Healthy Food Ride South LA from Annenberg Innovation Lab on Vimeo.
Check out the NEW VIDEO from the Healthy Food Map kickoff ride!
On March 3rd, I got the privilege to join the Healthy Food Map ride and shoot a documentary about the event. It was my first time riding with the Ride South LA crew and it was an amazing experience.
The ride was a great way to see community research and outreach in action. It brought together a diverse group interested in spreading knowledge about healthy food in South LA. The bike ride created a spectacular event that not only drew attention to the map but also embodied the types of healthy lifestyles that the map advocates for.
The Healthy Food Map ride was composed of a wide array of South LA residents, cyclists, USC faculty and students, and partner organizations. The organizations include: T.R.U.S.T. South LA, Community Services Unlimited (CSU), Eastside Riders Bike Club, Los Ryderz, USC Annenberg Lab, USC Metamorphosis, and Laboratory On the Social Frontier (LOSF). The map was made possible by funding from USC Community Outreach.
Along the route, cyclist visited community gardens at Normandie Elementary and healthy food locations such as Mama’s Chicken and Mercado la Paloma. The locations are only a few key nodes in the larger network of healthy food projects and stores in the area. Yet, many participants I interviewed were astonished and surprised by these hidden gems in the community.
The map was created by a group of South LA students to identify healthy food locations in their neighborhoods. The map focuses on pedestrian and bike routes to help support those without a car. The ride itself was a celebration of bike culture and imagining what a bike friendly Los Angeles could look like. As the riders streamed through the neighborhood streets, South LA residents often came out of their homes to photograph or cheer on the group.
This is just the first step in an ongoing campaign to spread the map and increase awareness of Healthy Food options in South LA. Please make sure to download a copy and spread the map however you can. And keep a lookout for future rides! The next one is April 6!
