HEALTHY CORNER STORE INITIATIVE: INCREASING HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS AMONG BLACK RESIDENTS IN DURHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

As a Social Determinant of Health (SDOH), the neighborhood and built environment has a profound impact on the health of communities. In Durham County, North Carolina, many neighborhoods have a dearth of grocery stores, leaving residents to fulfill their nutritional needs with unhealthy food at convenience stores. This lack of access to healthy food contributes to food insecurity and is linked with higher rates of diet-related conditions like heart disease and diabetes. The problem is particularly acute in neighborhoods like College View, where a majority of residents are Black and systemic racism has led to disinvestment. To mitigate these health inequities and improve health throughout Durham, County Commissioners must take steps to improve residents' access to healthy food. This paper recommends a Healthy Corner Store Initiative, which would increase the amount of healthy food sold in convenience stores and address the upstream factors that prevent access to healthy food.