"IPA's Complete Communities project is small, which provides a special opportunity for students to learn new technology while conducting applied research on policy and planning topics that matter to local communities in Delaware," said Scott. "Sarah and I recognized that Ally was unique qualified to be the primary author, graphic designer, and publisher for this project. We are so proud of Ally's accomplishments while working with IPA and believe she has boundless opportunities and limitless potential in her future career endeavors."
Access to Healthy Food: A Guide for Delaware Local Governments provides readers with a thorough understanding of food access problems and innovative policy and program solutions. The guide highlights research-based best practices for improving food access and adapts them for Delaware local governments that vary in size, structure, and resources.
The guide promotes the use of comprehensive plans and community design, policies and regulatory tools, and local partnerships as key strategies Delaware local governments can implement to address food insecurity within their communities. To engage Delawareans further, Michalowski included examples of best practices partnersorganizations such as the Wilmington Green Box, Bright Spot Farms, and the Food Bank of Delawarethat work to address gaps in healthy food access across the state today as models of successful local initiatives.
While the guide's title may suggest that its primary audience is local governments, Michalowski also kept the public in mind while writing the guide and creating companion infographics to promote it. The tools within the guide are easily adaptable to community organizations and local governments in other states. "Whether the reader is a local government official or a citizen looking for resources, my goal was to create a guide for expanded access to healthy food that every Delawarean could use," said Michalowski.
Michalowski adapted the content of the guide into an Adobe Spark webpage and a brand new section of the Complete Communities Toolbox to ensure accessibility to a variety of stakeholders. To further that mission, she even created an informational video highlighting the role community gardens can play in creating healthy, sustainable communities.
For Michalowski, the opportunity to have her hand in all aspects of a multi-tiered project proved to be invaluable. "In putting together the Access to Healthy Food guide, I was able to learn how to write for and market to a variety of audiences," said Michalowski. "Since public health is a passion of mine, I'm excited to continue to put these new skills to work."
About the Delaware Complete Communities Planning Toolbox
A "complete" community promotes healthy lifestyles, economic growth, and sustainability through an integrated approach to transportation, land use, and community design. The Institute for Public Administration's online Delaware Complete Communities Planning Toolbox is a resource for community leaders and local government officials to utilize planning approaches, community-design tools, public engagement strategies, and visual tools. Toolbox content is created in partnership with Delaware state agencies, including the Delaware Department of Transportation, the Delaware State Housing Authority, and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Service's Division of Public Health.
About the Institute for Public Administration
The University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA) addresses the policy, planning, and management needs of its partners through the integration of applied research, professional development and the education of tomorrow's leaders.
