The Southern Peach Takes the Magnolia State
Jadrienne Horton
MPH & MSW Candidate
Growing up in a rural community in southwest Georgia I understand the nuance
associated with staying in this type of area. Lack of transportation, restricted access
to
quality food markets, healthcare providers due to insufficient health coverage, poor
infrastructure etc. Given the lack of amenities, families, corporations and institutions
are
reluctant to move into rural areas because they are undesirable and unprofitable.
Oftentimes it is left up to the community to provide the necessary services and
programs required to advance the health of residents living there. Due to lack of
community mobilization, many rural areas remain constant and the state of the
community continues to exacerbate. Acknowledging these challenges, I am excited for
the opportunity to learn more about how community organizations and members in the
rural Mississippi Delta are addressing their unmet needs. Specifically the issue of
food
insecurity.
I learned at the beginning of the 615: Public Health in Action course, that we would
assist with implementing a new Food Prescription program. Food prescription programs
collaborate with healthcare providers and food agencies to provide produce to those
with or potentially at-risk of developing chronic health conditions due to food insecurity.
Having the agency to implement such a program is outstanding and empowering for
someone like myself who comes from an area that lacks the influence to develop a Food
Prescription program. I hope to not only support their initiatives, but also learn
from
those leading this project about how they gained the resources and support to develop
this program.
In addition to supporting this program, I am also excited to learn more about the
history
and culture of Mississippi and explore the community. The state of Mississippi has
a rich
history, with the Delta being well-known for its unique blues music sounds. As a
southern girl, I am all too familiar with the blues genre. I anticipate hearing the
Mississippi Delta style of blues. And lastly, I am counting down the days to indulge
in
some tasty Southern Soul Food Cuisine.