The Challenge:
Access to healthy food in East Fort Worth is limited and traveling to local markets can be difficult for residents limited to public transit options. East Fort Worth has some of the lowest mortality rates in Texas. Many of the neighborhoods within these zip codes lie within an identified USDA food desert or are considered low-access areas. The region is 72 square miles and counts for 20% of Fort Worth's population. Within this area are 3 supermarkets and 5 discount grocery stores. High poverty, lack of economic opportunity contribute to food access and basic needs insecurity issues. Most of the farmer's markets in Fort Worth are far removed and can be difficult if not impossible to reach via public transit. Though, there is a small network of urban farms operating in the area through Grow Southeast, the lack of centralized local market to conduct business limits their ability to effectively serve the communities they reside in.
The journey to a healthy lifestyle can be a difficult start and finding activities that fit the unique and individual lifestyles of community members are not always represented. The social atmospheres available do not always prioritize wellness, making the healthy choice often the difficult choice. Social practices that prioritize and celebrate health are difficult to find and are not always representative of the unique cultures present in Fort Worth.
Our Response:
In partnership with Texas Wesleyan University, CoAct created the Funkytown Mindful Market to explore and cultivate mindful practices for the diverse communities that represent East Fort Worth. The market serves as a new access point for fresh food and as a central hub for local farmers including those with Grow Southeast, to effectively conduct business in East Fort Worth. It is a space that can attract local vendors that prioritize mindfulness and create social engagements that showcase activities to aid in supporting longevity.
Our goal with the market is to stimulate a local economy focused on wellness and create a space that invites all to celebrate mindfulness. Long term, we want to document the process and create capacity building toolkits to aid in developing future community centered farmer's markets.
Project Objectives
1) Create a space that is responsive to community needs.
2) Introduce mindful practices that are responsive to the diverse cultures of Fort Worth.
3) Stimulate local economies centered on community wellness.
4) Stimulate the development of future farmers markets
Join us at our next market date!
CoAct is excited to host The Funkytown Mindful Market at Texas Wesleyan University. Join CoAct again as a volunteer, vendor, or supporter and aid us in hosting an eventful market to support residents improve our longevity.
Next Market Date: April 22nd, 2023 - Farmers & Artisanal Market
Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Address: 1201 Wesleyan Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76105
Future Events: all markets be 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
May 27th, 2023 - Farmers & Artisanal Market
June 24th, 2023 - Summer Market
July 22nd, 2023 - Farmers & Artisanal Market
August 26th, 2023 - Farmers & Artisanal Market
September 23rd, 2023 - Fall Market
October 28th, 2023 - Farmers & Artisanal Market
November 18th, 2023 - Farmers & Artisanal Market
December 16th, 2023 - Holiday Market
Learn more about becoming a volunteer, vendor, or sponsor below.
SIGN UP AS A VOLUNTEER & VENDOR
Our Partners
This project would not have been possible without support from the following partners and funders.


