Marc
Neighborhood and Built Community:
This toast is for Marc, who, along with some friends, fostered a vibrant bocce league in the heart of the neighborhood - a tale of camaraderie, community, and unexpected mid-week heroes. There's magic in witnessing a casual game among friends, watching strangers becoming friends, and seeing the park come alive with laughter and friendly competition. This isn't just about bocce; it's a testament to the importance of a neighborhood and built community’s impact on people. This episode concludes with Marc sharing his cherished memory of Carol and a community toast to Salimah, a pillar of support and friendship. Cheers to bocce, to the importance of the social determinant of the health of neighborhood and built community, and to those special people who make life infinitely better, one bocce roll at a time!
Healthy People 2030 is the fifth iterative of a 40+ year initiative to help communities, organizations, and individuals improve American’s health and well-being. One of the key goals of Healthy People 2030 is to highlight the importance of the 5 Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) in increasing equity and reducing disparities in health; one of the five goals of Healthy People 2030 is directly related to the SDoH to “create social, physical, and economic environments that promote attaining the full potential for health and well-being for all” (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
The SDoH are the non-medical factors and environmental conditions where people are born, live, learn, work, play, and age. The SDoH influence up to 55% of our health outcomes including a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.
One of the five SDoH is the neighborhood and build environment. Unfortunately, many individuals, particularly those from racial and ethnic minorities and people with low incomes, are disproportionately exposed to health-damaging factors like high rates of violence in their neighborhoods, unsafe air quality, lack of access to safe water, and prolonged exposure to things like secondhand smoke and loud noises. Interventions such as sidewalks and bikelanes can help increase safety and improve health and quality of life.
Linden Hills Bocce League Board:
The original four who got the idea, sought and received support from Linden Hills Neighborhood Council & the Park Board, raised money, hired the contractor and donated the courts to the Park Board:
Steve Benson
Mark Burgett
Dale Mulfinger
Rick Polanski
The current board, who provide great support to keep the Linden Hills Bocce Club alive and thriving (and without whom the original four just couldn't keep going):
Nancy Anderson
Kristine Boylan
Dwight Carman
Leif Knutson
Brian Tockman
Episode Resources:
US Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2030: SDoH
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Social Determinants of Health
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