NOURISH Kentucky Project

Overview

The NOURISH Kentucky Project (Nutrition Outreach Unifying Restorative Initiatives for Sustainable Health), based within the Humana Community Health Research Center at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS), is a community-engaged initiative examining the social, environmental, and behavioral factors that shape nutrition and well-being across urban and rural Kentucky. Led by Interim Provost Katie Cardarelli, PhD, in collaboration with the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University, the project addresses food insecurity and barriers to healthy food access through evidence-based, multi-level strategies developed in partnership with community advisory boards. 

Guided by community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, NOURISH partners with local organizations and residents to implement practical, community-informed solutions that expand access to nutritious food, strengthens local food systems, and builds capacity for disease prevention and health promotion. Through these efforts, this study aims to inform sustainable interventions that advance and improve nutrition-related health outcomes across Kentucky communities. 

Mission

In partnership with the Humana Foundation, NOURISH is a five-year community-based research project focused in four counties in Kentucky. Our goal is to identify sustainable approaches that can improve food insecurity and healthy food access in communities. 

As a core initiative of the Humana Research Center, NOURISH integrates academic research with community partnership to develop scalable, lasting models that promote healthier eating, improve food and nutrition security, and enhance long-term wellness statewide.