Communities of Excellence
The Communities of Excellence in Nutrition,
Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention (CX3)
project takes a look at select low-income
neighborhoods* in Contra Costa County to
measure the nutrition environment and identify
opportunities for improvement. CX3 was designed
by the California Department of Public Health’s
Network for a Health California.
•Neighborhoods with 50% or more residents at
< 185% of the federal poverty level
Partnering to Map the Neighborhoods
Contra Costa Health Services, in partnership with the
West County HEAL Project, Opportunity West and
Eco-Village, collected and analyzed local data from
April 2007 to April 2008 in three steps:
1. Geographic Information System website
2. Field surveys of neighborhood stores
3. Standardized scoring system developed by CX3
Key Neighborhood FindingsOur neighborhoods are out-of-balance
from a nutrition and health perspective
• Characterized by limited access to affordable, healthy foods
• Iron Triangle - small stores, healthy staple items but little produce
• 23rd Street - good produce but expensive. Fewer healthy staple items
• North Richmond - very little that is healthy
Built Relationships with Market Owners
• Benefits of being WIC vendors
• Economic viability
• Creating healthy neighborhoods
• Network incentives
Partners Assisted Market Owners
• Identify items needed on shelves to be WIC vendors
• Complete WIC applications
SUCCESS! 3 NEW WIC Vendors
• 2 markets in SNAP-eligible census tracts
• 1 market across the street
• 1 market in SNAP-eligible census tract will re-apply
Technical Support
CCHS and partners provide frequent technical assistance
• Site visits to discuss problems
• Face time/on-going relationship building
• Collaboration with Network’s Latino and Regional Retail campaigns
Feedback from Market Owners
• WIC clients are increasing
• More customers, more sales
• Community benefits
• Markets feel new sense of responsibility to community
Why We Succeeded
• Targeted manageable number of stores
• Collaborated with partners to cover more area
• Provided frequent and dedicated support to markets
What’s Next
• Continued support to markets
• Identify new markets for conversion
• CX3 in 2012
• Census Tracts
This material was funded by USDA’s Food Stamp Program through the California Department of
Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California. Contra Costa Health Services provided
additional funding. These institutions are equal opportunity providers and employers. The Food
Stamp Program provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help buy
nutritious food for a better diet. For information of the Food Stamp Program, call 1-888-328-
3483.