Teens for Food Justice

Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity and promoting health equity in New York City. The organization's mission, encapsulated in its slogan "Nourishing Minds. Nourishing Bodies. Nourishing Communities.," is driven by a youth-led food justice movement that aims to ensure access to fresh, healthy food for all New Yorkers, particularly those in underserved communities. TFFJ achieves this through its innovative approach of empowering youth in Title I middle and high schools to build and maintain indoor hydroponic farms. These farms not only provide thousands of pounds of produce annually for school lunches but also benefit surrounding communities.

Founded in 2010 and based in the United States, TFFJ operates in the Manufacturing, Nutrition, and Sustainability sectors. The organization recently received a $300.00K grant investment on 19 October 2021 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, further validating its impactful mission and operations.

TFFJ's model not only addresses the immediate need for nutritious food in NYC, where 16 percent of the population is food insecure, but also aims to end the cycle of health complications that disproportionately affect low-income New Yorkers of color. By training students to become health and nutrition ambassadors through their involvement in hydroponic farming and community engagement, TFFJ is actively building the foundation for a grassroots food justice movement in the city. This pioneering approach in addressing food insecurity and promoting community health sets TFFJ apart as a promising force in the nonprofit and sustainable food space.