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Marcy Paul, MA, Instructor of Behavioral and Community Health in UNT Health Science Center’s School of Public Health, has been named co-investigator of an effort to provide healthier opportunities for residents in southeast Fort Worth.

The Sam’s Club Giving Program awarded $64,000 to YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth to fund the Healthier Community Initiative.

The initiative will focus specifically on African American and Hispanic/Latino individuals and families in Fort Worth zip codes 76105 and 76104. The Sam’s Club also is funding similar efforts in four other sites – Dallas; New Haven, Conn.; Washington, D.C.; and Albany, N.Y.

Serving as co-investigator with Paul is Reeshemah Davis, Vice President of Operations and Community Development for McDonald & Southeast YMCAs. The two will work with a team of local community stakeholders, including Tony Shuman, YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth President/CEO; Jennifer Murphy, YMCA; Pastor Robert McGinty, Community Missionary Baptist Church; Tamequa Muhammad, Fort Worth ISD; Dr. Barbara Estment, JPS Health Clinic, Stop Six/Walter B. Barbour; Ginny Hickman, Cook Children’s Health Care System; Jerome Johnson, City of Fort Worth Community Development Council; and Veronica Tolley, Cook Children’s Neighborhood  Clinics.

The initiative will seek to coordinate and link systems between health care providers, clinical settings and community-based organizations in order to guide individuals to prevention efforts and programs proven to improve health outcomes. It also will work to enhance opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity in the target neighborhoods.

Outcomes from the initiative will be shared with the community and other YMCAs across the country to help develop national best practices. 

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