Building Access to Food Through Systems and Solidarity

OTHER

CSA Model

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) involves a community of individuals who support a farm and in return receive distributions of the farm's produce throughout the growing season. Culturally appropriate produce will be provided weekly for 20 weeks to community members in Sunset Park and surrounding neighborhoods. Brooklyn Grange in Sunset Park will grow and provide Chinese specific produce for a fee ranging from $7 to $31 depending on the participant's self-identified situation and Angel Family Farm will grow and provide Mexican specific produce for a fee of up to $15. Participants that receive SNAP benefits can use their EBT card to cover their produce box fees. Education will be offered in the form of nutrition education, cooking tutorials, and farming information provided by staff at Brooklyn Grange.

Change in Fruit+Vegetable Intake as Measured by Skin Carotenoids

Time frame: Baseline, Week 20

Fruit and vegetable intake will be assessed by a composite measurement of skin carotenoids. Skin carotenoids are a biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake and will be measured using the Veggie Meter. The Veggie Meter is a non-invasive device about the size of a large stapler that plugs into the standard USB port of a laptop computer

Change in Fruit+Vegetable Intake as Measured by Self-Report

Time frame: Baseline, Week 20

Self-report of fruit and vegetable intake will rely on food frequency-like questionnaires that will ask about amount and frequency of a list of common produce items (e.g., cucumbers, tomatoes) as well as specific produce items supplied in the BASIS produce box program. Fruit+vegetable intake is reported as a composite measure.

Change in Neighborhood Social Cohesion

Time frame: Baseline, Week 20

Neighborhood social cohesion will be assessed using the 5-item scale developed by the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods Community Survey. Participants may rate agreement/disagreement on a 5-point scale (scale: 1-strongly agree, 2-agree, 3-neutral, 4-disagree, 5-strongly disagree) with the following 5 statements: 1) People around here are willing to help their neighbors; 2) People in this neighborhood generally don't get along with each other; 3) People in this neighborhood can be trusted; 4) People in this neighborhood do not share the same values; and 5) Most people in this neighborhood know each other. Participant responses for questions 1, 3 and 5 will then be reverse coded (e.g., strongly agree was assigned a value of 5 instead of 1), such that a higher value was associated with a more positive response to each statement. The total score ranges from 5-25; higher scores indicate greater neighborhood social cohesion.

Change in Sense of Belonging

Time frame: Baseline, Week 20

Sense of belonging will be measured using the 4-item Challenged Sense of Belonging Scale (CSBS). The CSBS is scored using a five-point Likert scale, where 1 indicates "strongly agree" and 5 indicates "strongly disagree". Each item on the scale is scored from 1 (low sense of belonging) to 5 (high sense of belonging). The total score is calculated by adding the manifest variables and dividing by the number of manifest variables, resulting in a score between 1 and 5; higher scores indicate a higher sense of belonging.

Change in Ethnic Pride

Time frame: Baseline, Week 20

Ethnic pride will be measured using the 8-item Ethnic Affirmation and Belonging Scale. Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale from 1-5. The total score is an average of the 8 item scores and ranges from 1-5; higher scores indicate greater ethnic pride.

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.

Is it safe to participate?

Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.

Will I be compensated?

Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.

Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?

When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.

Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?

Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.

How long does a clinical trial last?

Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.