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Question of the Week: Food Deserts

2010-05-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

CAROL MOSELY BRAUN SPOKE OF SEEING AFRICAN AMERICANS SHOPPING AT GROCERY STORES FAR FROM HOME, LOOKING FOR BETTER QUALITY FOODS.

IT’S NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT A GOOD PIECE OF FRUIT REQUIRES A DAY TRIP.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO AREN’T ABLE TRAVEL THAT FAR?

WHERE ARE THEY BUYING THEIR GROCERIES?

FAR TOO MANY ARE FALLING BACK ON GAS STATIONS, LIQUOR STORES AND FRINGE GROCERS THAT DO NOT HAVE A LOT TO PICK FROM.

RESEARCHER, MARI GALLAGHER CALLS THESE AREAS FOOD DESERTS, AND HER DATA SHOWS THAT SOME 600,000 CHICAGOANS LIVE IN ONE. MOST ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN; MANY ARE CHILDREN.

HIGHER RATES OF FOOD RELATED DEATHS CORRESPOND TO FOOD DESERT COMMUNITIES,

AS DO DIABETES, OBESITY AND HEART DISEASE.

THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE SUPPORTS MAINSTREAM AND BLACK-OWNED GROCERS IN URBAN COMMUNITIES. WHEN GALLAGHER RELEASED HER FIRST STUDY IN 2006, THE URBAN LEAGUE HELD A FORUM TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE.

SHE UPDATED HER STUDY LAST YEAR, AND FOUND THAT FOOD DESERTS IN CHICAGO SHRANK IN GENERAL. BUT THE SITUATION GOT WORSE IN AREAS LIKE CHATHAM, WHICH LOST TWO GROCERY STORES, AFFECTING SOME 16,000 PEOPLE.

GALLAGHER HAS A FORMULA SHE USES TO CALCULATE POTENTIAL YEARS OF LIFE GAINED BY IMPROVING ACCESS TO QUALITY FOODS IN POOR COMMUNITIES.

YEARS OF LIFE: AS IN LIVING LONGER -- HEALTHY.

THAT IS WHAT’S AT STAKE.

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS, AND MAYBE SOME SOLUTIONS, ABOUT FOOD DESERTS AND WHAT THE CITY, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES CAN DO TO END THE DROUGHT.

Question of the Week

2010-05-02T17:33:00.000-07:00

"What is the future of eduation in Illinois?"

Question of the Week

2009-05-17T01:08:00.001-07:00

State lawmakers have been trying to settle this issue for years. But they don’t get an A for effort. It’s your turn Chicago. Today at changeyoucansee.com, tell us, “WHAT MORE CAN WE DO AS CONCERNED CITIZENS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS, TO GET THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS A LAW ENSURING THAT ALL SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED EQUALLY?”

Question of the Week

2009-05-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

HOW CAN COMMUNITY AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS HELP YOUTH FIND NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE SYSTEM?

2009-04-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AS PART OF A FORECLOSURE RESCUE PLAN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? A GUARANTEED FIXED-RATE? FORGIVENESS OF LATE FEES,

OR PRINCIPLE INTEREST? OR, HOW ABOUT YOUR LENDER FEELING SOME OF YOUR PAIN?

2009-04-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ANSWER IS TO INCREASING WEALTH IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT 8 TO 10 YEARS?

SHOULD YOU BUY A TWO-FLAT? INVEST IN STOCKS WHILE THEY'RE CHEAP? LAUNCH A BUSINESS? OR PURCHASE A C-D OR BOND?

2009-03-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

IS POLITICAL CORRECTNESS OUT OF STYLE?

IS IT TIME WE ALL WORE A THICKER SKIN?

HOW FAR IS TOO FAR?

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2009-03-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

"Broke Ain't Sexy"
In an economy this bad, should women cut the brothers some slack? Are roles changing? And if not, should they be?

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2009-03-15T10:05:00.001-07:00

Going green can mean more green in your pocket, both as a consumer and a business owner. Tell us your ideas for green jobs and businesses that can make you money.

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2009-03-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

How can Chicago ensure real and significant benefits for minority businesses if the city wins its Olympic bid?

2009-03-08T22:00:00.001-07:00

What else do you need to do to switch to a more lucrative, gratifying career?

2009-03-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

Are we looking for leaders in the right places? How will Obama's leadership style influence leaders from tomorrow?

2009-03-08T21:53:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Urban League was established in 1916 by an interracial group of community leaders to help rural African Americans migrating from the South in unprecedented numbers adjust to urban living. The establishment of the Chicago chapter was viewed then as an important step to spreading the National Urban League’s civil rights agenda across mid-America and parts of the West.