

Compton’s only community garden fights to save its space
The Compton Community Garden, a successful urban gardening initiative, may soon close. The garden, founded in 2013 by a Compton native, includes 63 garden beds and can feed up to 100 families a week. Prism reports that on April 1, a real estate firm put up a “for sale” sign in front of the lot, upsetting residents who felt secure about their ongoing private-public relationship with the landowner. A few days later, a developer placed a bid for $488,000. Then, the community rallied and raised almost $400,000 towards its $600,000 goal to purchase the land.
→


How to be a more responsible bystander
Jordan Neely's tragic death on a NYC subway car has prompted many to wonder what they would have done to de-escalate or stop the attack. Epicenter-NYC's Danielle Hyams spoke with Emily May, who is the cofounder of Right to Be, about the bystander effect. The nonprofit organization provides training and bystander resources to empower people to become more responsible bystanders when witnessing instances of distress or violence. She also learns the five Ds of bystander intervention: create a distraction; delegate the support of another bystander; document the incident; delay the escalation, and directly intervene.
→


‘We need more Native American representation in oral health care’
Underrepresentation of Native American students in dental schools contributes to the disproportionate impact of oral disease within Native communities. But increasing access to care and promoting dental careers through educational programs and community outreach can empower the next generation and improve health outcomes, says Rudy Oxendine (Lumbee Tribe) who is completing his final year of pediatric residency at East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine in North Carolina. "There are vast communities of dentists throughout the country that are phenomenal resources. However, having a dentist that shares similar cultures, history, and traditions is a connection that is needed, meaningful, and empowering."

Meet the Game Changers
Highlighting the innovators transforming health outcomes in our communities
Dr. Adwoa Osei is the program director of PRIME. Located at the University of California, Riverside, PRIME is an innovative training program for African, Black and Caribbean communities in the Inland Empire
Plus: Watch our latest URWell video
Interested in more nuanced and fresh health journalism from URL Media and our network of independent Black and Brown publishers? Head over to our Instagram feed to watch our second URWell video dispatch about how to advocate for oneself at the doctor's office. Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay tuned for more bite-sized video reports on Wednesdays across our social media feeds.