Healthy Economics-FAQ

WHY IS HEALTHY ECONOMICS DIFFERENT?
Healthy Economics is not a program, but rather an intergenerational network that shares the focus of improving the communities food and educational system by utilizing the school (often the high school) as the center of the community.

Our strategy to improve the food system, is to increase the production and distribution of healthy food within a community by setting up farmers markets and cooperative grocery stores (the main role of mo' better food).

Our strategy to improve the educational system is to increase the governance in the schools, i.e. student government, parent teacher associations, alumni associations (main role of friends of school) and involve these organizations in the development of farmers markets and cooperative grocery stores ( the main function of the intergenerational enterprise).

The community becomes physically healthier from increasing their access to fresh fruits and vegetables and economically healthier from establishing the needed businesses within the community that provide healthy food, jobs, training and community pride.

This is what we call building Healthy Economics!
The four main programs of Healthy Economics are:
Mo’ Better Food.com - develops social enterprises that increase access to healthy fruits and vegetables that also support and promote local farmers.

1stSaturdays.com (monthly action and review) is a reminder date to increase vounteerism to at least once a month.

We call it the official monthly volunteer day. We also promote other events and send e-blasts of these events and volunter opportunities to our subscribers.

Friends of School.org (community specific)- strengthens 1) students government 2) pta’s 3) alumni associations, 4) business partners in every school.

Our goal is to strengthen the systems of every school so that the typical organizations on campus are working together to improve the overall health of the school and it's surrounding community.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) Question 1: What is THE VISION? Answer 1: The vision is to build Healthy Economics Question 2: What is Healthy Economics? Answer 2: The day a community once termed low-income, underserved, becomes self sufficient, independent. Question 3: How does Healthy Economics work? Answer 3: It partners the food system to the educational system through four main programs (websites). Each program (site) has a specific function of uniting the schools to their community. Through intergenerational activities, “the people systems” of the school participate in the development of the school and its community. Question 4: What do you mean by a “People system? Answer 4: A People System is a collaboration of organizations that seek members. For example, The PTSA collaborating with The Student Government Association in collaboration with the School’s Alumni Association is a people system. Each of these organizations capacity grows through increased membership. When they come together, you have a people system in place that enables the school to manage a school garden, farmers market and cooperative grocery. The function of the Intergenerational Enterprise is to connect this “people system” to these types of activities. Question 5: What is the role of the Intergenerational Enterprise? Answer 5: The Intergenerational Enterprise has several roles / purposes within the Healthy Economics Campaign. 1. To Build and Preserve Community Historical Continuity When we started the Friends of McClymonds High School and restructured the McClymonds Alumni Association, several students, upon graduation joined The Alumni Association. Since many of these alumni and students live in West Oakland, it’s a win win for the school, city, etc, to seek the assistance of this body of high school graduates. 2. To create governance for sustainable social enterprises. We focus initially on social enterprises that improve the food system. I,e, school gardens, farmers market, cooperative grocery stores. (see purpose of mobetterfood.com) 3. To secure funding for social enterprises decided by the Intergenerational Enterprise. QUESTION 6: What is the role/purpose of Friends of School? QUESTION 6: In most low-income, underserved communities, rarely do you find a functioning organization on campus outside of the schools administration. As I stated above, “ A people system” is a collaboration of organizations that seek members.” Each school needs functioning organizations, prior to having the People System in place, to build an Intergenerational Enterprise. The function of the Friends of School is to strengthen these school - based organizations, so that, once prepared can become the people system necessary for the economic opportunities prevalent in these communities. Friends of School has different functions at every school. Some schools have a strong student government. Some schools do not have a student government at all. Some schools have a PTSA and some do not. Friends of School ‘s main role is to promote each school to have all the above organizations in place. Once these organizations are in place, The Friends of Schools role turns into developing the Intergenerational Enterprise, as mentioned above.
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Why these four programs? TYPICAL PROGRAMS IN LOW-INCOME ARE... BROUGHT IN FROM THE OUTSIDE Typical programs in low-income communities are brought in from outside the community, managed by others and when they prove to be unsuccessful, another program (also from the outside) is brought in. This process repeats itself. RUN OUT OF MONEY Sometimes these programs prove to have level some success, but run out of money before their programs can truly establish community sustainability.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Question 1: What is THE VISION?
Answer 1: The vision is to build Healthy Economics

Question 2: What is Healthy Economics?
Answer 2: The day a community once termed low-income, underserved, becomes self sufficient, independent. Question

3: How does Healthy Economics work?
Answer 3: It partners the food system to the educational system through four main programs (websites). Each program (site) has a specific function of uniting the schools to their community. Through intergenerational activities, “the people systems” of the school participate in the development of the school and its community.

Question 4: What do you mean by a “People system?

Answer 4: A People System is a collaboration of organizations that seek members. For example, The PTSA collaborating with The Student Government Association in collaboration with the School’s Alumni Association is a people system. Each of these organizations capacity grows through increased membership. When they come together, you have a people system in place that enables the school to manage a school garden, farmers market and cooperative grocery. The function of the Intergenerational Enterprise is to connect this “people system” to these types of activities.

Question 5: What is the role of the Intergenerational Enterprise?

Answer 5: The Intergenerational Enterprise has several roles / purposes within the Healthy Economics Campaign.
1. To Build and Preserve Community Historical Continuity When we started the Friends of McClymonds High School and restructured the McClymonds Alumni Association, several students, upon graduation joined The Alumni Association. Since many of these alumni and students live in West Oakland, it’s a win win for the school, city, etc, to seek the assistance of this body of high school graduates.
2. To create governance for sustainable social enterprises. We focus initially on social enterprises that improve the food system. I,e, school gardens, farmers market, cooperative grocery stores. (see purpose of mobetterfood.com)

3. To secure funding for social enterprises decided by the Intergenerational Enterprise.

QUESTION 6: What is the role/purpose of Friends of School?

QUESTION 6: In most low-income, underserved communities, rarely do you find a functioning organization on campus outside of the schools administration. As I stated above, “ A people system” is a collaboration of organizations that seek members.” Each school needs functioning organizations, prior to having the People System in place, to build an Intergenerational Enterprise. The function of the Friends of School is to strengthen these school - based organizations, so that, once prepared can become the people system necessary for the economic opportunities prevalent in these communities. Friends of School has different functions at every school. Some schools have a strong student government. Some schools do not have a student government at all. Some schools have a PTSA and some do not. Friends of School ‘s main role is to promote each school to have all the above organizations in place. Once these organizations are in place, The Friends of Schools role turns into developing the Intergenerational Enterprise, as mentioned above.

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Why these four programs?
TYPICAL PROGRAMS IN LOW-INCOME ARE...
BROUGHT IN FROM THE OUTSIDE
Typical programs in low-income communities are brought in from outside the community, managed by others and when they prove to be unsuccessful, another program (also from the outside) is brought in. This process repeats itself.
RUN OUT OF MONEY
Sometimes these programs prove to have level some success, but run out of money before their programs can truly establish community sustainability.