Mothers Taking Action (MTA) is comprised of food stamp-eligible mothers committed to improving the health of their families and communities. Their neighborhoods have high rates of obesity, diabetes, and other food-related illnesses while also less likely to have access to healthy, affordable foods.
California Food and Justice Coalition is training MTA Peer Leaders to facilitate small group dialogue sessions and maintain a safe and comfortable environment. Mothers share best practices and concerns related to diet, nutrition, and food access, and collectively bring solutions to these obstacles. As of 2011, both Oxnard and Stockton Mothers Taking Action Peer Leaders engaged hundreds of mothers in their respective communities, organized walking clubs, obtained land and began a community garden, and developed a team of community leaders committed to taking action to improve the health in our local neighborhoods. CFJC looks forward to another successful year with Mothers Taking Action.
“It’s so important to keep folks informed that they have a better way to keep themselves safe and healthy, and pass that on to their loved ones. And they can pass the word along to other moms.”
—Jackson Burns, 50, Mothers Taking Action Peer Leader
By mothers sharing wisdom and experience, breaking through barriers, and overcoming misconceptions, Mothers Taking Action and CFJC believe that real change to our food system will come from the local level.
MTA Program Updates
In February and March 2012, twelve Ventura County mothers and nine San Joaquin County mothers completed the Mothers Taking Action Peer Leader training. Because of the success of the Mothers Taking Action program, CFJC is identifying partners for potential replication in additional counties for next year. In early April, CFJC visited with county health departments and community groups to discuss the MTA project and how it could be integrated with their program.
This Peer 2 Peer project was developed in partnership with San Joaquin and Ventura County Health Departments, Field Research, and the Network for a Healthy California. For more information, please contact Christina Spach at cspach@cafoodjustice.org.