NYCHA Goes Green: Urban Ag & Workforce Development

Teens from Green City Force on an urban farm teaching kids

Wednesday April 15

1 – 2:30pm

City Hall, COW Room, 2nd floor

Register Here (*required)
This is a funders-only briefing



Hosted by the Mayor’s Office for Strategic Partnerships
Co-sponsored by CFF and Philanthropy NY

Please join us on April 15th for a funders-only briefing on NYCHA’s new urban farm initiative. As part of the Building Healthy Communities Initiative rolling out of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Partnerships, NYCHA and Green City Force are teaming up to expand upon their extremely successful urban farm pilot at Red Hook Houses initiated in June 2013 with Added Value. Over the next three years an additional five farms with intergenerational programming will be established on open space within NYCHA developments in four of the five boroughs. Young adult NYCHA residents from developments throughout the City will grow food, increase food access for residents, provide nutrition education, and engage the community through an innovative service and workforce training program developed by Green City Force. Come learn about this dynamic partnership aimed at addressing health disparities and fresh food access by leveraging youth leadership and cultivating resident engagement, which will position NYC as a leader in the rapidly growing field of urban agriculture and food justice.

Agenda Highlights and Featured Speakers
Welcome and Introductory Remarks
  • Gabrielle Fialkoff, Director, New York City Mayor’s Office of Strategic Partnerships
  • Rick Luftglass, Executive Director, The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
  • Sara Gardner, Executive Director, Fund for Public Health in New York
  • Rasmia Kirmani-Frye, Director of Public Private Partnerships, New York City Housing Authority

Discussion of NYCHA Urban Farm Pilot at Red Hook Houses

Teens from Green City Force working at the NYCHA Red Hook farm
  • Lisbeth Shepherd, Executive Director, Green City Force (accompanied by Green City Force alumni)
Introduction of New Urban Farm Initiative
  • Melanie Hart, Executive Vice President for Community Programs and Development, New York City Housing Authority
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