In 2004, the Food Trust in Philadelphia, PA, in partnership with The Reinvestment Fund and the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, identified a strong need for government investment to finance supermarkets, grocery stores, and other healthy food retailers in underserved communities. This led to the first statewide fresh food financing initiative.

Believed to be the first ordinance of its kind, Chicago's legislation to limit restrictive land-use covenants prevents supermarkets and drugstores from restricting future use of vacated property in the event of store closures. This ordinance holds great promise to prevent neighborhood blight and promote residents' continued access to fresh, healthy food retailers.

The Garden of Eden is a community-run grocery like facility established to serve the African American community in St. Louis. The project was initiated because local advocates and researchers identified obesity as a major health concern.

A powerful coalition of 20 well-respected arts, culture and academic institutions revitalizes a cultural district by improving walkability through major infrastructure projects in Boston, Massachusetts. Although focused in a commercial district, their efforts demonstrate innovative roles for large-scale institutions in improving the built environment. Their work is focused on attracting African American and Latino pedestrians from nearby schools and communities.

Food and activity advocates in New York City are collaborating to develop a comprehensive and long-term plan for making changes to food and activity environments, particularly in high-need neighborhoods. Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the New York City Food and Fitness Partnership is increasing access to healthy food in communities and enhancing opportunities for active living.

The Boston Indicators Project, initiated in 1997 with its first formal report released in 2000, issues biennial indicator reports with measures of progress in sectors that are directly related to social determinants of health and conditions in Boston's communities that either promote or detract from the health of residents.

The Jacksonville Community Council Inc. developed the first community-based quality-of-life indicators assessment in the country in 1985.

Working to reduce violence and crime in South Los Angeles, California, this community-driven, grassroots effort organizes community residents to close neighborhood liquor stores that negatively impact community health and safety.

Community residents work collaboratively with city government to transform an unsafe traffic intersection into a neighborhood gathering spot and to improve the pedestrian environment on adjacent streets in Hudson Heights, New York City.

The community-centered Fruitvale Transit Village Project connects the local transit station with the surrounding community of Fruitvale, a low-income, predominantly minority community in Oakland, California.