Cornell University and Cornell University Cooperative Extension — New York City (CUCE-NYC) have received a five-year, $640,000 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to implement a the 4-H CYFAR LEGACY program. CYFAR stands for Children, Youth and Families At Risk (CYFAR); LEGACY stands for (Let’s Grow Urban Agriculture through Community and Youth).
CUCE-NYC 4-H educators will implement the 4-H CYFAR LEGACY. They will use Youth Community Action (YCA), a 4-H Signature Program, and an intergenerational approach to a variety of informal learning experiences designed to enhance their knowledge, skills, perspectives and behaviors related to civic engagement, urban agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences based on emerging needs and interests of teen leaders at each project site, with the support of their mentors, site leaders and local community leaders. The inteniton is for this this deep learning about urban agriculture will also help youth to find their sparks (purpose). The project will be conducted by CUCE-NYC in close partnership with three Imagine Science NYC sites (Boys and Girls Club of Harlem, Kips Bay, and Madison Square) as well as the Tree of Life Center, the New York State (NYS) 4-H Office, Cornell University, and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS).
4-H CYFAR LEGACY Staff and Teen Leaders will utilize youth and community voice approaches to build community awareness about urban agriculture issues in the community that are important to young people. By intentionally engaging local government leaders, businesses and community organizations, Cornell University departments (communication, global development, natural resources, and nutritional sciences), New York State 4-H (NYS 4-H) statewide initiatives and other New York City-based greening initiatives and industries. 4-H CYFAR LEGACY will establish a strong foundation for long-term sustainability to ensure 4-H CYFAR LEGACY’s continuation and connectivity to NYS 4-H, National 4-H, National MANRRS, Future Farmers of America (FFA), and NUS Ag and Markets.
Jamila Walida Simon from the NYS 4-H Office is the principal investigator (PI), state project director, and technology specialist, while Lucinda Randolph-Benjamin from CUCE-NYC is the project manager/supervisor. Also on the team will be Juan Carlos Espinal and Miriam Jovanovic from CUCE-NYC as community project co-coordinators. Brenda Oulo of the Girls’ Agency Lab (GAL LLC) is the project evaluator. Additionally, Jacqueline Davis-Manigaulte served as a thought leader, co-writer, and co-PI to acquire the funding, an the team thanks her for guidance as she is getting ready to retire from her 51+ years of service to CUCE-NYC youth and families.
According to the late Dr. June Mead from Cornell Cooperative Extension Broome County, “We are proud to have a track record of transforming young lives. 100% of the youth who have completed our previous CYFAR projects graduated successfully from high school and have gone on to college with full or partial scholarships. That’s real success for high-need, at-risk youth! Broad-based community partnerships are critical to the success of [our CYFAR programs]. We are delighted to have outstanding partners committed to improving their communities through 4-H. We welcome all interested community collaborators.”
4-H CYFAR LEt’s Grow Urban Agriculture through Community and Youth (LEGACY) project promotes innovations in science and culture, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, STEM, civic engagement, workforce preparation, asset development, agriculture, and urban agriculture among youth in New York City . The 4-H CYFAR LEGACY project is conducted by CUCE-NYC in close partnership with NYS 4-H, the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, and Cornell University. The 4-H CYFAR LEGACY project is a Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Program, Sustainable Community Project (SCP).
To learn more about becoming part of the 4-H CYFAR LEGACY program, please contact either:
Jamila Walida Simon, State Project Director, and Technology Specialist for New York State 4-H Youth Development at jws62@cornell.edu, or
Lucinda Randolph-Benjamin, 4-H CYFAR LEGACY Program Manager & Supervisor, Cornell University Cooperative Extension – NYC at lr26@cornell.edu
