GusNIP Mini-Convening
Pictured above (left to right): The NI group: Jenna Eastman (CNHI), Dr. Bailey Houghtaling, (CNHI), Stephanie Dunn (Star Farm Chicago), Jasmond Tucker (Market Umbrella), Gabriela Colón (Banco de Alimento Puerto Rico), Rachel Hoh (FFN), Médyna Harfouche (Saba Grocers Initiative), Jocelyn Hayward (Michigan Fitness Foundation), Hannah LaChance (Nourish Colorado), Erica Raml (FFN), Jazzmine Brooks (Iowa Healthiest State Initiative), Hollyanne Fricke (CNHI) and Abby Lynch (DC Central Kitchen).
June 11-14, New York, New York
Attendees: Research Scientist Dr. Bailey Houghtaling, Associate Scientist Hollyanne Fricke, Project Manager Jenna Eastman
Overview: Organized by the Nutrition Incentive Hub, this mini-convening hosted people and programs that are new to the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). 23 grantee organizations from 19 states were represented and split up into nutrition incentive (NI) and produce prescription (PPR) focused tracks. CNHI supported the NI track, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) supported the PPR track and Fair Food Network (FFN) supported both. The New York City Department of Health hosted the team in Long Island City, Queens. The NI group visited The Union Square Farmers Market in Manhattan, Sea-Town Market in Brooklyn and Harvest Home in Harlem. The PPR group visited New York Common Pantry in the Bronx and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County and Thera Farms in Long Island. Attendees came away feeling more connected to other GusNIP grantees, empowered to implement their programs and with a deeper understanding of how the NTAE is here to support them.
Pictured above (left to right): Fricke, Dr. Houghtaling and Eastman.
Pictured above: Mini-convening attendees at a grantee site visit.
Main takeaways and highlights: In addition to seeing several grantees' NI programs in action at farmers markets and grocery stores across the city, the team also had an opportunity to speak with grantees about their successes and challenges with GusNIP reporting and evaluation requirements, share how the data they collect are used and provide grantees with ideas on how they can use data to tell the stories of their programs (e.g., using the economic impact calculator and GusNIP Site Map).
New PPR operators had the opportunity to share with and learn from each other through site visits across New York. The grantees also had the chance to reflect on best practices for participant engagement, share successes and challenges they have experienced, and identify areas where additional support is needed.
Pictured above (left to right): The PPR group: Noah Fulmer (FFN), Kayla Pridmore (Community Action Duluth), Jaylynn Farlee (The Keya Foundation), Frances Evans (Marion County Public Health Department), Judy Secon (New York Common Pantry), Gabby Gregg (Community Action Partnership of Orange County), Dr. Zahrine Bajwa (Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County), Dr. Robert Rock (NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Toni Emmons (Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality Inc), Ronli Levi (UCSF), Valeria Rojas (CommuniCare+OLE), Rachel Dubois (Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County), Susanne DePalma (UNM Landscape Arboretum), Khy Ee Siew (Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County) and Merced Vega (Montefiore Bronx Health Collective).