Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition

What Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition does

Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC) is a 501(c)(3)-style grassroots non-profit founded in 2006 by Vivien Morris and a group of Mattapan residents to address health disparities in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Headquartered at 1613 Blue Hill Avenue in southern Mattapan, the organization operates across five focus areas - food access and nutrition education, physical activity, youth development, built environment, and community empowerment - delivering all services free of charge to residents.

MFFC's product set is a portfolio of community programs rather than a technology platform. Core offerings include the Mattapan Square Farmers Market (operating Saturdays July-October and serving 200-400 shoppers weekly plus 6,200+ residents over two years with $80,000+ returned to Black farmers), a youth-run Farm Stand at the Mattapan Health Center, the Vigorous Youth year-round employment program for ages 14-21, the Mattapan on Wheels bike-a-thon, the Summer Eats meal program (3,000+ meals served), Mattapan Flavours cooking classes with BOND, community gardens, and built-environment advocacy including the Neponset River Greenway Trail. The REACH program, funded by a 5-year CDC grant through Boston Public Health Commission starting September 2023, extends the work into policy, systems, and environmental change across food access, physical activity, early childhood, and adult immunizations.

The revenue model relies entirely on grants, donations, and fundraising routed through fiscal sponsor Third Sector New England (TSNE), with no pricing model (all programs are free). MFFC serves approximately 7,000 community members annually, employs 11-50 staff, and operates with resident-led governance, a Leadership Team, and an Advisory Board chaired by founder Vivien Morris. First Executive Director Shavel'le Olivier, a Vigorous Youth alumna and prior Youth Director, leads day-to-day operations.

Name

Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition

Legal name

Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition

Website

https://mattapanfoodandfit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition is a Mattapan, Boston-based grassroots non-profit founded in 2006 that delivers free food access, physical activity, youth development, and built-environment programs to approximately 7,000 neighborhood residents annually, funded by grants and donations fiscal-sponsored by Third Sector New England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAJAC

Health Promotion, Prevention & Community Health Programs

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Public Health Administration & Regulation

SECONDARYBPAGAGAI

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

Keywords

• Community health programs
• Food access initiatives
• Youth development services
• Physical activity programs
• Nutrition education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mattapan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: MFFC relies on donations from individuals and organizations to fund its free community programs. Donations are received by fiscal sponsor Third Sector New England on behalf of MFFC.
2. Grant Funding: MFFC receives grant funding from organizations including the CDC REACH grant through Boston Public Health Commission (5-year grant starting September 2023), and various foundation support

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition operates a portfolio of free community-based programs addressing health disparities in Mattapan, Boston. Core offerings include a seasonal farmers market, youth employment and leadership programming (Vigorous Youth), community fitness classes, an annual bike-a-thon (Mattapan on Wheels), summer meal distribution (Summer Eats), youth-run farm stand, community gardens, cooking classes (Mattapan Flavours), and built environment advocacy for green space and trail access.

Product overview

Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC) is a grassroots community organization that operates as a unified portfolio of health and wellness programs rather than a technology platform. The organization offers community-focused products including the Mattapan Square Farmers Market (20th season), Farm Stand, and Summer Eats program for food access; Vigorous Youth Program for youth employment and leadership development; Mattapan on Wheels bike-a-thon and physical activity programs for fitness; community gardens and built environment advocacy for environmental improvements; Mattapan Flavours cooking classes; and the REACH grant program for health equity. All programs are free to residents and focus on addressing health disparities in the Mattapan community through community-led solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vigorous Youth: MFFC's youth development program serving residents ages 14-21 with leadership, volunteer, and employment opportunities in food access, bike education, and professional development.

Products and services

• Mattapan Square Farmers Market A seasonal farmers market operating July to October at the corner of Cummins Highway and Fairway in Mattapan, serving 200-400 shoppers weekly. The market increases access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant produce, accepts SNAP and HIP benefits, and serves as a community gathering space with health education resources.
• Vigorous Youth Program A year-round youth employment and leadership program serving residents ages 14-21, providing paid seasonal stipends (July-August, January-April) and off-season stipends. The program focuses on professional development, personal growth, and improving food access and physical activity environments in Mattapan through bike education, farm stand operations, and community workshops.
• Mattapan on Wheels An annual youth-led bike-a-thon that promotes bike culture, physical activity, and community connection. The free event offers multiple route options for all skill levels, provides bike rentals and helmets, and draws participants from across Boston, especially communities of color.
• Physical Activity Programs Community fitness programming including walking challenges, fitness classes (Zumba, Cardio, Yoga, Jujitsu), and bike promotion activities. Programs engage residents in alternative ways to stay active without traveling far, fostering community cohesion through events like the Passport to Wellness Walking Challenge.
• Summer Eats Program A free meal distribution program serving children during summer months at the Mattapan Square Farmers Market (Saturdays) and Mattapan Branch Library (Monday-Friday). The program has served over 3,000 meals and has become a statewide model for library and farmers market meal programs.
• Community Gardens Partnership with two community gardens (Woolson Street Community Garden and Kennedy Community Garden) enabling residents to rent plots and grow their own produce. Activities include cleanups, harvest parties, art activities, and gardening workshops that bring accessible fresh food into the community.
• Mattapan Flavours Cooking Classes Cooking education program conducted in partnership with Boston Organization of Nutritionists and Dietitians of Colour (BOND), offering fun, easy, and culturally relevant meal preparation instruction to community members.
• Farm Stand A youth-run farm stand located in front of the Mattapan Health Center at 1575 Blue Hill Ave, operating every Thursday from July through August. Youth manage all aspects including marketing, sales, customer service, and product display while promoting healthy eating. Produce is sourced from Brookwood Community Farm.
• Built Environment Advocacy Advocacy initiatives promoting community cohesion and physical activity through activation and creation of green spaces (parks, open fields) and blue spaces (water). Includes work on the Neponset River Greenway Trail and Fairmount Greenway, advocating for walking and biking infrastructure.
• REACH Grant Program A CDC-funded Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health program partnering with Boston Public Health Commission to reduce health disparities. Focuses on policy, systems, and environmental changes in food access, physical activity, early care and education, and adult immunizations in priority neighborhoods including Mattapan.
• Youth Bike Summit An annual youth biking conference co-hosted with Bikes Not Bombs and the National Youth Bike Council, bringing together youth from across the nation. The event features workshops on bike culture, safety, maintenance, and the intersection of biking with nutrition, art, identity, and environment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 7,000 community members annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bikes Not BombscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-host of Youth Bike Summit in Boston at Roxbury College, May 30 - June 1, 2025. Bikes Not Bombs is also a partner in the Vigorous Youth biking programs including Mattapan on Wheels.
• Boston Public Health CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023MFFC is partnering with Boston Public Health Commission through the CDC REACH grant program to bring equitable and accessible health solutions to Mattapan. This 5-year grant focuses on policy, systems, and environmental change strategies in healthy eating, physical activity, early care and education, and adult immunizations.
• National Youth Bike CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Youth Bike Summit 2025, bringing together youth from across the nation for bike culture and leadership development.
• Brookwood Community FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides produce for the youth-run farm stand at Mattapan Health Center. Black farmers supported come from places such as Dominica and Africa.
• FoodCorpsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerYouth Coordinator Chavella Lee brings experience from FoodCorps to lead farm stand operations and youth programming.
• The Food ProjectminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerYouth Coordinator Chavella Lee brings experience from The Food Project to lead farm stand operations.
• Area B-3 PoliceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with local police for Vigorous Youth biking programs and community events.
• Boston BikesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for biking advocacy and programming in Mattapan.
• Boston Cyclists UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Vigorous Youth biking programs and cycling advocacy.
• Bowdoin Bike SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for bike repair and maintenance workshops.
• Roxbury RidesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for biking programs and youth bike education.
• CrimsonBikesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for youth biking programs and bike culture development.
• Project BreadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner that approached MFFC in 2017 to develop non-traditional Summer Eats meal distribution. MFFC's program became a statewide model for libraries and farmers markets.
• Boston Organization of Nutritionists and Dietitians of Colour (BOND)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Mattapan Flavours cooking classes offering fun, easy, and tasty meals to cook.
• Edgewater Neighborhood AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership on Edgewater Food Forest, walking path development, EPA superfund site education, and community advocacy.
• Fairmount Greenway CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to increase parks and green space along the Fairmount Indigo train line. Worked with Woolson Street residents to transform empty lot into communal space.
• Neponset River Greenway CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership advocating for extension of Neponset River Greenway in Mattapan. The trail was completed in 2017 after 20+ years of advocacy.
• Prevention Research Center at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH grant partner focusing on policy, systems, and environmental change strategies.
• Walk MassachusettsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerREACH grant partner for increasing physical activity through activity-friendly routes.
• Office of Food Justice - City of BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH grant partner working on increasing access to healthy foods through food pantries and food distribution sites.
• Department of Transportation - City of BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH grant partner for activity-friendly routes connecting pedestrian, bicycle, or transit networks to everyday destinations.
• Boston Planning and Development AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH grant partner for planning and development initiatives.
• Office of Early Childhood - City of BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH grant partner for increasing access to quality early care and education.
• East Boston Healthy Families CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH grant partner supported by East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.
• Healthy Neighborhood StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest resident-driven, participatory action research project in the US about neighborhood change. Partners include Conservation Law Foundation, MIT Department of Urban Studies, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FoodCorps: National nonprofit that places service members in schools to teach food/nutrition and grow gardens. Direct peer because MFFC's Youth Coordinator Chavella Lee came from FoodCorps, and the organizations share farm-stand-plus-youth-employment delivery models focused on food access in underserved communities.
• Project Bread: Massachusetts statewide anti-hunger organization that funds and operates Summer Eats and other child-meal programs. Direct peer because Project Bread approached MFFC in 2017 to develop non-traditional Summer Eats distribution at the farmers market, and MFFC's model became statewide — making them co-implementers of identical programming.
• Health Leads: National health-equity nonprofit (Boston-founded) addressing social determinants like food insecurity. Direct peer because it overlaps MFFC's food access + community empowerment model and has a board member (Stephanie Campbell) shared with MFFC, indicating leadership-level ecosystem alignment.
• The Food Project: Massachusetts-based nonprofit running youth-driven urban agriculture and food access programs with farms in Lincoln, Boston, and Lynn. Direct peer because it shares MFFC's youth employment + farm-stand + culturally relevant produce model and is explicitly cited by MFFC's Youth Coordinator Chavella Lee as a prior experience.
• Bikes Not Bombs: Boston-based nonprofit that uses cycling as a vehicle for youth development and community empowerment. Direct peer because it co-hosts the Youth Bike Summit with MFFC, partners on Vigorous Youth bike programming, and operates an analogous youth-employment-through-bicycles model.
• Brookwood Community Farm: Canton/Boston-based nonprofit farm supplying produce for MFFC's youth-run farm stand and supporting Black immigrant farmers. Direct peer because it operates a hyperlocal CSA and food-access mission that overlaps with MFFC's farm stand, community gardens, and SNAP/HIP-enabled produce distribution.

Others

• YW Boston: Boston nonprofit advancing gender and racial equity, which honored MFFC's Executive Director with the 2026 Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Award. Listed as OTHERS because YW Boston is a thematic partner in equity and community leadership rather than a direct service peer, but it shares a board member (Robyn Gibson) with MFFC.
• Boston Public Health Commission: City of Boston's public health agency and MFFC's primary REACH-grant partner. Listed as OTHERS rather than competitor because BPHC is a government funder/implementer, not a community-based peer, but it is materially relevant as a co-funder of MFFC's priority-neighborhood health work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MattapanFoodFit
• Facebookfacebook.com/MattapanFoodandFitnessCoalition
• Instagraminstagram.com/mattapanfoodfit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mattapan-food-and-fitness-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition