The Village Agricultural Cooperative, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer
Center Community Outreach and Engagement, is dedicated to enhancing community health through education, engagement, and empowerment. This partnership aims to address health disparities, promote cancer prevention, and create sustainable educational campaigns for farmers and community members.

Key Initiatives:

Community Health Needs Assessment: Hosted by The Village and Mayo Clinic, this initiative brought together local health professionals and community members in the largest community garden space to discuss health concerns and resources.

Listening Sessions & Focus Groups: A focus group was organized to understand the specific health needs of the community, while a Listening Session helped gather insights from farmers on communication preferences and health topics of interest.

Educational Campaigns: The Village Agricultural Cooperative launched an educational YouTube channel featuring local farmers sharing cancer prevention tips and recipes. The channel has garnered 467 views and 11.2 hours of watch time across 13 videos. Additionally, farmers and community members stay connected through a WhatsApp group, with 92 active participants.

Face-to-Face Engagement: Prioritizing in-person interactions, the initiative promotes stronger community connections and better participation in health education.

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Partnership Timeline:

2020-2021: Focus on community health needs assessment and engagement through conversations with local health professionals.

2022: Established partnerships and started to deepen community engagement with direct interactions and listening sessions.

2023: Launched the YouTube channel and attended Tuesday night markets to further promote health education. Created a WhatsApp group for ongoing communication.

2024: Continued partnerships with local departments, such as Rochester Parks & Recreation, to expand recreational opportunities and community involvement.

                                                              Check out our videos below!