Category Archives: Publications

Invest in Fresh: A Plan for Promoting Healthy Food Retail in Jamestown, New York (2013)

The purpose of this planning studio was to develop a planning report to improve access to healthy, affordable food in the small city of Jamestown in the rural Chautauqua County in Western New York. Prepared on behalf of the Chautauqua County Health Network, the report aimed to improve the health and wellness of residents as well as respond to the city’s economic challenges. The report highlights three objectives: 1. To assess the food retail environment in the City of Jamestown; 2. To analyze the potential of the city to support additional healthy food retail; and, 3. To outline strategies that create or improve healthy food access and economic development in Jamestown. The studio team found that particular sections of Jamestown had a limited number of food retail locations, few offered healthful food options, and that it was difficult for residents to travel to food retail locations. Recommendation included the creation of a healthy corner stores initiative to improve food access, and the launch of a food policy council to shape and steer policy changes through the existing governance structure. The Chautauqua County Health Network and its partners used the information generated by the report to design and implement a Healthy Corner Store effort in Jamestown.

Kerala Acting Collectively for Equity (ACE): Public Health Equity Through Improved Water, Sanitation and Waste Management in Maradu, Kerala (India) (Spring 2016)

The purpose of this interdisciplinary studio was to assist the municipality of Maradu in the state of Kerala in Southern India by preparing a report to inform the local government’s city-wide sanitation planning process. A group of thirteen students from the fields of architecture, environmental engineering, public Health and urban planning worked under the guidance of Drs. Samina Raja and Korydon Smith to gather, analyze, and synthesize relevant information. Students traveled to southern India for three weeks to collect primary data on current drinking water sources, waste and wastewater management, and public health, and produced a report to assist the municipal government. The report, which includes a list of twenty-eight recommendations, was shared with the municipal government and key partners. Key findings included the need for improved and enlarged water and waste infrastructure for serving a growing population.The studio was conducted in partnership with Center for Science and Environment and supported in part by the UB Community of Global Health Equity.

Read the report here.

Chautauqua County Food System Assessment | 2017

In the spring 2017 semester, students from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning worked with the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development and the county’s Growing Food Connections (GFC) Steering Committee to conduct a county-wide food system assessment. The project charge was to understand the capacity of the food system as a lever for economic development in a county with deep agricultural and manufacturing economic roots. The final report made a series of recommendations focused on policy change, specifically related to the formation of an oversight entity (such as a food policy council), human resources dedicated to food systems development, and support for infrastructure such as transportation systems, education opportunities, and additional processing facilities. The recommendations are in review by the GFC committee as of summer 2017.

Chautauqua County Food System Assessment | 2017

Plans, Policy Briefs, and Policy Reports

If you would like an electronic copy of any of these publications, please email us at foodsystems@ap.buffalo.edu.

Raja, Samina, So-Ra Baek, Bumjoon Kang, Elizabeth Machnica, Nathan Attard, Maryam Khojasteh, Samantha Bulkilvish, Jeanne Leccese, Chunyuan Diao, Hailey Stern, and Abdulrahman Ibrahim. 2016. “Moving Together: Promoting Active Commuting to School in the Sweet Home Central School District and the Town of Amherst.” Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. 131p.
Raj, Subhashni and Samina Raja. “Agrarian Values and Urban Futures: Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture and Food Security in Doña Ana County, New Mexico.” In Exploring Stories of Opportunity. Edited by Samina Raja, 14 pages. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project, 2018.
Hall, Enjoli and Samina Raja. “Seeding Food Justice: Community-Led Practices for Local Government Policy in Dougherty County, Georgia.” In Exploring Stories of Opportunity. Edited by Samina Raja, 20 pages. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project, 2018.
Hall, Enjoli and Samina Raja. “Towards Health Equity in the Heartland: Advancing Community-Led Food Planning in Douglas County, Nebraska.” In Exploring Stories of Opportunity. Edited by Samina Raja, 10 pages. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project, 2018.
Raj, Subhashni, Joseph E. Quinn, and Samina Raja. “Supporting the Chile Capital of the Southwest: The Role of Local Government in Sustaining Farming Traditions in Luna County, New Mexico.” In Exploring Stories of Opportunity. Edited by Samina Raja, 13 pages. Buffalo: Growing Food Connections Project, 2018.
Hodgson, Kimberly, and Kelley Mosher. 2016. Private-Public Partnerships: Cornerstone of Food Systems Planning and Policy in Rural Marquette County, Michigan. Edited by Samina Raja and Kimberly Hodgson. Exploring Stories of Innovation: Growing Food Connections Project.
Hodgson, Kimberly, and Kara Martin. 2016. Building from the Inside Out in Region 5, Minnesota: A Rural Region’s Effort to Build a Resilient Food System. In Kimberly Hodgson & Samina Raja (Eds.), Exploring Stories of Innovation: Growing Food Connections Project.
Whittaker, Jennifer, Samina Raja, Danielle Vazquez, Elizabeth Machnica, Hijab Khan, Abdulrahman Ibrahim, and Nathan Attard. 2016. Buffalo Neighborhood Food Project: Final Evaluation Report.
Whittaker, Jennifer, and Samina Raja. 2016. Bridging Divides: Opportunities for Connecting Farmers and Underserved Consumers in Chautauqua County, New York. In Samina Raja (Ed.), Exploring Stories of Opportunity: Growing Food Connections.
Raj, Subhashni, and Samina Raja. 2016. Growing a Local Food Economy for a Healthy Wyandotte. In Samina Raja and Jeanne. Leccese (Eds.), Exploring Stories of Opportunity: Growing Food Connections.
Dillemuth, Ann, and Kimberley Hodgson. 2016. Incentivizing the Sale of Healthy and Local Food. In Samina Raja & Kimberley Hodgson (Eds.), Planning and Policy Briefs: Growing Food Connections
Hodgson, Kimberley, and Zsuzsi Fodor. 2016. “Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: A Mayor’s Office and Health Department Lead the Way in Municipal Food Policymaking.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 3. Growing Food Connections Project.
Whitton, Elizabeth, Jeanne Leccese, and Kimberley Hodgson. 2015. “A Food in All Policies Approach in a Post-Industrial City: Baltimore City, MD.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 3. Growing Food Connections Project.
Hodgson, Kimberley, Zsuzsi Fodor, and Maryam Khojasteh. 2015. “Multi-level Governmental Support Paves the Way for Local Food in Chittenden County, Vermont.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 5. Growing Food Connections Project.
Hodgson, Kimberley, and Zsuzsi Fodor. 2015. “Mayoral Leadership Sparks Lasting Food Systems Policy Change in Minneapolis, Minnesota.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 3. Growing Food Connections Project.
Hodgson, Kimberley. 2015. “Advancing Local Food Policy in a Changing Political Climate: Cabarrus County, NC.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 3. Growing Food Connections Project.
Fodor, Zsuzsi, and Kimberley Hodgson. 2015. “Cleveland, Ohio: A Local Government’s Transition from an Urban Agriculture Focus to a Comprehensive Food Systems Policy Approach.” In Exploring Stories of Innovation, edited by Kimberley Hodgson and Samina Raja, 3. Growing Food Connections Project.
Whittaker, J and Samina Raja. 2015. How Food Policy Emerges: Research Suggests Community-Led Practice Shapes Policy . Translating Research for Policy Series, edited by Samina Raja and Jeanne Leccese. Growing Food Connections Project, June 2015.
Raja, Samina, Jessica Hall, J. Travis Norton, Patrick Gooch, Subhashni Raj, Taylor Hawes, and Jennifer Whittaker. 2014. Growing Together: Ensuring healthy food, strong farms, and a prosperous Buffalo Niagara. Buffalo, NY: The State University of New York at Buffalo Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab and University at Buffalo Regional Institute.
Delgado, Cristina, Travis Norton and Samina Raja. 2013. Indicators for a Healthy Food and Built Environment in the City of Buffalo. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 20 p.
Neuner, Kailee. 2012. Transforming Active Living Policy in Practice: Municipal Best Practices. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 27 p.
Neuner, Kailee, Patrick Gooch and Samina Raja. 2012. Buffalo’s Food System: An Assessment of Current, Municipal, County, and State Policies that Regulate Buffalo’s Food System. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 41 p.
Neuner, Kailee, Jessica Hall, and Samina Raja. 2012a. Children’s Health: A Growing Need to Incorporate Physical Activity into the Daily Lives of Youth. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo.
Neuner, Kailee and Jessica Hall. 2012. Do Kids Want to Play in the Queen City? Buffalo’s Built Environment and its Impact on Youth Physical Activity. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 24 p.
Raja, Samina, Cristina Delgado, Subhashni Raj, and Sylvia Kelly. 2012. Community Design and Health: Summary of Findings from Recent Research. Report to Planning for Healthy Places Program, Public Health Law & Policy. The Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 29 p.
Raja, Samina, Kailee Neuner,and Sylvia Kelly. 2011. Buffalo Grown: Empowering Food Citizens, One Youth at a Time. Evaluation report submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture and the Massachusetts Avenue project. The Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY. 16 p.
Neuner, Kailee, Sylvia Kelly, and Samina Raja. 2011. Strengthening Buffalo’s Food System to Promote Healthy Eating Among Children. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo Partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 38 p.
Neuner, Kailee, Sylvia Kelly, and Samina Raja. 2011. Planning to Eat? Innovative Local Government Policies and Plans to Build Healthy Food Systems in the United States. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo Partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 38 p.
Neuner, Kailee, and Samina Raja. 2010. Healthy Eating and Active Living for Children in the City of Buffalo. In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities-Buffalo Policy Briefs, edited by Samina Raja. Healthy Kids-Healthy Communities-Buffalo Partnership and the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, University at Buffalo. 7 p.
Raja, Samina. 2008. Metaevaluation of traditional fiscal impact analysis: Criteria and procedures. Prepared for the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. 48 p.
Raja, Samina, Jack Huddleston, and Pavan Yadav. 2008. Planning for Sustainable Growth: Fiscal Trends and Prospects for Clarence, New York. Report prepared for the Town of Clarence, New York.
Raja, Samina. 2007. Growing Green: Empowering Youth, Transforming Neighborhood Food Systems. Prepared for the Massachusetts Avenue Project and the United States Department of Agriculture. December 30, 2007.
Raja, Samina and Angelika Breinlich. 2007. Designing Healthy Communities, One School at a Time. Prepared for the Healthy Eating by Design-Buffalo project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Raja, Samina. 2006. Impacts of Demographic Change on the Fiscal Health of U.S. Local Governments: Issues and Prospects. Background Paper series. Prepared for the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. 36 p.
Raja, Samina. 2006. Growing Green: Interim Evaluation Report. Prepared for the Massachusetts Avenue Project and the United States Department of Agriculture. December 30, 2006.
APA’s Food System Planning Committee. 2006. “Food System Planning.” A White Paper prepared for the American Planning Association’s Legislative and Policy Committee. Members of APA’s Food System Planning Committee are (in alphabetical order): Born, Branden, Andy Fisher, Deanna Glosser, Jerome Kaufman, Wendy Mendes, Hubert Morgan, Mark A. Olinger, Kami Pothukuchi, and Samina Raja
Raja, Samina. 2005. Growing Green: An Evaluation of a Community Food Security Project. Prepared for the Massachusetts Avenue Project and the United States Department of Agriculture. December 30, 2005.
Taylor, Henry, Sam Cole, Richard Milgrom and Samina Raja. 2003. Fruit Belt/Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Tax Increment Financing District. Prepared for the City of Buffalo. Buffalo, NY: Center of Urban Studies, University at Buffalo.
Stevens, Mark and Samina Raja. 2001. What’s Eating You About What You Eat? Results from a survey of Madison Area residents regarding their likes and concerns about the local food system. Madison Food System Working Paper Series Number 5, 2001. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Raja, Samina. 2000. Preserving Community Gardens in a Growing Community: A Report on the Community Gardens Planning Process in Madison, Wisconsin. Madison Food System Working Paper Series Number 4. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin-Madison. [Based on a report originally prepared by author for the City of Madison in July 1999; Recommendations from the report were adopted in the City of Madison’s 2006 Comprehensive Plan.]
Raja, Samina. 1999. Growing a Stronger Community with Community Gardens: An Action Plan for Madison. Prepared for and adopted by the City of Madison. Madison, Wisconsin: City of Madison Advisory Committee on Community Gardens. First municipally-adopted plan to create and sustain community gardens in the United States.
Raja, Samina. 1999. An Annotated Bibliography of the Dane County Food System. Madison Food System Working Paper Series Number 3, 1999. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Huddleston, Jack and Samina Raja. 1999. The Economic Impact of Dane County Regional County Airport. Report prepared for the Dane County Airport Commission. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Articles, Book Chapters, and Books

If you would like a copy of any of these publications, please email us at foodsystems@ap.buffalo.edu.

Lucia Leone, Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, Christina Kasprzak, Samina Raja, and Leonard H. Epstein. 2021. “The WIC Shopping Experience: A Qualitative Study Examining Retail-based Strategies to Increase WIC Retention and Redemption Rates”, Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition.
Kasprzak, C., Schoonover, J., Gallicchio, D., Haynes-Maslow, L., Vermont, L., Ammerman, A., Raja, S., Tumiel-Berhalter, L., & Leone, L. (2021). “Using common practices to establish a framework for mobile produce markets in the United States.” Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 10(4), 73–84.
Mui, Yeeli, Maryam Khojasteh, Alexandra Judelsohn, Avery Sirwatka, Sylvia Kelly, Patrick Gooch, and Samina Raja. 2021. “Planning for Regional Food Equity.” Journal of the American Planning Association, 1-16.
Clark, Jill K., Brian Conley, Samina Raja. 2020. “Essential, fragile, and invisible community food infrastructure: The Role of Urban Governments in the United States.” Food Policy, 102014.
Frimpong Boamah, Emmanuel, James Sumberg, and Samina Raja. 2020. “Farming within a Dual Legal Land System: An Argument for Emancipatory Food Systems Planning in Accra, Ghana.” Land Use Policy, 92, 104391.
Judelsohn, Alexandra, Heather Orom, Daniela Leon, and Samina Raja. 2020. “Refuge in New Food Environments: The Role of Urban Planning in Facilitating Food Equity for New Americans.” Special Issue on Refugee in the City. Journal of Urban Affairs, 1-18.
Raja, Samina. 2020. “Planning and Pandemics: COVID 19 Illuminates Why Urban Planners Should Have listened to Food Advocates all Along.” Invited article for the Special Collection: Agriculture, Food, & COVID-19. Agriculture and Human Values, 37, 553–554.
Biehl, Erin, Sarah Buzogany, Kristin Baja, and Roni A. Neff. 2018. “Planning for a resilient urban food system: A case study from Baltimore City, Maryland.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 39-53.
Freudenberg, Nicholas, Craig Willingham, and Nevin Cohen. 2018. “The role of metrics in food policy: Lessons from a decade of experience in New York City.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 191-209.
Gilbert, Jessica L., Alexandra E. Schnidel, and Sarah A. Robert. 2018. “Just transitions in a public school food system: The case of Buffalo, New York.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 95-113.
Gold, Abby, and Noelle Harden. 2018. “Navigating borders: The evolution of the Cass Clay Food Partners.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 29-38.
Gupta, Clare, Dave Campbell, Kate Munden-Dixon, Jennifer Sowerwine, Shosha Capps, Gail Feenstra, and Julia Van Soelen Kim. 2018. “Food policy councils and local governments: Creating effective collaboration for food systems change.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 11-28.
Haines, Anna L. 2018. “What does zoning have to do with local food systems?” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 175-190.
Lavallée-Picard, Virginie. 2018. “Growing in the city: Expanding opportunities for urban food production in Victoria, Canada.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 157-173.
Mui, Yeeli, Maryam Khojasteh, Kimberley Hodgson, and Samina Raja. 2018. “Rejoining the planning and public health fields: Leveraging comprehensive plans to strengthen food systems in an urban versus rural jurisdiction.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 73-93.
Mulligan, Kate, Lauren E. Baker, Sarah Elton, and Donald C. Cole. 2018. “Toronto municipal staff and policy-makers’ views on urban agriculture and health: A qualitative study.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 133-156.
Otten, Jennifer J., Sara Diedrich, Katherine Getts, and Christine Benson. 2018. “Commercial and anti-hunger sector views on local government strategies for helping to manage food waste.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 55-72.
Raja, Samina, Jill K. Clark, Julia Freedgood, and Kimberley Hodgson. 2018. “Reflexive and inclusive: Reimagining local government engagement in food systems.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 1–10.
Reece, Jason. 2018. “Seeking food justice and a just city through local action in food systems: Opportunities, challenges, and transformation.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 211-215.
Robert, Naomi, and Kent Mullinix. 2018. “Municipal policy enabling regional food systems in British Columbia, Canada: Assessing focal areas and gaps.” Special Issue on Local Government in Food Systems Work. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 8(Suppl. 2), 115-132.
Raja, Samina and Jennifer Whittaker. 2018. “Community Food Infrastructure: A Vital Consideration for Planning Healthy Communities.” In Healthy Environments, Healing Spaces: Current Practice and Future Directions in Health and Design. Edited by Timothy Beatley, Carla Jones and Reuben Rainey. University of Virginia Press.
Raja, Samina, Jennifer Whittaker, Enjoli Hall, Kimberley Hodgson, Maryam Khojasteh, and Jeanne Leccese. 2018. “Growing Food Connections through Planning: Lessons from the United States.” In Integrating Food into Urban Planning. United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and University College London (UCL) Press.
Brinkley, Catherine, Subhasni Raj, and Megan Horst. 2017. “Culturing Food Deserts: Recognizing the Power of Community-Based Solutions.” Special Issue on Planning for Equitable Urban and Regional Food Systems. Built Environment 43 (3):328-342.
Clark, Jill K., Caitlin Marquis, and Samina Raja. 2017. “The Local Food Policy Audit: Spanning the Civic-Political Agrifood Divide.” In A. Blay-Palmer, I. Knezevic, C. Levkoe, P. Mount, and E. Nelson (Eds): Nourishing Communities: From Fractured Food Systems to Transformative Pathways. Springer.
Clark, Jill K., Julia Freedgood, Aiden Irish, Kimberley Hodgson, and Samina Raja. 2017. “Fail to Include, Plan to Exclude: Reflections on Local Governments’ Readiness for Building Equitable Community Food Systems.” Special Issue on Planning for Equitable Urban and Regional Food Systems. Built Environment 43 (3):315-327.
Judelsohn, Alexandra, Heather Orom, Isok Kim, Aye Bay Na Sa, Hijab Khan, Rosie Devito, Roberto O Diaz Del Carpio, and Samina Raja. 2017. “Planning the City of Good (and New) Neighbours: Refugees’ Experiences of the Food Environment in Buffalo, NY.” Special Issue on Planning for Equitable Urban and Regional Food Systems. Built Environment 43 (3):402-416.
Raja, Samina, Kevin Morgan, and Enjoli Hall. 2017. “Planning for Equitable Urban and Regional Food Systems.” Editorial. Special Issue on Planning for Equitable Urban and Regional Food Systems. Built Environment 43 (3):309-314.
Raja, Samina, Subhashni Raj, and Bartholomew Roberts. 2017. The US Experience in Planning for Community Food Systems: An Era of Advocacy, Awareness, and (Some) Learning. In A. Blay-Palmer, I. Knezevic, C. Levkoe, P. Mount, and E. Nelson (Eds): Nourishing Communities: From Fractured Food Systems to Transformative Pathways. Springer.
Whittaker, Jennifer, Samina Raja, Jill Clark, and Sarah Sangiovanni. 2017. “Planning for Food Systems: Community-University Partnerships for Food Systems Transformations.” Special issue on urban food systems. Metro Universities.
Baek, So-Ra, Samina Raja, Nathan Attard, Maryam Khojasteh. 2016. “Acculturating into (In)active Commuting to School: Differences between Children of Foreign-Born and U.S. – Born Caregivers.” Children, Youth, and Environments, 26(1).
Clark, Jill, Molly Bean Smith, Samina Raja, Scott Loveridge, Julia Freedgood, and Kimberley Hodgson. 2016. “Cooperative Extension and Food System Change – Goals, Strategies and Resources.” Agriculture & Human Values.
Horst, Megan, Subhashni Raj, and Catherine Brinkley. 2016. “Getting Outside the Supermarket Box: Alternatives to “Food Deserts” in Portland, Oregon.” Progressive Planner.
Khojasteh, Maryam, and Samina Raja. 2016. “Agents of Change: The Role of Immigrants in Creating Healthier Food Environments.” Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition.
Raj, Subhashni, Samina Raja, and Bree-Ana Dukes. 2016. “Beneficial but Constrained: Impact of urban agriculture on consumption of fruits and vegetables among youth.” Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition.
Raj, Subhashni. 2016. “Growing Food Connections.” In Growing Livelihoods: Local Food Systems and Community Development, edited by Rhonda Phillips and Chris Wharton. Taylor and Francis.
Raja, Samina and Chunyuan Diao. 2016. Community-Led Urban Agriculture Policy: A View from the United States. Urban Agriculture Magazine, 31:18-24.
Raja, Samina, Femke Hoekstra, Cecilia Delgado, and Rene van Veenhuizen. 2016. Editorial: Community Involvement in Urban Planning and Policy Development to Strengthen City and Regional Food Systems. Urban Agriculture Magazine. 31:4-9.
Raja, Samina, Jennifer Whittaker, Enjoli Hall, Kimberley Hodgson, Maryam Khojasteh, and Jeanne Leccese. 2016. “Growing Food Connections through Urban Planning: Lessons from the United States.” In Integrating Food Into Urban Planning. Rome, Italy: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Whittaker, Jennifer. 2016. Slow and Steady: Emergence of Urban Agriculture Policy in Buffalo, NY. Urban Agriculture Magazine, 31.
Baek, Solhyon, Samina Raja, Jiyoung Park, Leonard Epstein, Li Yin, and James Roemmich. 2015. Park Design and Children’s Active Play: A Micro-Scale Spatial Analysis of Intensity of Play in Olmsted’s Delaware Park. Environment and Planning B.
Raja, Samina, Justin Booth, J Travis Norton, Beverly Crowell, Jessie Gouck, and Kari Bonaro. 2015. “Promoting active commuting to school through environmental and policy supports in Buffalo, New York.” Journal of Public Health Management and Practice 21:S110-S115.
Raja, Samina, Justin Booth, J. Travis Norton, Beverly Crowell, Jessie Hersher Gouck, and Kari Bonaro. 2015. “Promoting Active Commuting to School through Environmental and Policy Supports in Buffalo, New York.” Public Health Management and Practice. 21:S110-S115, May/June 2015
Raja, Samina, Diane Picard, Solhyon Baek, and Cristina Delgado. 2014. Rustbelt Radicalism: A Decade of Food Systems Planning Practice in Buffalo, NY. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. 4(4): 173-189.
Feda, Denise, April Seelbinder, Solhyon Baek, Samina Raja, Li Yin, and James N Roemmich. 2014. “Neighbourhood Parks and Reduction in Stress among Adolescents: Results from Buffalo, New York.” Indoor and Built Environment.
Yin, Li, Samina Raja, Xiao Li, Yuan Lai, Leonard Epstein, and James Roemmich. 2013. “Neighborhood for Playing: Using GPS, GIS, and Accelerometry to Delineate Areas within which Youth are Physically Active.” Urban Studies. 50(14): 1-18.
Raja, Samina. 2013. “A Review of “Sustainable Food Planning: Evolving Theory and Practice.” Journal of the American Planning Association. 79(3):3-4.
Epstein, Leonard, Samina Raja, Tinuke Oluyomi Daniel, Rocco A. Paluch, Denise E. Wilfley, Brian E. Saelens, and James N.
Roemmich, Ph.D. 2012. “The Built Environment Moderates Effects of Family-Based Childhood Obesity Treatment over 2 Years.” Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 44(2): 248-58.
Raja, Samina, Li Yin, James Roemmich, Changxing Ma, Leonard Epstein, and Pavan Yadav. 2010. “Food environment, built environment, and women’s BMI: Evidence from Erie County, New York.” Journal of Planning Education and Research. 29: 444-460.
Raja, Samina, Angelika Breinlich, and Aidan Kallas. 2010. “Partnerships to Promote Healthy Eating in School Environments: Lessons from Buffalo, New York: Lessons from Buffalo, New York.” Children, Youth, and Environment. 20(2), 2010.
Raja, Samina and Niraj Verma. 2010. “Got perspective? A Justification for Planning Theory.” Planning Theory. 9(2):126-136. Invited paper for a special issue on planning theory edited by Dr. Ernest Alexander.
Ventura, Steve, Math Heinzel, and Samina Raja. 2010. “Planning Analyst Module 3: Allocate Making Place-based Decisions.” Chapter 16 in Niemann, B., David Moyer, Stephen Ventura, Richard Chenoweth, and Douglas Miskowiak (eds.) Citizen Planners: Shaping Communities with Spatial Tools. ESRI Press.
Raja, Samina, Michael Ball, Justin Booth, Philip Haberstro, and Katherine Veith. 2009. “Leveraging neighborhood-scale change for policy and program reform in Buffalo, New York.” Special issue on Active Living by Design. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 37 (6S).
Raja, Samina, Changxing Ma, and Pavan Yadav. 2008. “Beyond food deserts: Measuring and mapping racial disparities in the food environment.” Journal of Planning Education and Research. 27 (4): 469-482. Included in ‘Editors’ Picks’ column of the Environment: Science and policy for Sustainable Development journal (Sep/Oct 2008).
Roemmich, James, Leonard Epstein, Samina Raja, and Li Yin. 2007. “The neighborhood and home environments: Disparate relationships with physical activity and sedentary behaviors in youth.” Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 33 (1): 29-38.
Raja, Samina. 2006. Kashmir. “Flashpoints in the War on Terrorism.” In Derek Reveron and Jeffrey Murer (eds.) New York, NY: Routledge. pp. 178-198.
Epstein, Leonard, Elizabeth Handley, Kelly K. Dearing, David D. Cho, James Roemmich, Rocco Paluch, Samina Raja, Youngju Pak, and Bonnie Spring. 2006. “Purchases of food in youth: Influence of Price and Income.” Psychological Science 17 (1): 82-89.
Roemmich, James, Leonard Epstein, Samina Raja, Li Yin, Jodie Robinson, and Dana Winiewicz. 2006. “Association of access to parks and recreational facilities with the physical activity of young children.” Preventive Medicine, 43(6): 437-441.
Raja, Samina. 2006. “Seeking Common Ground in Smart Growth and Food System Planning: Lessons from the Food for Growth Studio.” In Teaching Smart Growth at Colleges and Universities: A Set of Model Course Prospectuses. US Environmental Planning Agency: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/courses/Raja.pdf.
Epstein, Leonard, Samina Raja, Sam Gold, Rocky Paluch, and James Roemmich. 2006. “Reducing Sedentary Behavior: The Relationship Between Park Area and the Physical Activity of Youth.” Psychological Science. 17 (8):654-659.
Raja, Samina. 2005. “Site-Value Taxation.” In Roger Caves (Ed). Encyclopedia of the City. London, UK: Routledge. p. 407.

Books and Monographs

Raja, Samina, Erin Sweeney, Yeeli Mui, and Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah. 2021. Local Government Planning for Community Food Systems: Opportunity, Innovation, and Equity. Food and Agriculture Organization.
World Health Organization. 2018. WHO Housing and Health Guidelines. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. [Role: Member, Guideline Development Group]
Committee on Health Impact Assessment. 2011. Improving Health in the United States: The Role of Health Impact Assessment. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC. Forthcoming. [Committee members and authors: D. Bear, R. Bhatia, S. Cantor, B. Cave, A. Diez Roux, C. Dora, J. Fielding, J Graff Zivin, Richard Jackson (Chair), J. Levy, J. Quint, S. Raja, A. Schulz, and A. Wernham.]
Raja, Samina, Branden Born, and Jessica Kozlowski Russell. 2008. A Planners’ Guide to Community and Regional Food Planning: Transforming Food Environments, Building Healthy Communities. Planning Advisory Service (PAS) Series, No. 554. Chicago, Illinois: American Planning Association. 112 p.

Articles in Popular Press and Other Venues

Raja, Samina and Robert Shibley. “Standing in Unity and Action: Black Lives Matter.” June 20, 2020.
Raja, Samina, and Chunyuan Diao. 2016. “A Community-Led View of Urban Agriculture Policy Making.” Urban Agriculture Magazine 31.
Raja, Samina, Femke Hoekstra, and Rene Veenhuizen. 2016. “Editorial. Giving Space to Use Urban Space: Community Involvement in Urban Planning and Policy Development to Strengthen Urban Food Systems.” Urban Agriculture Magazine 31.
Raja, Samina. 2015. “Why all Cities should have a Department of Food.” The Conversation. April 3, 2015.
Raja, Samina and Heather Wooten. 2010. “Food systems planning – an opportunity for planners in private practice.” Newsletter, Private Practice Division, American Planning Association.
Raja, Samina. 2008. “Food for Thought” Final Word. UB Today.
Raja, Samina. 2008. Section in an article titled “A question for the boss: What questions should employees ask themselves about the health of their workforce?” Impact: Improving Health for Population and Individuals. School of Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Newsletter. April 2008.
Breinlich, Angelika and Samina Raja. 2006. “Sometimes applesauce is about more than just apples.” Buffalo Rising, Online Magazine. November 2006.
Raja, Samina. 2005b. “Food for Growth” Intersight: Journal of the School of Architecture and Planning, 8 (2005): 112-117.

Non-peer Reviewed Articles

Raja, Samina and Heather Wooten. 2010. “Food systems planning – an opportunity for planners in private practice.” Newsletter, Private Practice Division, American Planning Association.
Raja, Samina. 2005b. “Food for Growth” Intersight: Journal of the School of Architecture and Planning, 8 (2005): 112-117.

Purchases of Food in Youth: Influence of Price and Income

Epstein, Leonard H., Elizabeth Handley, Kelly K. Dearing, Davi,d D. Cho; James Roemmich, Rocco Paluch, Samina Raja, Youngju Pak, and Bonnie Spring. 2006a. “Purchases of food in youth: Influence of price and income.” Psychological Science 17(1): 82-89

Seeking Common Ground in Smart Growth and Food System Planning: Lessons from the “Food for Growth” Studio

Raja, Samina. 2006. “Seeking common ground in smart growth and food system planning: Lessons from the Food for Growth studio” in “Teaching Smart Growth at Colleges and Universities: A Set of Model Course Prospectuses.” US Environmental Planning Agency (Electronic publication.)

Reducing Sedentary Behavior: The Relationship Between Park Area and the Physical Activity of Youth

Epstein, L., Samina Raja, Sam Gold, Rocky Paluch, and James Roemmich. 2006. “Reducing sedentary behavior: The relationship between park area and the physical activity of youth.” Psychological Science. Aug 2006, 17(8):654-659