Photo credit: Amanda Schwengel
What started as a class project for Metropolitan State University of Denver Health Care Management students Thalia Rodriguez (right) and Ines Calvete Barrios (left) has evolved into an innovative community health–and–wellness program. After securing $8,000 in seed funding from an entrepreneurial-pitch competition, their program “Salud! En Nuestra Comunidad” will begin offering cooking classes this summer focused on integrating nutritious substitutes into traditional Latinx recipes. In developing their program, the Roadrunners consulted Rachel Sinley, Ph.D., Department of Nutrition chair and associate professor. “We shouldn’t deprive ourselves of (foods) we enjoy,” Sinley told RED. “But when we’re armed with information on what eating healthfully means to us individually and within context, we’re able to find the right balance that honors the whole person within our communities.” By honoring culture and empowering people with health and wellness information, Rodriguez and Calvete Barrios aim to create a supportive space for participants to share their experiences of navigating a complex health care system.
Read the full story in RED to learn more.