**Published in Progress in Community Health Partnerships 18.1 (PCHP). All rights reserved.**
ABSTRACT
Background: Three tribal communities in the Southwestern United States have a long-standing partnership with the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health (JHCIH).
Objectives: In response to community concerns about obesity, three tribal communities and JHCIH partnered to develop culturally relevant plans for a new program.
Methods: Using a “community visioning” process, a Community Advisory Board (CAB) from each community identified opportunities, challenges, goals, and visions for their communities. The CABs consulted with experts in pediatrics, nutrition, food distribution, agricultural restoration, and community and school gardening.
Results: The CABs developed 7 components for Feast for the Future: 1) Edible School Gardens; 2) Traditional Foodways Education Program; 3) Community Gardens, Orchards, and Greenhouses; 4) Farmers Markets; 5) Farmers Workshops; 6) Family Gardens; and, 7) a Mobile Grocery Store.
Conclusions: A Community Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) process was critical to developing a culturally appropriate program that built on community strengths.