Research shows that a greater number of people living in high crime neighborhoods restrict their movement within these neighborhoods because they fear becoming victims of crime. This is a safety issue as well as a quality of life issue. This restriction includes keeping children indoors and away from outdoor play; this is particularly so for Black girls, as many parents may believe they are particularly vulnerable to criminal attention. Such restrictions may lead to sedentary behaviors that are ultimately harmful to children's health. The study examines the relationship between low-income urban Black mothers' perception of neighborhood safety and its impact on their daughters' physical activity in Newark, NJ. Observations and interviews will be used to collect data on the interaction between neighborhood factors and the social psychological processes that shape Black mothers' perceptions of neighborhood safety as well as their decision-making about daughters' outdoor physical activity. This study will help generate new information concerning the ways in which mothers interpret, traverse, and negotiate their neighborhoods.Janice Johnson-Dias, in collaboration with Tariq "Black Thought" of the Roots and other socially conscious artists, have launched GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF), designed to support health and well-being among vulnerable women and girls - especially in the areas of healthy eating and physical activity promotion.
