The local community is primarily the congregation of New Bethel Church, located in Pontiac, Michigan – a suburb of Detroit. This community resides in a food desert, without a grocery store and with little economic opportunities, resulting in malnutrition and poor eating habits. The younger people in the community also lack educational opportunities and suffer from a lack of access to resources and support.
Currently unused church space will be repurposed into a community garden and greenspace. The garden will provide access to fresh produce and educational opportunities, as well as increase community cohesion. The green space will provide a structured environment for mindfulness and has the potential to be paired with classes to aid in mental health and wellness.
The community garden has the potential to increase diversity of diets, promote self-confidence, provide skills for economic mobility and has the opportunity to increase community cohesion. The green space can increase mindfulness and provide access to an outdoor safe space currently unavailable to some community members.
Members of the local community who currently lack access to fresh produce will be able to diversify their diets and improve their health, as well as gain new skills and a greater sense of community. Younger people in the community will have increased educational opportunities and may feel a greater sense of support and community.
New Bethel Church is located in Pontiac, Michigan – a suburban area outside of Detroit. The following members of the congregation will be involved in the project:
Pontiac, Michigan is located in a suburban area, outside of Detroit. The community is located in a food desert, without a local grocery store and with little economic growth opportunities. The local community includes about 200 people and is predominantly Black.
The goal of the project is to establish a community garden and green space on unutilized church property to increase community access to fresh food and increase nutritional awareness. The garden and green space also seek to increase community involvement and cohesion, as well as provide educational and economic opportunities. The goal of including a local green space is to create a larger awareness for mindfulness in the community.
Within Pontiac, Micah 6 currently has 1.25 acres of land and 3 greenhouses that serve to increase community access to fresh produce. Micah 6 has established partnerships with Growing Pontiac and The Farm at Trinity Health Oakland.
Micah 6 has also established a local grocery store, Sprout. Sprout offers access to fresh, locally grown produce at very inexpensive prices and is within walking distance to much of the community.
New Bethel Church is currently using their Sunday School hour to teach about healthy food habits and the importance of nutrition.
In collaboration with scientist/experts, the project team aims to: (1) create a blueprint that best utilizes the available church space to create a community garden; (2) Establish types of beds used (inground/above) and create a management plan (to determine access to water and other resources); (3) Create a price plan and estimated costs of implementing and maintaining the garden and greenspace; (4) Based on existing green spaces, discover what makes these spaces most successful and how we can build on this in our greenspace; (5) Ask local community what they may want from a greenspace.
The project team will include a Thriving Earth Fellow, Members of the new bethel Church leadership, and several scientists/experts. The key audience and stakeholders are the congregation of New Bethel Church and the surrounding community.
A community garden and green space will be the end deliverables. A plan of how this project can be expanded and replicated will also be created. A plan for the continuation of the garden over the next ten years in collaboration with community partners will be established.
The project will benefit the community as the community will have increased access to green space and local produce. A greater sense of community will be developed based on joint engagement to establish and maintain the garden and green spaces. Improved knowledge of nutrition and the importance of how what we eat impacts our health.
Diversification of diets, previously impossible to achieve, will be a critical outcome of this work. Increased sense of place based on community engagement in the garden will also be achieved due to this project.
The project will likely take 12 to 18 months to complete with the following key milestones:
Rev. Dr. Keyon S. Payton is a transformative force in both the faith community and public health sectors. With over two decades of pastoral leadership, including his current role as the lead pastor of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, Dr. Payton has pioneered a trauma-informed approach to ministry that has redefined the church’s role in addressing community health crises. His expertise in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and traumainformed care has made him a sought-after national speaker, educator, and consultant.
Carly Frank is currently a PhD student in the interdisciplinary Ecological Science and Engineering program and the Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science Department at Purdue University. She received her MSc from the University of Maine in Quaternary and Climate Studies. In addition to her MSc, Carly earned a graduate certificate in One Health.
Her research uses qualitative methods to examine barriers to research output in Africa, as well as how African researchers view coproduction with international partners, and quantitative methods to explore changes in extreme heat. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, reading science fiction novels and learning to throw pottery.
Scientists will contribute to determining what crops will grow best in the garden, crop rotations, soil supplements, and the potential for 4-season growth. Experts can also contribute to educating the community about the nutritional qualities of different crops, crop management practices, and additional methods for community engagement and messaging around crop management and healthy eating.
New Bethel Church is extremely open to having students engaged on the project. Local scientists and experts are preferred but not required.
Collaborating organizations have not been solidified yet. Interest in working closely with Oakland University. Potential to engage with Windy City Harvest and Micah 6.
