Through a referral from a colleague, Susan was brought in to advise and lead a landscape assessment to shape how the world renowned, 3-Michelin starred restaurant Eleven Madison Park (EMP) might pioneer a new model for addressing food insecurity in a local community with whom it developed a special relationship during COVID-19.
Recognizing the impact of the pandemic on food insecurity in New York, particularly among lower-income populations that lacked resources and access to healthy food options, and building on its history of working on the issue through collaboration with Rethink Food, EMP Chef Daniel Humm decided his team would deliver meals 5 days per week to Queensbridge Houses, the largest low-incoming housing development in the United States which was also just a few blocks from a commissary kitchen operated by the restaurant.
Over 160,000 meals were provided over 17 months during 2020-2021, including plant-based options in line with the restaurant’s decision to be a leader in the plant-based food revolution when it reopened after the COVID-19 lockdown. The work of Impact Navigators, supported by two other firms it brought in for the project, Global Health Visions and Sembramos, researched existing players, potential partners, and different models for addressing food insecurity in the NYC region. Impact Navigators also led a process to engage Queensbridge residents directly, to get their views on the impact of the food delivery operation and hear more about what they would like to see to support food and nutrition needs in the community.
The final work products are confidential while EMP determines how it will act on the work and its recommendations but contact Impact Navigators directly [here] if you would like to hear more detail and how the project might relate to your own needs and ideas.
