Comunity enCompass - Food

Our Neighbor Nina and her family first connected to Community enCompass through Muskegon Prescribes Food for Health. Nina decided to attend the fresh food and health classes as a way to help her family on their health goals.

Community enCompass is dedicated to bringing locally grown, fresh produce to core-city Muskegon. A lack of grocery stores in the city means a lack of fresh, affordable, healthy food for neighbors like Nina, leading to high levels of chronic illness like diabetes and heart disease.  We need to know what healthy food is and where it comes from!

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That's why Community enCompass launched McLaughlin Grows Urban Farm: To provide fresh locally grown food and a learning space where neighbors like Nina and her family, can learn and teach each other how to grow food. McGrows offers volunteer days on the farm for neighbors and schools, seasonal Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Shares (on sale here!), weekly veggie stands at our farm sites, and a regular spot at the Muskegon Farmers Market.

Community enCompass also launched Muskegon Prescribes Food for Health (MPFH), a program in which doctors are prescribing fresh veggies as part of their patients’ wellness plans!  Through MPFH, neighbors also have access to cooking and nutrition classes.

Join us in this neighboring movement in the City!  Partner with Community enCompass and support our work with neighbors in core-city Muskegon.


FOOD PROJECTS

MCLAUGHLIN GROWS

McLaughlin Grows exists to bring food education to the community, to be a source of fresh food in a food desert and to bring beauty to the neighborhood.

MPFH

Muskegon Prescribes Food For Health, partners with local medical professionals, providing fresh produce, cooking & nutritional classes to help neighbors on their way towards a healthier life.

FOOD IN THE NEWS
Community enCompass By the Numbers: 2020 Annual Report
Community enCompass By the Numbers: 2020 Annual Report

Another year in the rear-view mirror. A chance to reflect and consider: What did we do best in 2020, that year marked by so much change? What did we learn about ourselves, our community, our human fragility and our resilience? What will we take with us into 2021?

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Our Reflection on Connection at the End of 2020
Our Reflection on Connection at the End of 2020

You are a part of our story! For our final publication of 2020, we reflect on “All That Connects Us” here in Core City Muskegon, and ask that you help us move into the New Year with confidence.

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Loss and Gain: Cancelling Taste and See 2020
Loss and Gain: Cancelling Taste and See 2020

While the decision to cancel Taste and See 2020 was difficult, the loss has brought about unexpected gains. Adaptation sparks innovation, and new things are in the works here at Community enCompass as we focus on walking alongside neighbors in these ever-changing times.

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Keeping Up with "Fresh Conversations"
Keeping Up with "Fresh Conversations"

Cindy, AmeriCorps Team Member with Community enCompass, is now facilitating a limited, socially distant version of a “food for health” class called “Fresh Conversations” for residents of Jefferson Towers.

The residents’ reasons for attending the class are many: some come to learn about food as medicine, some to get new recipes and exchange tips, some for the safe socializing with a “support group” feel.

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A New Season: Food Programs Adapt and Grow
A New Season: Food Programs Adapt and Grow

In late spring, Community enCompass received news that the Muskegon Prescribes Food for Health program had received a $100,000 Community Impact grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. With many virus precautions still in place, this major grant expands the MPFH’s capacity to meet the moment.

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Food Sovereignty: Power of Choice
Food Sovereignty: Power of Choice

New neighbors are facing food insecurity, and some for the very first time. As a community development organization, before jumping into problem-solving mode, Community enCompass must always ask: Who owns the solutions?

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Spring 2020: Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Spring 2020: Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Community enCompass Spring Newsletter, bringing you “Odes to Joy” — the melody of bold action and neighbors helping neighbors — from right here in Muskegon.

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Updates from Community enCompass Programs
Updates from Community enCompass Programs

Snapshots from Community enCompass as programs adapt alongside neighbors whose daily life and livelihood has been impacted by the virus.

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Join Community enCompass in Being Neighbor
Join Community enCompass in Being Neighbor

The COVID-19 crisis has had an unjust impact on our neighbors in core-city Muskegon, especially for neighbors who are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained , and Employed).

Increased wage loss, food insecurity, and unemployment are on the rise. Many neighbors have seen their work hours reduced. Some are on a fixed income that doesn't leave room for the unexpected nature of sudden school closings or rising grocery costs. For many even a short stretch of unemployment will put them too far behind in rent to catch up.

Below are some ways Community enCompass will walk alongside our neighbors whose lives have been upended by this crisis. We need YOUR help to support our neighbors during this difficult time!

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COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Update

Dear Neighbors,

In these uncertain times, Community enCompass’ priority is to continue to be neighbor. While “being neighbor” will look different over the coming weeks and months, you can be assured that we are fully operational and working together (while practicing social distancing!) to come up with creative solutions for how to continue to engage our community.

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