The AWC team extends our heartfelt gratitude to all the participants who shared their invaluable insights and truths during our recent discussions. Your contributions have been instrumental in representing the community and showcasing your leadership in addressing crucial issues. Your willingness to engage and share your perspectives is what drives positive change in our community.

View the October Community Breakfast Presentation Deck

Participants were asked to express what the term "food is medicine" meant to them, and their responses highlighted various aspects:

• We can adjust our cultural food to be healthier
• Nutrition is wellness
• What you put in your body is the key to overall health
• Type and amount of food matter
• Healthy food equals healthy body and mind
• Nutritious food that is culturally relevant to them
• Food is about being healthy
• Preventative food consumption that decreases the likelihood of nutrition-related diseases
• Food can prevent and heal.
• this is a way to utilize the natural properties of food to heal the body

1. Healthy Eating Habits: Many respondents emphasized the importance of nutrition and healthy food choices, stating that what you consume directly impacts overall health and well-being.

2. Cultural Relevance: Some participants emphasized the need for culturally relevant and nutritious food, suggesting that a connection exists between one's culture and their health.

3. Preventative and Healing Properties: Several responses emphasized the preventative and healing aspects of food, highlighting its potential to prevent and heal nutrition-related diseases.

4. Transcreation Considerations: There was also a mention of considering how the term "food is medicine" resonates with Spanish speakers, suggesting the importance of making such concepts culturally inclusive.

In summary, "food is medicine" is seen as a holistic concept encompassing healthy eating, cultural relevance, prevention, and healing, with an additional emphasis on its interpretation across languages and cultures.

Participants shared one-word descriptions of their reactions and feelings about food access and systems in Aurora. These words included a range of sentiments, from "layered" and "technological" to "hopeful" and "frustrating." Several words like "innovative" and "collaborative" underscored the desire for positive change and a more inclusive and diverse approach to addressing food access challenges.

• Layered
• Technological
• Necessary
• Innovative
• Innovation
• Hope
• Growing
• Frustrating
• Essential
• Disruptive
• Complex
• Collaborative
• Anonymous access
• Accessible
• Inclusion
• Diversity
• Innovation
• Collaborative

CU Health and Wellness Building:

• Recommendations: It was suggested that meetings should be moved to community spaces rather than on campus, due to concerns about parking challenges for non-English speakers, unclear payment instructions, and inadequate signage, which collectively contribute to an unwelcoming atmosphere.
• Building Structure: Some participants found the building structure intimidating, potentially affecting community engagement.
• Virtual Engagement: Concerns were raised that the community might be reluctant to participate in virtual presentations and events.

Paris Elementary Advocacy Ask:

• Community Concerns: There were concerns about potential retaliation from local government leaders, based on documented instances in the past. The Aurora Welcome Center (AWC) clarified that the request for engagement is primarily directed toward community leaders and individuals serving the AWC zip codes.

Colorado Food Cluster (CFC) Partnership – Community Food Utility:

• Overall Positive Reaction: Participants generally had a positive reaction to the concept, with one attendee even describing it as brilliant.
• Impact on Homeless Population: There was a discussion about the potential impact of the CFC partnership on Aurora's homeless population, noting the high percentage of homeless individuals in the AWC zip codes. CFC recognizes a spectrum of homelessness.
• Caution and Celebration: Some participants expressed both caution and celebration regarding community health workers. They cautioned against the possibility of this model becoming exclusive and serving only a close-knit circle and family members.

As we move forward, we want to ensure that your voices continue to shape our initiatives. We have taken your feedback to heart, and in response to your preferences, we are excited to announce that our November Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, November 1. We hope this adjustment better aligns with your schedules and allows for even more community involvement. 

We invite you all to join us and continue the important conversations that help us build a stronger and more inclusive community together. Your presence and input are essential to our shared goals, and we look forward to seeing you there.