Healthy Food and Literary Nights for Families and Individuals

• Original Idea Voted on by New Yorkers: A project that will host healthy food and literary nights for families. Activities would be focused on Bronx history and culture. Access to resources for food assistance programs would also be available.

• Implementing Organization: The Institute for Family Health

• Neighborhoods: Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Bedford Park, Williamsbridge, Norwood, Olinville, Edenwald, and Wakefield.

• Funding Amount: $200,000

The responses below are directly from the community organizations selected to implement The People’s Money projects.

How does your organization plan to bring this idea to life?

This project will be implemented in at least three sites located in the Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Bedford Park, Williamsbridge, Norwood, Olinville, Edenwald, and Wakefield neighborhoods. From January 2026 to September 2026, we will host three literary night events at each site for a total of nine events. The events will cover different topics of focus relating to Bronx history and culture. Topics will include: oral storytelling, immigrant history and culture (e.g., Stan Lee, the creator of Marvel), authors Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain, music, such as hip-hop and rap; poetry (e.g., Bronx Poet Laureate, Kay Bell), youth books (e.g., Boogie in the Bronx!), and Latino authors. The Literary Freedom Project will facilitate a number of these conversations, readings, and showings. We will engage members of the Bronx arts and literary communities in the design and planning of these programs during the planning period.

At each of the events, a chef will prepare healthy foods for program participants. The partner chefs are Chef Irbania Taveras (Chef Evie) who has worked with Bronx Health REACH on food demonstrations and tastings promoting cultural foods that are prepared healthily, and Chef Ramatoulaye Biteye, from Senwagn Restaurant. Both chefs will serve healthy, culturally relevant food that is also related to the focus topic of the event. We will provide the recipes to the attendees, along with other supportive resources, including information on local food pantries, Health Bucks, and SNAP/EBT.

What motivated your organization to apply to implement this idea?

BHR is well-equipped to build upon its 25+ years of success to implement the project. BHR’s 80+ coalition members work across various sectors including housing and economic development organizations, local businesses and CBOs/FBOs (e.g., childcare and health care providers and advocates, food pantries, farm share programs), neighborhood grocers, academic institutions, and representatives from the New York City (NYC) Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene, Education, and Parks and Recreation. BHR has successfully leveraged these partnerships to address key contributors to the disparities within the Bronx.

BHR has collaborated with local arts and cultural organizations to embed healthy eating and physical activity within Bronx culture. We have partnered with Casita Maria, the Bronx River Alliance, Banana Kelly, South Bronx Economic Development Cooperation and local artists to support the painting of new murals at parks, schools, and on the walls of apartment buildings. We have also partnered with cultural institutions such as the Hip Hop Museum to promote community vaccination efforts. Further, BHR has hosted a dance performance at one of our coalition meetings, utilizing the art of expressive movement to illuminate the impact of health disparity.

Additionally, BHR has partnered with 29 restaurants, 41 bodegas, food pantries, chefs, the Office of School Food, farmers markets and farm share programs to promote and provide thousands of Bronx residents with healthier food options. With support from local restaurants and chefs, BHR created “The Bronx Salad,” celebrating the Bronx’s diverse and multicultural food culture. The Institute also operates a NYS Department of Health-funded Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program to promote nutrition and healthy eating in schools and childcare programs in the Bronx.

BHR has an intimate knowledge and awareness of the needs of the communities it serves, stemming from more than two decades of collaboration with coalition members. Since its inception, BHR has relied on the leadership of community residents and CBOs/FBOs to employ a community-based approach to planning, shared decision making, design and implementation of community initiatives. Community residents participate at every level, including monthly workgroups and quarterly coalition meetings.

How do you think this project will make a difference in your community?

Bronx Health REACH has the unequaled privilege of working in the Bronx, one of the most enterprising places to work, live, play, and pray. Unlike the other NYC boroughs, the majority of the Bronx population are people of color - a rich mix of people from all over the world bringing their many lived experiences to bear in working to make a better, healthier Bronx. And, in a socio-political climate that seeks to demean, diminish and erase immigrants and people of color this project will allow Bronx residents to learn and celebrate the diversity of their rich culture, therefore providing an alternative narrative to the current one being promoted. Our coalition believes that celebrating the beauty of Bronx literature, art, history, and culture creates hope and builds community resilience in challenging times. In addition, BHR will increase access to fresh, healthy food in neighborhoods with high food insecurity by introducing culturally relevant recipes and emergency food resources. In a socio-political climate that seeks to demean, diminish and erase immigrants and people of color this project will allow Bronx residents to learn and celebrate the diversity of their rich culture, therefore providing an alternative narrative to the current tone being promoted. Our coalition believes that celebrating the beauty of Bronx literature, art, history, and culture creates hope and builds community resilience in challenging times.

List at least one thing you're excited about related to this project!

BHR is excited to engage in a project that will spotlight and promote the rich cultural and literary legacy and history of the Bronx. We are looking forward to bringing people together to celebrate all that is great about the Bronx and offer nourishment for the mind and body during the literary nights!

How can someone participate or stay up to date on the project?

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