# Building Access to Food through Systems and Solidarity

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $1,500,028

## Abstract

SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Leveraging our deep experience with conducting community-engaged research, the goal of the Building Access 
to Food through Systems and Solidarity (BASIS) Study is to improve diet by providing culturally appropriate food 
access and attending to drivers that limit the ability to achieve nutrition security in Sunset Park – a community of 
Mexican and Chinese American families in Brooklyn, NY that has been hard-hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, 
has lagged in economic recovery, and where residents are disconnected from government supports. 
Significance. Latinx and Asian American communities face unique, yet similar structural and social inequities 
contributing to poor diet quality, which have contributed to the increased burden of diabetes and non-alcoholic 
fatty liver disease in these groups. The past two years has exacerbated these barriers due to overt anti-immigrant 
and anti-Asian sentiment during the pandemic, invoking fear, cultural shame, and loss of a sense of security for 
these groups – factors which have fueled challenges towards accessing food and economic stability. 
Approach. Working collaboratively with four farming/gardening organizations, one elementary school and three 
community-based organizations, our aims are: 
Aim 1: To implement a whole-of-community intervention in Sunset Park for improving diet and the social/built
environments for low-income Mexican and Chinese American immigrants. The BASIS program will include inlanguage navigation for food business owners/residents to government assistance / workforce development 
programs; a subsidized fresh produce box program; gardening and nutrition education; and a social marketing 
campaign to promote healthy eating behavior changes and cultural awareness. Materials will be culturally 
appropriate and specific to each community, yet also highlight similarities across both groups. 
Aim 2: To evaluate the BASIS program impact at the community, interpersonal and individual levels . The 
evaluation plan will employ administrative data sources and mixed methods to assess outcomes at multiple 
levels. Outcomes will be assessed in Sunset Park and in 4 comparison communities that are predominantly 
Mexican and Chinese American (Corona, East Harlem; Chinatown, Elmhurst, respectively). We hypothesize that 
stability in the food retail sector and improvements in neighborhood social cohesion, diet, ethnic pride and sense 
of belonging will be observed in Sunset Park vs. comparison communities. 
Aim 3: To co-develop a multi-faceted sustainability strategy with multi-sector stakeholders. Sustainability is a 
central priority of the BASIS program and is driven by commitment to community priorities; investment in 
infrastructure and workforce development; and engagement in the local food policy dialogue. 
Impact.BASIS presents a powerful model to improve diet in immigrant communities by addressing determinants 
of food access in a community-centered, culturally competent w...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10844614
- **Project number:** 5R01MD018204-03
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** STELLA S Yi
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,500,028
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-18 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10844614

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10844614, Building Access to Food through Systems and Solidarity (5R01MD018204-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10844614. Licensed CC0.

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