Q&A
Prioritizing communities and schools for urban agriculture initiatives
1:40:18
·
144 sec
Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez inquires about the communities and schools being prioritized for urban agriculture initiatives. Qiana Mickie explains the criteria and process for selecting target areas and schools for the program.
- The initiative focuses on high-need schools identified on the chancellor's list across the five boroughs
- Selection criteria include historically disadvantaged neighborhoods, food scarcity, and existing urban agriculture partnerships
- The program also considers climate injustice and the presence of existing food-growing activities in communities
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:40:18
And I appreciate the emphasis on on scale.
1:40:20
Right?
1:40:21
Rightfully so, which I think is, I think in line with a lot of what we try to do at the council, which is planning, which is why I'm in support of this bill.
1:40:31
But can you share any information on which communities you are prioritizing?
1:40:39
I'm sorry.
1:40:40
Can I finish?
1:40:41
What communities you're prioritizing or looking at?
1:40:43
Like, where are the communities that are problematic with relation to scale?
1:40:47
And problematic in, like, we need to do more, or we could do more here, or this is a community, that, you know, is keenly interested and could benefit from this.
1:40:56
Have you ever have you already identified those districts or ZIP codes or part of the process?
Qiana Mickie
1:41:01
Yes.
1:41:02
So in with the initial start of the reimagining from the school initiative, we worked with OFNS to identify high, district one schools that were on the chancellor's list for, high need schools.
1:41:15
So we identified in the 5 borough schools to target there.
1:41:18
But what we've learned in the last few years in building relationships with schools is learning how we can continue to scale up that work to go into further community.
1:41:28
So, it's actually connected, for us to be able to identify more schools in need, to be able to identify what, they're where they're at in terms of garden, education, and partnership.
1:41:41
In addition, what we did is we looked at neighborhoods that were historically disadvantaged, food scarce, and also listened to our Urban Act partners.
1:41:51
And then we identified partners that are growing food at different scales and different gardens to work there.
1:41:58
And then, in looking at our rural partner that is involved in the project and thinking about needs, we identified a partner that is not just, a farm of color, but they particularly grow culturally relevant crops and have direct community, existing communities of, wholesale and retail in their neighborhoods.
1:42:19
So what we did was really start the initiative from the communities of need.
1:42:24
And we also, of course, assessed other needs like climate injustice, food scarcity, and who's actually growing food already.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:42:33
And you said you mentioned are those schools, schools, is that public?
1:42:36
It should be public.
1:42:36
Yes.
1:42:36
Okay.
1:42:36
Great.
1:42:37
And we
Qiana Mickie
1:42:37
can make sure you have that info if
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:42:39
we don't.
1:42:39
Okay.
Qiana Mickie
1:42:39
Great.
1:42:40
Can I just ask you more questions?
1:42:41
I'm so sorry.
