This month the NYC Food Policy Center launched its East Harlem Youth Food Educators program. This program seeks to engage young people in East Harlem in designing and launching community campaigns that reduce the appeal of unhealthy food (defined here as processed foods high in sugar, saturated fat and salt and with low nutrient values) by creating social environments in East Harlem that encourage consumption of healthier food and discourage consumption of less healthy food. These young people are graduates of local partner food and nutrition youth development programs, having been nominated by these organizations based on their potential and interest in participating in YOFE.
Students are currently completing an intensive pre-service training, mentored by several CUNY students. Once complete, they will use social media and work with community-based organizations and artists to advocate for healthier patterns of food consumption in low-income communities by developing and launching community campaigns by Fall 2015 to discourage consumption of foods high in fat, sugar and salt.
We look forward to sharing their work! To learn more about this program please contact Diana Johnson, Director of Community Projects: dj@nycfoodpolicy.org.