$15,000 grant
from Vitable Health will help UGC continue its crucial work
building accessible pathways to health through urban agriculture on
Chicago's south side
CHICAGO, July 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Urban Growers Collective
(UGC), a Black- and women-led nonprofit farm building a more just
and equitable local food system in Chicago through urban agriculture, announces
its new partnership with Vitable Health, which offers a direct
primary care health plan designed to make high-quality concierge
healthcare accessible to everyone.
In solidarity and celebration of their mutual efforts to
increase access to health and wellness in Chicago's Black and Brown communities, UGC and
Vitable Health have organized a company-wide volunteer day for
Thursday, July 11, at UGC's largest
farm. The South Chicago Farm has seven acres of growing space,
hosts four job training and education programs, and acts as the
base of operations for the Fresh Moves Mobile Market, a bus that
has been converted into an affordable "produce aisle on wheels."
UGC's Fresh Moves bus served 14,400 customers in 2023 at schools,
community centers, churches and health clinics in communities with
less access to nutrient-dense and culturally affirming produce.
In addition to providing hands-on support on July 11, Vitable Health awarded UGC with a
$15,000 grant to support their vital
work in urban agriculture in Chicago. Joseph
Kitonga, founder and CEO of Vitable, shared his excitement
for the partnership, saying, "Vitable is built around a powerful
mission: To increase the life expectancy of our members by at least
5 years. This isn't something we're able to tackle with healthcare
access alone. That is why we partner with community-led
initiatives, like UGC, to address additional Social Determinants of
Health within our populations. Together, we're able to form deeper
bonds with those we serve and address their health in a more
holistic and lasting approach."
Erika Allen, CEO of Urban Growers
Collective (UGC), also shared, "On behalf of UGC, we are deeply
appreciative and grateful for this collaboration with Vitable
Health and their mission to support hourly workers and the
uninsured to wellness. We look forward to deepening our partnership
through Vitable's service providers and hosting free pop-up health
clinics at our South Chicago farm
stand and our Fresh Moves Health Fairs. Vitable's approach leads a
new pathway that encourages collaborations between the healthcare
system and local food-system sectors to support public health and
wellness in our communities."
About Urban Growers Collective:
Urban Growers
Collective (UGC) is a Black woman-led 501(c)3 nonprofit based in
Chicago. Rooted in growing food, UGC cultivates nourishing
environments which support health, economic development, healing
and creativity through urban agriculture. UGC addresses inequity
and structural racism that exist in communities of color and
throughout the food system using urban agriculture as their tool
and method. For more information, including opportunities to
purchase our produce or volunteer, visit
urbangrowerscollective.org.
About Vitable Health:
Vitable is an enhanced Direct
Primary Care health benefit for employers of hourly workers.
Delivering easy access to high-quality primary care and mental
health coverage to under- and uninsured American workforce. Vitable
membership includes in-home and virtual primary care visits, free
prescriptions, labs, and mental health programs with no
out-of-pocket cost for the members. For more information, visit
vitablehealth.com.
Media Contact:
Dana Swinney,
Sr. Publicist
myWHY Agency
312-291-1099
380525@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Urban Growers Collective