FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 26, 2021
Contact: Celia Alicata, celia@brightergood.com
HARLEM GROWN ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP ROLES AS IT CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
Harlem food justice organization looks to accelerate its growth and impact.
(May 26, 2021 — New York, NY) — Harlem Grown, the nonprofit dedicated to inspiring youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition, celebrates its 10th year with new dual leadership roles and a resolute focus on food justice in Harlem. Tony Hillery, founder and executive director, will move into the role of chief executive officer, and Nicole Engel will join the staff on June 7, 2021 as executive director.
Since 2011, Harlem Grown has operated local urban farms to increase access to healthy food for Harlem residents. The two leaders will divide executive-level functions for the organization and create opportunities to expand both its programming for elementary students and the number of local urban farms that it operates. Hillery will have a continued presence on all of the farms in addition to leading the organization’s fundraising efforts. Engel will take on the management of day-to-day operations as the leader responsible for all staff, systems, and operational activities.
“I’m humbled to think that 10 years ago this was merely an idea to raise support for abandoned lots and transform them into thriving community gardens,” said Hillery. “Now look at what we’ve accomplished — 12 urban agriculture facilities, five school partners, tens of thousands of students who know healthy habits. And yet, I know we can still do more for Harlem. The addition of Nicole to our team will make the organization stronger, and in turn make the community stronger. This will be a partnership where our skills complement each other.”
Engel brings her astute use of data to build upon the organization’s 10-year foundation. Most recently, she served as the chief of staff at Harlem Village Academies (HVA), a K-12 public charter school network. In Engel’s five years at HVA, she oversaw the annual budgeting process, was responsible for developing and implementing operational systems across the network of six schools and ~ 2,000 students, and developed network-wide systems for collecting, analyzing, and activating data to drive academic results.
“This role is an incredible opportunity, and I am excited to take it on at such a pivotal time for the country and the Harlem community, specifically. We must do this work through a racial justice lens,” said Engel. “There is no separating Harlem Grown’s food justice mission from the critical work that is happening right now around identifying inequalities and dismantling systemic racism. I see urban agriculture as a unique tool to drive impact that enriches children and can help solve some of our country's most intractable issues. I am dedicated to this community, to social justice, and to using data as a tool to broaden our programming to meet the needs and dreams of our Harlem families.”
“As we reflect upon our 10 years supporting the Harlem community, we see a demand for more of our services,” said Adama Diggs, board chair and investment advisor, JP Morgan Chase Private Bank and Wealth Management. “We deliberately created a role for Tony to do his best work, while strategically identifying the skills we need in his counterpart. And that’s what we found in Nicole. The two of them together — with their strengths and passions — along with the incredible staff, will allow Harlem Grown to do more significant work across the community as we look to the next 10 years with promise and focus.”
In addition to the new top leadership structure, Latonya Assanah has been appointed Agriculture Director. Assanah is a lifetime member of the community who has been with Harlem Grown since its inception, first as a parent, then as a volunteer, and finally as a full-time staff member.
“This is the ‘farmily’ — and we might plant fruits and vegetables but what we really grow are people,” noted Hillery.
About Harlem Grown
Harlem Grown is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition. Founded in 2011, we operate local urban farms, increase access to and knowledge of healthy food for Harlem residents, and provide garden-based development programs to Harlem youth. For more information, visit: www.harlemgrown.org.