Incentivized Food Access

Hosts bilingual cooking demonstrations at farmers markets and community sites such as senior centers, Title 1 schools, and NYCHA facilities, reaching over 25,000 adults and children annually. In one year, conducted 230 demonstrations, reaching approximately 20,000 attendees and distributing 16,000 recipe samples.

Creates and distributes recipe booklets, nutrition guides, cooking videos, and Good-to-Go bags containing fresh produce and recipe cards. Also produces a weekly newsletter, Food Talk, distributed to over 25,000 subscribers, featuring seasonal recipes and community resources.

Distributes Health Bucks, Healthy Senior Healthy Shopper incentives, and free produce to low-income customers, including seniors, through voucher programs and emergency food distribution initiatives. In one year, distributed over $109,000 in incentives and more than 400,000 pounds of free produce to over 35,000 families via the Nourish NY program.

Operates over 15 weekly farmers markets across New York City from May through November, offering fresh, locally grown produce from New York State farms. Markets are located in low-income neighborhoods and run six days a week at various sites in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, serving over 250,000 shoppers annually.

Provides financial support to family-owned farms in the Farm-to-City program, covering operational costs such as fuel, labor, seeds, and market fees, totaling over $70,000 in one year. Facilitates vendor participation in markets and enables farmers to redeem vouchers, generating $264,656 in sales.

Supports community-led efforts to establish a community-owned and operated native plant nursery and dune preserve to enhance shoreline protection and local stewardship.

Engages program alumni as mentors for current youth participants and creates pathways for them to return as staff, such as in the Dune Squad. Supports alumni leadership by appointing them to the Board of Directors.

Collaborates with Cornell University and community stakeholders to develop and update the Rockaway/Nassau County Bayside Plan, including hosting public presentations of final planning documents prior to release. Led community-directed planning that transformed a former illegal dumping site into a 28-acre Waterfront Park and repurposed abandoned infrastructure into public spaces.

Operates RISE Farm Share, a mixed-income Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that distributes weekly shares of certified organic, locally grown vegetables and seasonal fruit to members during the growing season. The program is supported by community volunteer efforts.

Operates a native plant nursery and educational garden at Beach 44th Street to support coastal restoration, providing plants for dune restoration projects and serving as an educational resource for community and school programs.

Leads dune restoration efforts as part of the Greater Rockaway Coastal Resilience Plan, including planting native coastal species, removing invasive plants, and growing native plants in a nursery at Beach 44th Street. Organizes community stewardship events such as cleanups and plantings to build natural shoreline buffers.

Delivers hands-on environmental education through classroom lessons, field trips, and workshops for students in grades K–12, including the "Living Classroom" program. Topics include seed saving, plant adaptations, coastal ecosystems, climate change, marine debris, bird identification, and Guyanese fishing traditions. Served over 2,000 students in 2018 through partnerships with NYC Public Schools.

Manages a 7,000 square foot restored firehouse in Far Rockaway as a community programming hub called the RISE Center, providing space for workshops, private meetings, art exhibitions, corporate events, and public programs to support cultural and environmental health in the Rockaways.

Provides a six-week summer science research program for high school students, offering mentorship from scientists at local universities to conduct authentic research on the Rockaway shoreline. Includes training in water safety, CPR, and outdoor activities, with participants earning a stipend and community service hours.

Runs paid summer internship programs for high school students, including Shore Corps and Environmentor, focused on environmental conservation, urban planning, food justice, and marine science. Programs include training in water safety, CPR, kayaking, surfing, and biking, along with community service and stipends up to $1,200. Over 250 local youth have been employed through these initiatives.

Operates 22 community gardens across Broome County, NY, providing individuals with access to raised garden beds, fertile soil, on-site water, compost, and seeds.

Operates a Farm Share program that provides weekly subscriptions to locally harvested produce, offering income-based discounts, flexible payment plans, and educational content to subscribers.

Provides free, guided educational tours of the Rochester Public Market from April through October, serving thousands of youth and adult visitors annually. Tours cover the market’s history, operations, community role, and include guidance on healthy eating.