Black Oak Center

Provide economic, skills-building opportunities in food system development urban suburban and rural

Generate economic development in impoverished, low food access, food-insecure communities by tapping into human and material assets they have.

Improve access to healthy, affordable food urban, suburban and rural

Improve the health status of high need, peri-urban areas through increased access to healthy affordable food with self-care supports

For 10 years now, Healthy Food Hub Market Days have sprouted in many high need neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Chicago as well as the Southland. This is where market comers can get quality and variety of produce and dry goods that are often not available in their community, learn about the therapeutic benefits of these foods, learn healthy food preparation, self-care technics, enjoy tastings while reinforcing community.

We initially started doing Markets every other week in 2009. We are now doing markets 3-5 times per week. Our aim is to reach 9 to 15 per week.

We have given over 100 youth job training, skills-building opportunities. Some have gone on to do their own businesses. Market Days were an incubator for a number of our community partners who have gone on to expand their businesses beyond kitchen cottage and are in major stores now. Products were tested, tried, and perfected before they went on to a broader market.

Many reports of improved health status, reduction in medications, prevention of disease complications.

Reports of social connectedness

What is next is securing a Healthy Food Hub truck to set up markets in multiple locations with ease and sell healthy affordable foods in multiple places. The expansion of the Rx Bag Therapeutic Foods Service, maximizing one of the nation's few physician lead market prescription programs to support self-care, disease prevention in communities with high morbidity and mortality.