1. Jumping in: Your Food Bank as a Community Change Agent Closing the Hunger Gap Conference Presented by: Keith Carr, City Harvest Susan Fowler, City Harvest Kathy Kim, City Harvest Ena McPherson, Tranquility Farms Bill Sherman, Staten Island Neighborhood Food Initiative

2. Founded in 1982 as the world’s first food rescue organization, City Harvest is dedicated to helping feed the nearly 1.4 million New Yorkers facing hunger City Harvest exists to end hunger in communities throughout New York City. We do this through food rescue and distribution, education, and other practical, innovative solutions, such as our Healthy Neighborhoods program What is City Harvest?

3. Bring together residents, local business owners, religious organizations, and institutions Mobilize the community via resident-led action groups, called Community Action Networks (CAN) CANs develop a vision for a healthy community and implement projects to achieve that vision Our community engagement strategy

4. But… Overweight/Obese: 68.7% Poverty: 21.4% Over 30 community gardens and farms Manhattan Bronx Queens Brooklyn Staten Island Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn: a neighborhood of contrasts Health and weight indicators: Community Health Survey, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2009. Poverty rates: 2011: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey, One-year Estimates: Table C17001

5. Bed Stuy community gardens

8. Group of 35 residents and representatives from organizations committed to improving the food landscape of Bed Stuy Bed Stuy Community Action Network

9. Bed Stuy garden tour: connecting gardeners in the community

10. Bed Stuy garden tour: connecting gardeners in the community

11. Support urban growing efforts Demonstrate the benefits of urban growing to community members Subcommittee of community farmers and gardeners

12. Flashpoint 1: exposé on soil toxicity in NYC community gardens targets Bed Stuy

13. Bed Stuy farmers/gardeners pledge to maintain high standards for soil quality and transparency Developed soil toxicity rating system, to be posted at gardens Media exposure through open letters and op-eds Subcommittee response

14. Flashpoint 2: Bed Stuy gardens targeted by mayor for potential housing development 11 Brooklyn gardens (6 in Bed Stuy) 5 Manhattan gardens 1 Queens garden Image: 596 Acres Website (http://596acres.org/en/)

15. Letter writing campaign and petition to city officials Member-generated media exposure Subcommittee response: stop development plans

16. Engaged NYC Food Policy Director and elected officials who put pressure on developers Potential development plans put on hold Subcommittee’s campaign delivered results

17. City Council and CAN Member Robert Cornegy featured this issue in his first State of the District Address Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver visited Tranquility Farms Subcommittee’s campaign engaged high-level officials

18. Manhattan Bronx Queens Brooklyn Staten Island North Shore of Staten Island Overweight/Obese: 64.3% Poverty: 21% Health and weight indicators: Community Health Survey, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2009. Poverty rates: 2011: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey, One-year Estimates: Table C17001 Staten Island: the neglected borough

19. Closer look at a “food desert”…

20. My Plate Challenge: a neighborhood-focused health promotion strategy

21. 2 challenges, 13 competitors from 5 countries Over 200 people participated—competitors, judges, nutritionists, mentors, and the general community Participants expressed interest in eating healthier following competition My Plate Challenge results

22. Build on past success with My Plate Challenges focusing next on Sri Lankan and Italian cuisine Explore possibility of growing African and Mexican vegetables in existing community gardens and urban farms Introduce backyard gardeners to their local food pantries and soup kitchens so that they know where to donate surpluses Next steps

23. So, what made this work possible? Community Food Assessments revealed interest in changing the food landscape City Harvest established relationships and built trust with key members in the community Programmatic evolution at City Harvest made resources available

24. Why would food banks and food rescue organizations advocate for improving the food system? Act as major anchors in the food system Distribute large volumes of food Bring together robust network of businesses and community programs Responsible for creating impactful, structural change

25. Brand recognition and credibility Experience Scale Stability Volunteers Established trust and track record Demonstrated impact Resources City Harvest brings

26. 2003-2007 Produce for Health 2007 First Community Food Assessment 2010 First Community Engagement Staff 2011 Healthy Neighborhoods Strategic Plan 2012 First Community Action Groups City Harvest evolution: from food rescue to Healthy Neighborhoods to community engagement

27. Focus on produce and community health

28. Integrate relief and development where it’s needed most Increased Access (produce distribution & retail work) Nutrition Education (demos, courses, tours) Community Engagement Healthy Neighborhoods

29. Assess programming with staff and board Identify most vulnerable communities Conduct community food assessment Canvas community opinion on needs Develop plan of action in partnership with community Focus on realistic, on-the-ground projects Steps for engaging your community

30. Is your food bank/food rescue organization on the path to becoming a food change agent? What kind of community activities can your food bank or food rescue group do now? Who are potential allies in your community? Name 1-2 things you think your community can achieve in the next 6 months Table discussion (10 minutes)