Learn to Grow and Cook Your Own Food

• Original Idea Voted on by New Yorkers: A series of workshops teaching a way towards better health. They would consist of cooking and nutrition classes along with urban farming demonstrations and classes. The workshops would be for public housing residents.

• Implementing Organization: Hispanic Federation

• Neighborhoods: Lower East Side and Chinatown

• Funding Amount: $165,000

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 program will run as a 5-week series, hosted in partnership with schools, cultural centers, housing developments, and community-based organizations across the Lower East Side and Chinatown. Sessions will be held at trusted sites, including Vision Urbana (Campos Plaza), LaGuardia Houses, Alfred E. Smith Houses, and Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens. Each week will feature culturally relevant nutrition education, cooking demonstrations with take-home grocery bags, urban farming or farmers market field trips, and inclusive physical activity. Bilingual staff and Promotoras will ensure all materials and programming are accessible in both Spanish and English. Participants will also be connected to supportive services such as food pantries, preventive health screenings, and additional local resources. A key enhancement made possible by this funding is the addition of hands-on urban farming, which will teach families gardening, seed starting, and food sustainability practices—deepening cultural connections and long-term health strategies.

What motivated your organization to apply to implement this idea?

Hispanic Federation is committed to addressing the root causes of health inequities in underserved communities. We have seen firsthand how food insecurity, a lack of culturally relevant resources, and limited access to wellness opportunities contribute to chronic disease and poor health outcomes. This project allows us to expand a model that is community-driven, preventative, and rooted in uplifting families through education, access, and empowerment.

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

This program equips families with practical tools, knowledge, and access to make healthier choices and improve their overall quality of life. By pairing immediate food access with long-term wellness education, which includes physical activity, healthy cooking, and gardening, this program tackles chronic disease at its roots. Just as importantly, it promotes cultural pride, strengthens intergenerational connections, and fosters community resilience, all of which contributes to lasting, positive changes.

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

We’re excited to see families try out the recipes we demonstrate in class, grow their own food in the community gardens we visit, and carry these lessons into their homes. Watching participants apply what they learn and grow healthier together is one of the most rewarding parts of this work.

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

Visit our website: https://www.hispanicfederation.org/our-work/health/ 

Website: www.hispanicfederation.org
Instagram: @hispanic_federation
Facebook: @hispanicfederation
LinkedIn: @hispanicfederation
Twitter/X: @hispanicfed