Sydney Santos Nurtures Health Equity

Amidst the urban landscape of Baltimore's Park Heights neighborhood, Sydney Santos, a trainee and research coordinator at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, is working alongside Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm (PPHUF) to evaluate PPHUF’s free produce box program. Santos’ experience working with PPHUF opened her eyes to the importance of community outreach programs to the physical and mental health of those in underserved communities. 

Santos, now earning a Master of Science in Public Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health in the International Health department, has been working with PPHUF since her senior year at Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a bachelor's in Behavioral Biology. Santos’ journey into community engagement began with a study led by Deidra Crews, MD, ScM, and Jenny Dias, PhD, MPH, MS. Santos will be listed as a secondary author in the forthcoming paper entitled “Participant Experiences with an Urban Farm Program Aimed at Reducing Health Disparities,” which evaluates the impact of PPHUF's free produce box program.  

"I saw firsthand how crucial access to fresh produce is for many in our community," Santos says. "Each Thursday, alongside fellow volunteers, I distributed boxes of locally sourced produce, while engaging participants in our study. Through these interactions, I witnessed the profound impact of these produce boxes on individuals' physical and mental well-being." 

For Santos, the importance of her community work extends far beyond the distribution of produce; it is about amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and advocating for systemic change.  

"I saw firsthand how crucial access to fresh produce is for many in our community."

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“I am passionate about Baltimore’s food systems!” Santos says. In a city marked by glaring health disparities, initiatives like PPHUF play a pivotal role in addressing the root causes of inequity, she added. "Diet is not just a matter of personal choice; it's a matter of equity," Santos emphasizes. "In Baltimore, where access to healthy food is often dictated by zip code, tackling food insecurity is paramount to achieving health equity." 

Through her involvement in the project, Santos said she strives to contribute to a larger narrative of social justice and equity.  

"Diet is not just a matter of personal choice; it's a matter of equity. In Baltimore, where access to healthy food is often dictated by zip code, tackling food insecurity is paramount to achieving health equity." 

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"I believe in the power of community-driven interventions to effect meaningful change," Santos adds. "Whether through research or hands-on engagement, every action we take contributes to a more just and equitable society."