It started off with a mission to eradicate type 2 diabetes in this country. God placed the message in my heart when I wrote You Can Afford to Be Healthy.
Type 2 diabetes is an unnecessary disease that is preventable if we had a culture of health in this country. So I ventured out on a journey to discover how to create a culture of health that would make type 2 diabetes a thing of the past.
My 2 point plan to eliminate type 2 diabetes:
- Healthy food access for all, which includes making sure institutions provide access to plant foods so folks experiencing poverty and homelessness are able to eat nutritious foods and making sure healthy food is affordable for folks being financially strained
- Support the dissemination of whole food plant based nutrition research to all communities, especially communities plagued with type 2 diabetes
5 Year Strategic Plan (Updated July 2023)
Year 1: Research and Education (2023)
✅ Conduct comprehensive research on the current state of type 2 diabetes in America, including prevalence rates, risk factors, and socioeconomic disparities.
✅ Analyze existing interventions and their effectiveness in preventing and managing type 2 diabetes.
- Develop educational materials and resources that emphasize the role of nutrition, lifestyle choices, and brain health in combating type 2 diabetes.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals, community organizations, and schools to disseminate educational resources and conduct workshops or seminars.
Year 2: Partnerships and Outreach (2024)
- Forge strategic partnerships with relevant organizations, such as medical associations, public health agencies, and community centers, to expand reach and influence.
- Establish collaborations with healthcare providers, including physicians, nutritionists, and diabetes educators, to integrate raw vegan programs into their practices.
- Implement targeted outreach programs aimed at at-risk populations, including low-income communities, minority groups, and seniors, to provide education and support in preventing and reversing type 2 diabetes.
Year 3: Program Development and Pilot (2025)
- Develop comprehensive, evidence-based programs that address nutrition, lifestyle modifications, and brain health to prevent and reverse type 2 diabetes.
- Design coaching and training materials that can be customized to meet individual needs and support sustainable behavior change.
- Recruit and train a team of certified coaches to deliver programs and provide ongoing support to participants.
- Conduct pilot programs in select communities to evaluate the effectiveness and refine the program structure.
Year 4: Program Expansion (2026)
- Scale up programs by expanding into different regions and communities across America.
- Seek funding opportunities and partnerships with philanthropic organizations, government agencies, and healthcare systems to support program expansion and sustainability.
- Collaborate with employers and insurance providers to offer raw vegan programs as part of employee wellness initiatives and healthcare coverage plans.
- Leverage technology to increase accessibility, such as offering virtual coaching sessions and utilizing online platforms for education and engagement.
Year 5: Evaluation, Advocacy, and Sustainability (2027)
- Continuously evaluate the impact and outcomes of the programs through data collection, analysis, and participant feedback.
- Publish research findings and success stories to demonstrate the effectiveness of raw vegan meal planning interventions.
- Advocate for policy changes and community initiatives that promote healthier environments and increase access to nutritious foods and opportunities for physical activity.
- Establish a sustainable funding model through grants, sponsorships, partnerships, and fee-based services to ensure the long-term viability and growth of the mission.
This plan is a general guideline, and may need adjustments based on available resources, partnerships, and other factors. This plan will be regularly reviewed and adapted as needed to stay aligned with the mission of eradicating type 2 diabetes in America.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
You investing in your health and me as your coach helps me work towards accomplishing this mission.
Here’s where we are right now.
House of Timothy
House of Timothy is a non-profit organization that provides a 12-month residential regeneration program to young adult men dealing with physical, sexual, psychological, spiritual trauma, alcohol and drug addiction, pornography, and sexual addiction. Founded in 2015 by Dr. Willie Montague, the program is designed to be rigorous and includes work schedules, class work, group and individual counseling, and spiritual practices.
Their organization is dedicated to creating an environment that fosters spiritual growth for both staff and residents, employing a holistic approach that considers the mind, body, spirit, and community.
The focus of their mission is to assist men seeking a second chance in life, providing guidance and support for those who wish to embark on a new journey and achieve personal progress within a nurturing and encouraging community.
I have been assisting with fundraising efforts for their nutrition program.
LA Food Policy Council & the Good Food Zone Policy
One of the ways policymakers can help bring about healthy food environments is by encouraging supermarket operators to open in underserved communities.
I helped raise money for LA Food Policy Council, an organization doing many amazing things, one of which is the Healthy Neighborhood Market Network. The goal of the program is to ensure that everyone can access fresh produce within a half a mile of their residence.
Low-income neighborhoods and communities of color have 3x as many small markets than more affluent and white neighborhoods. On average, they also have half as many full-service grocery stores. Limited retail options mean residents in lower income areas have less options for a healthy diet.
The Healthy Neighborhood Market Network program empowers small business owners in low-income neighborhoods to bring good food to their communities. By working with storeowners to champion healthy food access, the Healthy Neighborhood Market Network supports community vitality and economic development. Storeowners receive training, guidance and upgrades to their stores, transforming them into beacons of healthy, affordable food. As a result, communities have more options for living a healthy life.
In addition to that work, I was a co-chair for the Good Food Economy Working Group in 2020 and a member from the inception of the group, which has been advocating for and working on the implementation of The Good Food Zone Policy.
The Good Food Zone policy, which was passed February 2020 and when implemented, will support healthy food businesses in underserved neighborhoods. It’s food-oriented development. It connects food insecure folks to affordable, fresh, healthy food (like mobile grocery stores for example), low income neighborhoods to jobs, and supports businesses in these underserved neighborhoods with the technical assistance and financial support to grow and expand. This will positively affect the City of Los Angeles and has the potential to grow to the County and then nationwide.
You can be mad at the system, which I am, and you can also mobilize for change, which I am. Thank you for joining me in this fight to eradicate type 2 diabetes in this country.
Here is a great article on some major policy moves we need to make in this country.