In Hampton Roads, a short drive can reveal two very different realities of health. In some neighborhoods, grocery stores overflow with fresh produce, sidewalks are safe and well-lit, and families have the time and means to prepare balanced meals. In others, convenience stores serve as the only grocery option, fast food is the cheapest choice, and the nearest park or gym feels out of reach.

This contrast is not about personal choice. It is about access, and income is the dividing line.

National research shows wealthier Americans live, on average, a decade longer than their poorer neighbors. The same is true here at home, where communities with higher poverty rates face higher levels of diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Healthy options, for both food and exercise, are simply harder to f

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