Welcome to the Research hub where we turn care into data, and data into change. At Hands for Life Lake Merritt, our belief is simple: when we meet people where they are, with the right support, measurable health improvements follow.
This page shines a light on our investigation into mobile wellness interventions and their impact in Oakland’s underserved neighborhoods. You’ll discover what we’re asking, how we’re measuring, and why the findings matternot just for one community, but for the future of equity‑based healthcare everywhere.
Whether you’re a community member curious about outcomes, a partner interested in evidence‑based action, or just passionate about health equity, you’re in the right place. Dive in, explore the data, and join us in building change that lasts.
Mobile Wellness Research Project
This isn’t just a service program — it’s a research project designed to prove that mobile wellness interventions work. By taking healthcare, nutrition support, and wellness services directly to Oakland neighborhoods that need them most, we’re testing how consistent, community-based engagement can drive measurable improvements in health and wellbeing over time.
Research Question
Our central research question is simple yet critical:
Does consistent mobile wellness intervention improve measurable health outcomes in Oakland food desert neighborhoods over a six-month period?
This question guides everything we do — from how we deliver care to how we evaluate impact. Our goal is to move beyond assumptions and generate real data that demonstrates the power of localized, mobile wellness care to improve lives and strengthen communities.
What We’re Measuring
To understand how this approach affects both individual and community health, we’re tracking a range of indicators over the course of the study. These include:
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Blood pressure changes — monitoring improvements in cardiovascular health
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Blood glucose changes — tracking progress in metabolic health and diabetes management
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BMI changes — observing shifts in body composition and weight-related health
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Food access improvements — measuring how access to fresh, healthy foods changes within target neighborhoods
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Self-reported wellness indicators — gathering firsthand accounts of physical, emotional, and social wellbeing
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Healthcare utilization patterns — assessing how often and in what ways participants engage with healthcare services
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Community connection metrics — evaluating how wellness interventions influence neighborhood relationships and social cohesion
Each data point helps us build a comprehensive picture of how mobile wellness can transform health outcomes in underserved areas.
Why This Matters
When we prove that this model works — with Oakland-based data — we can:
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Scale the program to reach additional Oakland neighborhoods in need.
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Help other cities adopt and replicate the model in their own communities.
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Influence policy and funding, demonstrating that grassroots, community-driven care delivers real results.
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Show that community-led infrastructure WORKS — creating long-term, sustainable health systems built by and for the people they serve.
This isn’t just about delivering services; it’s about building a data-backed case for equity-driven public health models that can be scaled and sustained.
Academic Partnership
To ensure our research meets the highest scientific and ethical standards, we are partnering with the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Together, we’re developing rigorous research protocols, implementing standardized data collection methods, and working toward publishing our findings.
This collaboration strengthens the integrity of our work and ensures that our results contribute meaningfully to the broader field of public health — advancing both community wellness and academic understanding of what truly works in the fight for health equity.