In 2012, APA Healin’ (Asian Pacific Americans – Healthy Eating & Active Living in Our Neighborhoods), a health collaborative launched by the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) performed a community needs assessment in Asian Pacific American communities in NYC. This needs assessment identifies themes in how the built environment effects physical activity, access to healthy foods, and its impact overall health. APA Healin’ then used the themes identified to inform a strategy for improving health. Themes such as “Living in Urban Spaces” and “Exercise & Places to Gather” helped guide APA Healin’ as they conducted interviews and surveys with key informants in the community. Responses from the community revealed that community gardens were considered a way to continue the agrarian traditions of Asian Pacific Americans. They could serve the multipurpose function of increasing healthy food access and physical activity, in addition to further uniting the community. Learn more about the report called “Planting Seeds of Change” and its findings here!