CYFAR Suite

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Market Statement

We will be working hand in hand with 4-H, USDA/NIFA, and MANRRS to change the face of urban agriculture through community and youth

The 4-H LEGACY CYFAR program is an innovative, two-generational strategy aimed at improving the lives and well-being of young people and families with limited resources. It seeks to break the generational cycle of poverty by providing new opportunities for learning and thriving. Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) leaders will serve as peer leaders, sharing STEM-related projects with their high school peers and teaching middle school students. In the first two years of the 4-H LEGACY program, partnerships have been established with the Tree of Life Center and one of the three NYC Imagine Science sites. In the third and fourth years, two additional Imagine Science sites or other community partners will be invited. Each partner will appoint a community agency leader to help maintain the group and work alongside CUCE-NYC staff and YLA teen leaders to enhance group cohesion. NYS 4-H will provide foundational training to community partner staff, including Strengthening Families and basic and intermediate Positive Youth Development trainings. The program will also emphasize the 4-H Public Adventures Curriculum to guide community engagement efforts, with a focus on building character, purpose, and youth voice authentically.

Program Implementation

Cornell University and Cornell University Cooperative Extension — New York City (CUCE-NYC) will implement 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 intention is for 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).

Community Integration

We are beginning the process of co-branding 4-H and MANRRS at our program sites. Right now we are introducing the sites to our CUCE-NYC department leads and starting our programming from there. We are also offering training opportunities to our community partner sites to get them integrated as we move into community.

Technology Integration

Technology has been integrated in our programming, we offer virtual meetings and are learning about hydroponics, aquaponics and aquaculture technologies right now.

Sustaining

The sites now have co-branded 4-H clubs and Junior MANRRS chapters. Each site can continue the co-branding and work separately and in the end they have funding from local county associations as well as from National MANRRS and our Governor's office as she has a line item to support agriculture programming in our state.

Short-Term Results

• Teens and school age youth increase their knowledge and awareness of urban agriculture in NYC

  1. How many participated in the evaluation? 0

  2. Evaluation Type used: 4-H Common Measures pre-tests will be administed when we begin in April of 2025

  3. When was it given or conducted? TBD

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• Increase in partnerships developed with agricultural organizations

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• An increase in culminating projects that help community and youth better understand urban agriculture

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• Teens and school age youth increase their leadership skills

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• Teens increase their workforce and job readiness skills

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Long-Term Results

• Increased capacity for conducting YCA programs leads to sustainability, replication of the program model and establishment of 4-H LEGACY CYFAR groups in NYC that continue post-grant funding

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• Increased connection to National MANRRS, Cornell University Collegiate MANRRS, NYS Ag & Markets, and FFA

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• Youth Community Action (YCA) is institutionalized as a priority approach among partnering agencies and community organizations

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