Village Community Foundation Inc

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CURRENT ISSUES:RESIDENTS OF THE TARGETED ZIP CODES ARE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE BEFORE POVERTY LEVEL, NOT HAVE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, TEND NOT SPEAK ENGLISH WELL AND TEND TO BE YOUNGER.LACK OF RESOURCES, BILINGUAL TRAINING, AND COACHING TO INCREASE OPPORTUNTIES IN CULINARY AND FOOD SERVICES CAREER AND ENREPRENEUR PATHWAYSTHE COMMUNITY HAS FOOD INSECURITY AND FOOD DESERTS.ZIP CODE 60623 HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS AND MIGRANTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.METHODS AND APPROACHESHERO'S FOOD BUSINESS AND WELLNES INCUBATOR PROGRAM AIMS TO IMPACT AND SUPPORT EARLY-STAGE FOOD BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS FROM LITTLE VILLAGE )ZIP CODE- 60623) AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO. FOOD HERO'S FOOD BUSINESS AND WELLNESS INCUBATOR WILL SUPPORT THE LOCAL FOOD ECOSYSTEM BY PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING EQUITY-BASED PROGRAMMATIC AND FACILITIES GOALS:CULINARY ENTREPRENUER PROGRAMS: BILINGUAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING 1-1 COACHING, VIRTUAL TRAINING COURSES AND WORKSHOPS, PEER LEARNING, MENTORSHIP, AND CONSULTATIONFOOD AS MEDICINE - NUTRITION EDUCATION, MEALS, AND FOOD DELIVERY TO IMPACT SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTHFOOD SECURITY: A HEALTHY FOOD GROCERY STORE, FOOD RESCUE PROGRAMS, WHICH RECEIVES DONATIONS OF GROCERY ITEMS AND CONVERTS INTO MEALS AND SHARED RETAILED SPACEFACILITIES: TWO SHARED COMMERCIAL KITCHENS TO BE USED AS CO-WORKING SPACE BY PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND SMART FRIDGES, WHICH SHOWCASE FOOD PRODUCTS FROM LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO FOODS IN LOCAL FOOD DESERTSTHROUGH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF LITTLE VILLAGE AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, FOOD HERO WILL DEVELOP A COMMUNITY ASSET INITIATIVE THAT DELIVERS THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES:IMPACT LOCAL ECONOMY BY CREATING NEW CULINARY CAREER AND BUSINESS PATHWAYS FOR NEW BUSINESSES, INCREASED JOBS, AND WEALTH CREATIONIMPACT HEALTH DISPARITIES THROUGH CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE MEDICALLY TAILRED MEALS, NUTRITION EDUCATION, AND PILOT PROGRAMS SUCH AS PREVENTIVE FOOD AS MEDICINE WELLNESS PROGRAMIMPROVE LOCAL FOOD INSECURITY BY MAINTAINING A FOOD STORE WITH LOCALLY SOURCED HEALTHY PRODUCE