The session describes the lessons learned from implementing a peer-to-peer community ambassador marketing strategy to increase awareness of and connect residents with Farmers’ Markets. Over the duration of the intervention, participating markets witnessed an increase in the numbeer of transactions and SNAP sales. FreshLinke hired communtiy members and trained them to be “foot soldiers” who spread the word about local markets and how to use food assistance benefits.
Presented by:
Rachael Sommer, Program Manager for the FreshLink Ambassador program
Roberto Martinez, Pre-Doctoral Student at Case Western Reserve University
Diane Pride-Mays, FreshLink Ambassador cohort of 2018
About the Presenters:
Rachael Sommer, LISW, MSSA is the Director of Operations and Partnerships at the Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health at Case Western Reserve University. She also oversees the FreshLink Ambassador Research project at the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods at Case Western Reserve University. Her primary areas of focus include health equity and positive organizational development. She completed a BSW from Bowling Green State University with a minor in Spanish and MSSA from the Mandel School of Applied Social Science at Case Western Reserve University with an emphasis in Community and Social Development.
Roberto Martinez is a PhD candidate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, OH. In his current work, Roberto remains involved in health promotion through his role as a fellow on the FreshLink Ambassador study.
Diane Pride-Mays served as a FreshLink Ambassador for the 2019 cohort. Diane is a committed community member, and through her work she promotes health equity in Cleveland.
