Riseboro Community Partnership Inc

INCREASING CONSUMER CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL FARMERS IS AN INITIATIVE TO INCREASE SALE OF LOCAL FARM PRODUCTS IN LOW ECONOMIC ACCESS COMMUNITY

THE LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT COMPRISE CENTRAL BROOKLYN ARE AMONG NEW YORK'S TOP EIGHT MOST RAPIDLY GENTRIFYING NEIGHBORHOODS. PRICEY ORGANIC MARKETS, BOUTIQUE GROCERS AND ARTISAN FOOD SHOPS HAVE GROWN EXPONENTIALLY WHILE AGGRESSIVELY MARKETING TO WEALTHIER, MOSTLY WHITE, NEWCOMERS. AS A RESULT, THE MAJORITY LOW-INCOME BLACK AND LATINO POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN LEFT WITHOUT READY ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE FOOD OPTIONS AND WITHOUT THE ECONOMIC POWER THAT COMES FROM BUILDING LOCALLY-OWNED FOOD BUSINESSES.THE CENTRAL BROOKLYN FOOD DEMOCRACY PROJECT (THE PROJECT) WILL BUILD AN INTEGRATED FOOD ECONOMY IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN THAT GENERATES JOBS, PROVIDES ACCESS TO QUALITY FOOD AND ADVANCES A HEALTHY FOOD CULTURE AMONG THE LOW-INCOME, FOOD INSECURE SECTION OF CENTRAL BROOKLYN. THE PROJECT CENTERS ENTREPRENEURS, LOCAL WORKERS, AND CONSUMERS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD SYSTEM POWERED BY COOPERATIVE FOOD ENTERPRISES.THE PROJECT WILL:1) COMPLETE THE ORGANIZING AND OPENING OF THE CENTRAL BROOKLYN FOOD COOP (THE FOOD COOP), A BLACK-LED CONSUMER-OWNED FOOD COOP DEDICATED TO SERVICE TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME PEOPLE. THE FOOD COOP, WHICH IS THE NERVE CENTER AND ENGINE OF THE PROJECT, WILL BE A CONVERGENCE POINT FOR LOCAL FARMERS, WORKER-OWNED VENDORS AND HEALTHY FOOD EDUCATION. THE THOUSANDS OF FOOD COOP MEMBERS WILL PROVIDE THE MARKET BASE FOR THE PROJECT. 2) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WORKING WORLD, START 6 NEW WORKER-OWNED, DEMOCRATICALLY-RUN COOPERATIVE FOOD BUSINESSES, AND SUPPORT THE EXISTING 2 WORKER-OWNED COOPS, EMPLOYING AT LEAST 36 PEOPLE. THE PROJECT WILL LEVERAGE THE MARKET BASE AND OPPORTUNITIES GENERATED BY THE FOOD COOP TO FORM BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS AND ESTABLISH ALONG A FOOD VALUE CHAIN OF GROWERS, AGGREGATORS, TRANSPORTERS, PACKAGERS AND SELLERS. 3) INTEGRATE A FOOD EDUCATION INSTITUTE WITHIN THE FOOD COOP BY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO RISEBORO'S COMMUNITY CHEF KITCHEN. THE CHEFS WILL TEACH CULINARY COURSES, CONDUCT COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, AND CATER EVENTS AMONG THE FOOD COOP COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES, WHILE TRAINING MEMBERS OF THE FOOD COOP TO LEAD HEALTHY SUSTAINABLE LIVES. 4) CREATE A PROJECT LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT WILL ENSURE COORDINATION AND CREATE A CENTRAL BROOKLYN FOOD DEMOCRACY SUPPORT NETWORK.

SVC COORD GRANTS 202

BUSHWICK GROWS COMMUNITY FARM

THE BROOKLYN W.A.Y. COALITION FOR DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES - RISEBORO COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP IS PROPOSING A PROJECT IN TANDEM WITH THE PREVENTION-BASED COALITION THE BROOKLYN W.A.Y. TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY CENTERED AND INFORMED SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND ANTI-VIOLENCE COALITION WORK IN BED STUY, BROWNSVILLE, EAST NEW YORK, AND EAST FLATBUSH. WE WILL LEVERAGE EXISTING COALITION WORK TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND OUR EFFORTS TOWARDS REDUCING SUBSTANCE USE IN YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WHILE EMPOWERING PARTICIPANTS THROUGH ENGAGED PROGRAMMING, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND ADVOCACY. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED PRESCRIPTION AND OPIOID MISUSE AND BINGE DRINKING AMONG 16-24 YEAR OLDS IN BROOKLYN, WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON MEANINGFULLY ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE AS THEY RELATE TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE. WE WILL MEASURE OUR IMPACT VIA PRE AND POST PARTICIPANT SURVEYS, COALITION MEMBER FOCUS GROUPS, AND ESTABLISHMENT AND USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION AND ENGAGEMENT. WE HOPE TO ENGAGE WITH PARTICIPANTS THROUGH LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS WITH NEW AND EXISTING COALITION MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE PEER-LED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO THE WIDER COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE WORKSHOPS. OUR AIM IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE RISKS AND CONSEQUENCES OF SUBSTANCE USE FOR THIS DEMOGRAPHIC AND ENGAGE OUR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN ADVOCACY AND ACTION TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX ROOT CAUSES OF RISK FOR USE. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR WORK OF ESTABLISHING A NETWORK OF PEER EDUCATORS, AMBASSADORS, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT CAN ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND EMPOWER YOUNG INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING BOTH WITHIN THE CONTRACTED PERIOD AND BEYOND. BY FOSTERING A SUSTAINED CULTURE OF COLLABORATION, TRANSPARENCY AND EDUCATION, THE LONG-TERM OUTCOME IS TO CREATE A SAFER AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITY WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EMPOWERED TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES.

RISEBORO COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WILL ESTABLISH A NEW FARMERS MARKET LOCATION IN BUSHWICK BROOKLYN. THIS PROJECT WILL RECRUIT LOCAL PRODUCERS AND SOLIDIFY THE MARKETS ROLE AS A SOURCE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON CONNECTING FARM OWNERS WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FACILITATING DIRECT SALES TO NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS AND MARKETS AND EXPLORE RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING FARMTOINSTITUTION SALES AND VALUE ADDED PRODUCT LINES.. THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MARKET LOCATIONS AND THE ONBOARDING OF ADDITIONAL PRODUCERS BENEFITING THE FARMERS AND THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING GREATER ACCESS TO A RANGE OF PRODUCTS.