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Florida Blue, Florida’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan, announced today its fifth Growing Resilient Community in the state. The company will provide financial and programmatic support to five nonprofit organizations doing work in Miami’s 33142 ZIP code (Allapattah/Brownsville) as part of a multi-year initiative to address generational poverty.
In early 2019, Florida Blue began identifying ZIP codes across Florida to target efforts into combating social determinants of generational poverty. This is the official unveiling of the second community in South Florida and the first in Miami-Dade County. Over the course of the past year, Florida Blue engaged diverse local partners, made significant financial investments, and built upon and initiated comprehensive strategies in the 33142 ZIP code, which includes the Allapattah and Brownsville neighborhoods.
The initiative partners with residents and organizers in each community on specific needs, including food security, access to nutrition education, workforce development, improved health status and focused support from organizations and services.
South Florida Market President David Wagner and other company and community leaders gathered in Allapattah today to announce the investment of more than $1.65 million into the area through partnership with the following:
- Allapattah Collaborative CDC – Fresh Food Business Incubator
The Allapattah Collaborative CDC is planning to purchase a mixed-use facility in Allapattah that will anchor local businesses and prevent displacement. The organization will also launch a Fresh Food Incubator program to expand access to healthy food and support local entrepreneurs. This partnership will start delivering on the promise of wealth building through entrepreneurship, supporting fresh and healthy food entrepreneurs, advancing health equity in the neighborhood, and bringing many benefits to the Little Santo Domingo commercial corridor.
- Common Threads – Food and Nutrition Security
Common Threads, a national leader in wellness and nutrition, will partner with the Village of Allapattah YMCA to advance evidence-based nutrition education, cooking skills and food access. The program aims to improve access to affordable, healthy foods for 2,760 vulnerable youth and adults. Lessons will feature produce and ingredients from local farms and food purveyors. The project’s commitment to local sourcing will provide families with access to food grown in and near their own neighborhoods.
- Florida International University – Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (HELP)
NeighborhoodHELP provides a unique model of academic and community partnerships that enhance health care student education and improve health in the community. FIU will conduct a survey to expand health and social service support into the 33142 ZIP code. This initiative will identify health disparities and unmet healthcare needs to develop a platform for the expansion that will promote health equity. Through interdisciplinary collaboration among students from diverse departments at FIU, the program will facilitate data collection and develop informed interventions for this underserved community.
- Goodwill Industries of South Florida – Adult Day Center
The new Adult Day Center will simulate an interactive training environment that builds new skills for individuals facing barriers to work. It will house multiple workforce development initiatives that allow participants to immerse themselves in a learning environment that focuses on promoting independent living and developing pre-vocational skills. The Center will offer training, upskilling and/or certification opportunities for participants to maintain or find a new job in high demand industry-recognized occupations.
- YMCA of South Florida – La Bodega (Food Pantry)
La Bodega is an initiative designed to combat food insecurity and health disparities within 33142. The program is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of underserved populations by providing access to nutritious foods, educational resources, and essential health services. The food pantry will distribute 400,000 pounds of food annually—directly benefiting 30,000 residents living in the area
Florida Blue also conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate the newly renovated La Bodega at the YMCA in Allapattah. More than 200 families stopped by to secure food from the pantry which is open Monday through Friday. In addition, guests were treated to festive holiday music by the Goodwill Industries 20-member band and received nutrition education and step by step instructions on how to prepare a mango salsa by Common Threads.
“It is our goal to build upon the work already underway in the Allapattah and Brownsville neighborhoods and initiate comprehensive strategies to improve food security, nutrition education, workforce development and the overall health of this community,” said Wagner. “We know the most impactful way to engage with the community is when we are not setting the agenda, rather serving as a trusted partner so that together we can identify the challenges and find the solutions.”
The Growing Resilient Communities area includes the neighborhoods of Allapattah, Brownsville, and Liberty City. According to the Economic Innovation Group, 33142 has a Distressed Community Index (DCI) score of 93.8—a distressed classification.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 59,000 people reside in the area that comprises the 33142 ZIP code. The median household income for the area is $35,589. Approximately one-third of the adults in the community did not graduate from high school.
Florida Blue also has launched Growing Resilient Communities initiatives to address generational poverty in Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and in Fort Lauderdale’s 33311 ZIP code.
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