SCAN New York

Through its Healthy Neighborhoods Fund initiative, NYHealth is supporting six communities across New York State to become healthier, more active places.

Although all the communities are working toward the common goal of improving the health of their residents, each community may face particular challenges. By offering responsive and time-sensitive technical assistance funding to grantees and their partners, NYHealth can help them meet their goals. In 2019, NYHealth awarded SCAN New York a grant to provide ongoing guidance and technical assistance to help East Harlem residents create a healthier food environment and culture in their neighborhood.

Under this grant, SCAN New York worked with residents of East Harlem-based NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments to improve access to and consumption of healthy foods. Through its “Get Healthy, East Harlem” campaign, SCAN New York educates and empowered teens through culinary training and nutrition education, including healthy cooking labs and pop-up smoothie events, both in their NYCHA developments and other locations in East Harlem. It also offered a youth training and leadership program to help East Harlem teens build their interpersonal skills, confidence, citizenship skills, and employable workplace abilities aimed at future food services-related employment.