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Building a Healthy Community Together, Laredo

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A young child playing with an adult female by wrapping a pipe cleaner across her forehead. The  young child also has a pipe cleaner wrapped over the top of her own head.

On March 21, 2023, USDA partnered with Texas A&M International University and Texas A&M Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture in Laredo, Texas to hold a community engagement event focused on food, nutrition, and diet-related health disparities in Hispanic communities. The event was attended by more than 120 community members who surfaced numerous issues that need addressed to help ensure food and nutrition security for all, as well as opportunities that can be leveraged to help accelerate progress towards these goals. Provided below are a summary report and Stories for Better Health, which are short video segments where community members share their lived experiences around food, nutrition, and health. Also included are images from the event and links for organizations that participated in a “Share Fair”, which provided information on Federal and local nutrition programs, healthy eating, and relevant community activities. 

Summary Report

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ASCEND for Better Health Community Engagement in Laredo, Texas

This report summarizes community member perspectives on food and nutrition-related challenges and opportunities in Hispanic communities, particularly in the Laredo area. We encourage the usage of this information in future reports, grant proposals, and other efforts that aim to improve the health and well-being of communities, particularly for Hispanic Americans. 

Stories for Better Health

Alexandra

See more stories

Samuel

Andrea

Images from the Event

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Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Under Secretary for  Research, Education, and Economics and USDA Chief Scientist, and Dr. Richard Chamberlain, Director of the  City of Laredo Public Health Department, standing together and smiling.
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Participants discussing information on federal and local nutrition programs, healthy eating, and relevant community activities.
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A cooking demonstration that provided meeting participants with information on how to  prepare a healthy meal.

View the entire photo album

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Participants discussing information on federal and local nutrition programs, healthy eating, and  relevant community activities.
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A community member standing and speaking to other meeting participants about food,  nutrition, and health.
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Two woman and a man looking at items on an exhibit table.