WEST HARLEM GROUP ASSISTANCE HARLEM, MANHATTAN ABOUT WEST HARLEM Mr. Foster is a 78-year He is now able to get the most from the GROUP old who has found a products he picks up at the hub. The Community Healthy Food Hub is ASSISTANCE second home at WHGA’s part of a comprehensive place-based West Harlem Group Assistance, Community Healthy strategy to address resident health and economic development through Inc. (WHGA), a community Food Hub. development corporation, was food called Communities for Healthy established more than 45 years Originally hailing from Jamaica, Mr. Food NYC (CfHF). Launched in 2014 ago to revitalize West and Central Foster lives a block away from the Hub. with technical assistance and funding Harlem. WHGA has developed He stops by on a regular basis to say through LISC NYC and Laurie M. 1,693 units of affordable housing hello and talk about his health. Mr. Foster Tisch Illumination Fund, this initiative and owns 43,676 square feet of is also a customer of the Hub’s client- integrates access to healthy and commercial space. WHGA also choice food pantry. Mr. Foster shared, “I affordable food into every aspect manages housing, commercial and like that the pantry is set up like a regular of community development work— community spaces, and delivers supermarket and allows me to choose the providing resident outreach, nutrition an array of social and economic foods I like or want to try. ” education, and cooking classes, and development programs and services. creating new or improved healthy Mr. Foster praised the WHGA team food outlets. Cornerstones of the The organization’s work has become after noticing a marked increase in even more crucial as the area, CfHF program are community food fresh produce available at the pantry. advocates, who serve as “boots on the once riddled with dilapidated and He wants to eat more healthily, but it’s abandoned buildings is experiencing ground” in each target neighborhood to not always easy to find good affordable lead planning, program management, rapid change and gentrification. produce in the community. WHGA’s WHGA seeks to quell the negative stakeholder development, and food advocate, Antaeus Turns Ashcraft advocacy efforts. impacts of gentrification on their low (Tia), and Mr. Foster have had lengthy to moderate income residents. conversations about the quality of produce at the supermarkets, compared to the quality of fruits and vegetables in his homeland. After noting how “I like that the pantry is set up like a some fresh produce items spoil quickly regular supermarket and allows me to after purchase, Tia was able to share choose the foods I like or want to try. ” more information about the shelf-life of different fruits and vegetables and how —MR. FOSTER to store them to extend their lifespan. WHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS FOR HEALTHY FOOD? WHGA’s Community Healthy Food Hub is the cornerstone of its efforts to increase WHGA’s close ties to access to healthy food and enable community members to cook healthy meals for neighborhood residents themselves and their families. Their work relies heavily on a strong network of food and range of services made and health partners. the organization ripe for an integrated healthy food initiative. WHGA and LISC NYC also identified commercial spaces early on with great HEALTHY ADVOCACY AND GOOD FOOD CULINARY AND potential to become home to FOOD ACCESS COMMUNITY JOBS NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE healthy food outlets and training BUILDING SHARING and educational programs. In 2014, with the support of LISC NYC, WHGA redeveloped one of their vacant storefronts at HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS 625 Lenox Avenue, now called the West Harlem Community The Community Healthy Food Hub adults who are less mobile do not need Healthy Food Hub, to serve client-choice pantry is the core of to make the trip to the hub or stand in as a portal to improve access WHGA’s healthy food work. Its central line waiting for their turn to shop. to healthy food and advance location in a storefront at Lenox and “Through various state and federally educational prospects related 141st Street drives regular new clients to funded grant programs, WHGA has to health for seniors, youth, its services. been able to provide a great variety of families, and adults. The WHGA partnered with the Food produce from Driscoll Foods, a regional Hub’s pantry serves over 2,000 Bank for New York City to develop produce distributor. WHGA also neighbors monthly. WHGA the pantry and continues to rely on purchases whole grain breads, almond has forged new partnerships to the organization for food and its milk, cheese, and even tilapia,“ says Tia. deliver a portfolio of nutrition Tiered Engagement Network (TEN) A key to pantry success is identifying and general health services from which connects residents to a set of secure funding sources that allow the site. comprehensive services from access to WHGA to purchase sufficient amounts Due to rapid gentrification medical care to immigration support. of fresh high quality produce through a leading to high real estate values, City Meals on Wheels provides a distributor versus relying solely on food long-term residents of West delivery service for seniors so that older donations and surplus products. and Central Harlem struggle to remain in their community. At 28%, the rate of obesity in Central Harlem is over three times the rate in other higher income Manhattan communities. The long-term hope for WHGA is that CfHF will contribute to broader efforts to improve affordability and quality of life for low income residents. ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING WHGA’s Hub has become a vibrant community center, with better health as its organizing principle. The CfHF team goes to WHGA residential buildings, partner agencies, community centers and schools around the neighborhood to meet residents and let them know the services offered at the Hub. At the same time, WHGA identifies ‘Community Champions’ – residents who want to take a leadership role in their community by volunteering at the Hub and becoming local leaders using their own life experiences to help their CULINARY neighbors improve their health and well-being. AND NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE SHARING At the hub, one can also take part in cooking and nutrition classes, join a farmers market walking tour, or get help with public benefits, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Because multiple services are offered in one place, residents are better able to take advantage of them, making it easier to prioritize their health. WHGA partners with Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables, a collaboration between the New York State Department of Health and Food Bank for NYC to deliver nutrition education to people eligible for SNAP, which includes one in four West Harlem residents. Food Bank for NYC also teaches its Cookshop nutrition education classes at the hub. GOOD FOOD JOBS When clients attend the Hub’s cooking demonstrations, they’re provided with WHGA collaborated with the extra time per month. Stipends are a recipes and 90 percent of the ingredients. Partnership for Healthier Manhattan helpful income supplement and the and the Sylvia Center to offer a pantry work is a source of job training Community Chef “train the trainer” and work experience. program. Training is held in the WHGA also partnered with Creative Art industrial kitchen at WHGA’s Dempsey Works to bring their Public Art Youth Multi-Service Center. Chefs receive Employment Program to the West “Some people have been cut off tools (such as a knife kit) and skills to Harlem neighborhood. Local youth were from assistance. A lot of them don’t teach residents how to cook healthy employed over a summer to create an get a sufficient amount [of food to meals. After the training, Community outdoor mural around the corner from maintain a healthy lifestyle], so they Chefs are paid to teach cooking classes the Hub. The goal of the mural was to need extra food. The pantry is here in the neighborhood. inspire residents to eat healthier and to provide that for them.” Volunteers are critical to successful stay active. The youth gained important —CHARLES JENKINS, pantry days. In return for their time, employment skills like leadership VOLUNTEER volunteers are provided stipends and development and project management. the opportunity to use the pantry an NUTRITION EDUCATION AT FUNDING THE COMMUNITY The program launched with LISC and WHGA relies on a variety of sources HEALTHY FOOD HUB Illumination Fund support and has for funding to cover food and additional Umallah is a resident in WHGA’s expanded its budget through city, state staff time. One unique source of food supportive housing portfolio who and federal grants including NYC dollars is the Food Bank’s TEN program, began visiting the Hub’s client- Council discretionary funds, and Federal which provides credits to purchase food choice pantry in 2015. He signed and NYC Emergency Food Assistance with every referral a partner like WHGA up for a nutrition education course. Programs. In addition, WHGA receives makes to other organizations in the During a session, the food advocate funds for fresh produce through the network. WHGA stresses that every bit asked Umallah what he typically New York State Hunger Prevention counts and smaller grants have added ate alongside his favorite meal. and Nutrition Assistance Program up to increase fresh food options at the His answer was fried chicken (HPNAP), and FEMA’s Emergency Food pantry. instead of a vegetable side. This and Shelter Program (EFSP). exchange gave the entire group an opportunity to learn about the five food groups, sugar, cholesterol, sodium, and portion sizes. Four months later, Umallah had distinctly changed his eating habits.