The New York City Department of Public Health’s Healthy Bodegas Initiative works with bodegas (small corner stores) in the city’s underserved communities to stock and promote more healthful foods and to raise nutritional awareness and encourage the purchase of healthy food. The design team explored opportunities to further the Initiative’s impact, particularly in Bedford-Stuyvesant, one of the target neighborhoods. To better understand the key players and challenges faced, the team interviewed Initiative staff, bodega owners and partners, in addition to examining several bodegas and observing a cooking demonstration.
The Healthy Bodegas Initiative outlined their core challenge as sustainability. The Initiative works directly with target bodegas for seven months at a time. The problem is, how can their efforts be sustained after that direct engagement ends
With a focus on visibility, the team developed a series of design briefs to engage and empower bodega owners and community residents to keep the momentum going. Briefs include a consistent visual voice, a stoop-line stand kit, a guide to store sightlines, tips for outdoor cooking demonstrations and a community cookbook.
