Project New Village

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PROJECT NEW VILLAGE, A BLACK-LED, COMMUNITY-ROOTED NONPROFIT, WILL LEAD AN INTERGENERATIONAL PROJECT THAT ADDRESSES FOOD- AND NUTRITION-INSECURITY IN COMMUNITIES WHERE REDLINING AND STRUCTURAL RACIST POLICIES AND PRACTICES HAVE RESULTED IN INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS. THE PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY AND CONSUMPTION OF HEALTHY, HYPER-LOCAL FOOD BY: 1) COLLABORATING WITH A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM TO DEVELOP YOUNG PEOPLE'S CAPACITY TO PREPARE VALUE-ADDED AND PRE-PACKAGED PRODUCTS; 2) ENHANCING FUTURE NUTRITION WORKERS' ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF FOOD- AND NUTRITION-INSECURE RESIDENTS AS THEY DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND PROVIDE BRIEF NUTRITIONAL HEALTH LITERACY SESSIONS; 3) OVERCOMING HOUSEHOLDS' AND OLDER RESIDENTS' FOOD SHOPPING CONSTRAINTS BY BRINGING HEALTHY FOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATIONS VIA A MOBILE FARMERS' MARKET ANDPRODUCE SUBSCRIPTION PACKS; AND, 4) DEVELOPING MARKETING CAMPAIGNS AND MATERIALS THAT SUPPORT COMMUNITY FOOD SOVEREIGNTY BY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO SPEND THEIR MONEY WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY TO REDUCE ECONOMIC LEAKAGE. USING DATA FROM STUDENT AND CUSTOMER SURVEYS, THE PROJECT WILL DEMONSTRATE IMPACT ON FOOD AVAILABILTY ANDFOOD- AND NUTRITION-INSECURITYIN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR.THE PROJECT WILL RESULT IN A HEALTHIER AND MORE SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITY, DEMONSTRATING HOW HEALTHY, HYPER-LOCAL FOOD CAN BE PREPARED, DISTRIBUTED, AND ENJOYED WITHIN A COMMUNITY TO REDUCE FOOD AND NUTRITION INSECURITY IN THE IMMEDIATE- AND LONG-TERM.

PROJECT NEW VILLAGE WILL IMPROVE A MOBILE FARMERS MARKET INITIATIVE FOR RESIDENTS OF GREATER SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO. THE PROJECT WILL OPERATE EIGHT WEEKLY SITES INCLUDING THE CITY OF SAN DIEGOS PROMISE ZONE THE CITY OF LEMON GROVE AND NATIONAL CITY. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A FOOD RETAIL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE TO CONSUMERS MEETING THEM AT NATURAL POINTS OF SERVICE SUCH AS LIBRARIES YMCAS COMMUNITY CLINICS CHURCH PARKING LOTS AND OTHER COMMUNITYORIENTED GATHERING SPACES. . THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS RANCHERS PROCESSORS AND ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD FOR AREA CUSTOMERS. THE PROJECT WILL FACILITATE A DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS PROVIDING A CONVENIENT AND ACCESSIBLE SOURCE OF FRESH FOOD OPTIONS REACHING MORE THAN 15000 CUSTOMERS.

THIS PLANNING PROJECT WILL ENGAGE NATURAL ALLIES FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS (NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD BUSINESSES, FOOD PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTION HUBS, COMMUNITY CLINICS, AND FAITH COMMUNITIES) TO COME TOGETHER, AND GUIDED BY RESIDENTS' INPUT, CREATE A MULTI-PRONGED PLAN TO INCREASE HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY IN GREATER SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO. CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION AND PLANNING IS IMPORTANT IN UNDERSTANDING WAYS TO BEST SUPPORT URBAN AGRICULTURE AS A MEANS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.THROUGH A SERIES OF PLANNING MEETINGS AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, THE PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, LOCALLY-SOURCED FOODS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE MARKETING MATERIALS, INCREASED RESIDENT AND CROSS-SECTOR ENGAGEMENT, AND NEW REFERRAL PATHWAYS FOR A MOBILE FARMERS MARKET THAT WILL BE LAUNCHED AT FIVE COMMUNITY SITES. NEW COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN LOCAL FOOD-BASED BUSINESSES AND LOCAL GROWERS AND DISTRIBUTORS WILL INCREASE THE AREA'S NUTRITIOUS FOOD OFFERINGS. TO INCREASE COMMUNITY FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, A NEW 12,000 SQUARE FOOT COMMUNITY FOOD HUB WILL BE PLANNED TO PROMOTE URBAN AGRICULTURE AND FURTHER SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION OF HEALTHY, LOCALLY-GROWN FOOD. EVALUATION ACTIVITIES WILL PREPARE PROJECT NEW VILLAGE TO COLLECT DATA THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF FORMS, QUESTIONNAIRES, AND SURVEYS, AND THEN TO SHARE IT WIDELY WITH THE COMMUNITY, FUNDERS, AND ORGANIZATIONS UNDERTAKING SIMILAR PROJECTS, THROUGH A WRITTEN REPORT AND PRESENTATION