�Some residents must schedule transportation 24 hours in advance to access food.

Economic & Social Challenges

• High Poverty Rates:�Reduce household food purchasing power.
• Housing Cost Burden:�Forces difficult financial trade-offs.
• Limited Healthcare Access:�Worsens food-related health conditions.
• Linguistic Isolation:�Creates barriers to accessing essential services.

Student Voices: Community Mapping Reflections

• "Walmart offers variety, but higher prices on essentials like milk and eggs create financial challenges. Without public transit and with high Uber costs, many residents struggle to access fresh food."� — Danielle J
• "Residents need to schedule transportation 24 hours in advance to access grocery stores, creating major inconveniences for fresh food access."� — Nadiah W
• "Transportation and income disparities directly contribute to the county's high obesity (37%) and diabetes (12%) rates. Nutritious food remains inaccessible to many.“ — Keyairra S
• "Food availability is a 'blind luxury.' Without reliable transit options, residents face significant challenges in accessing nutritious food, forcing reliance on convenience stores or fast food.“ — Anyssa H
• "Compared to Chattanooga, where most residents are 2–5 miles from a grocery store, Bedford County residents often travel 10+ miles with no reliable public transit. This makes nutritious food a privilege, not a standard.“ — Christiyana C

Recommendations

• Expand Food Pantry & Mobile Market Coverage:�Increase mobile food pantry services in Bedford and Lauderdale Counties, focusing on areas with the greatest transportation barriers and limited grocery access.
• Incentivize SNAP/WIC Acceptance:�Encourage local retailers to accept SNAP/WIC and support online ordering with local pickup options.
• Increase Nutrition Education:�Implement school-based nutrition and gardening programs and partner with local healthcare providers for community workshops.
• Develop Community Transport Solutions:�Create volunteer rideshare programs for grocery trips in coordination with churches and community organizations.

Next Steps

• Lead community-wide listening sessions�• Integrate critical local health and access data�• Scale student-led mapping across HBCUs and rural counties�• Build cross-sector partnerships for sustainable health solutions

Community Mapping to Local Data

• Diverse Perspectives and Richer Data
• Increased Accuracy and Relevance
• Enhanced Trust and Participation
• Identification of Unique Local Issues
• Improved Data Validation and Error Reduction
• Long-term Data Collection and Monitoring
• Facilitating Data Co-Ownership and Co-Creation
• Empowering Communities with Data Literacy
• Support Data-Driven Decision Making
• Foster Civic Engagement and Local Action

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