"We grow more than fruits and vegetables—we grow healthy children and sustainable communities. When you visit our farms and talk to the staff and students, you can just feel the depth of this impact."
Tony Hillery founded Harlem Grown to address health and academic challenges facing public elementary school students in Harlem, New York. In 2011, Tony began volunteering at a local Harlem elementary school, where he directly observed the insufficient resources allocated to schools and the inadequate nutritional support for students. While volunteering, Tony caught sight of an abandoned community garden across the street and envisioned an opportunity for positive change, marking the beginning of Harlem Grown’s first-ever growing season. Tony worked alongside 400 students to plant 400 seedlings, witnessing students develop healthier, sustainable eating habits and valuable life skills. The initial season yielded 38 pounds of produce, setting the stage for a remarkable journey. Since then, Harlem Grown has expanded to partner with seven local schools, impacting nearly 12,000 youth annually. The organization now cultivates over 8,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables each year, extending its positive influence far beyond its initial roots. Tony’s dedication has played a pivotal role in transforming the lives of youth, families, and community members.
Harlem Grown is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.
Since 2011, Harlem Grown has operated local urban farms, increased access to and knowledge of healthy food for Harlem residents, and provided farm-based development programs for Harlem youth. Healthy habits start young, which is why programs target elementary-aged students. Because food justice is more than just providing and distributing food, the Harlem Grown model seeks to positively impact the entire community through mentorship, education, and partnerships to create sustainable change.
Tell me about the origins of Harlem Grown. Where did the original idea come from?
Tony Hillery (TH): Honestly, it was all an accident. I didn’t do any research or gather data—it was just a pivotal moment in my life. I walked into an underfunded school in the richest city, in the richest state, in arguably the richest country in the world. That moment changed everything for me.
Unless you’re born in these places, you cannot fully understand what communities like Harlem really go through. All the statistics and research in the world can’t compare to what I saw on the ground during those first few weeks in the schools. That’s where I came face to face with the insidious nature of generational poverty.
At first, I, like many well intentioned nonprofit leaders, thought I was going to be the guy to come in and save everyone. I lasted about three weeks, then it got hard, and I quit. But even in that short time, I’d made deep connections with these kids. They were elementary school-aged—five to 11 years old—and once we had built some foundational trust, they told me everything. That front-row seat into their lives was unlike anything I had ever experienced.
What inspired you to return to this work after walking away?
TH: I was sitting at home licking my wounds when I realized how much those kids had gotten under my skin. A friend introduced me to the concept of social determinants of health, and I started to understand the systems that had been created for these communities to fail.
It’s easy to get distracted by all the negativity, but now these weren’t just stats—they were names, stories, dreams, and aspirations. How could I walk away knowing that a child is expected to live 10 to 12 years less just because of the neighborhood they are born into? I’m a dad, and this knowledge created a fire within me.
I just couldn’t ignore the starkness of this reality. I’m stubborn by nature; I doubled down, and just decided to keep showing up. In the beginning, I thought the issue was education. But generational poverty is an entire ecosystem—substandard education, food deserts, lack of access to health care and green space. You can’t fix one thing without addressing the rest.
How did Harlem Grown begin to take shape?
TH: I will be the first to say that I’m not from Harlem, and I grew up in a privileged environment with a wealth of opportunity. Like many who lack an understanding of the nuances of poverty, I used to think the answer was to “just eat healthy,” but what does that even mean in the middle of a food desert? “Just get a better job, just move”—but when you’re poor and have no resources, that’s completely unrealistic.
Harlem Grown was born as a direct response to this deepening understanding. The organization started with a focus on education and evolved to encompass food and green spaces as well. I realized giving kids access to free, nutritious food meant little if they weren’t able to source it in their own neighborhood.
One of the first kids I met was Nevaeh, back when she was in kindergarten. Early on, her mom became involved in running our 14 farms and is now an integral part of the Harlem Grown operation. Nevaeh was the twenty-second kid we helped get accepted to a four-year university. I realized quickly that there’s absolutely no shortage of brilliance in these kids—only a shortage of access and opportunity.
What do you think sets Harlem Grown apart from other organizations doing similar work?
TH: We’re not a charity. We’re a 501(c)(3), sure, but we don’t take that lightly. When we develop partnerships with companies or organizations, we’re not looking for transactional relationships—we’re seeking a transformation of mind and heart. We want CEOs and heads of state to see firsthand the truth of the reality I am describing.
We’ve brought thousands of corporate volunteers to work alongside our kids, because just providing money isn’t going to change the way people view communities like Harlem. We know that access to opportunity is what can change the trajectory of lives, and for this reason we provide our kids with high-level paid internships with Fortune 100 companies and opportunities to network with professionals across a spectrum of industries. Typically, if you’re poor, you’re not able to afford interning for free as you’re often expected to contribute to the household income from a young age.
Harlem Grown hires the majority of our employees from within the Harlem community—we offer high wages, tuition reimbursement, 401(k), and generous benefits. We grow more than fruits and vegetables—we grow healthy children and sustainable communities. When you visit our farms and talk to the staff and students, you can just feel the depth of this impact. This isn’t something you can capture digitally or explain in words—you have to see it.
How many farms do you currently operate, and how does your work support the greater Harlem community?
TH: We manage a total of 14 farms and work directly with seven of the 39 elementary schools in Harlem. Something I always like to mention is that while we have invested significant resources into high-level hydroponic facilities in certain areas, we’ve never had issues with theft or vandalism. When everyone from the community is connected—whether it be through eating the food or having a friend who works for the organization—they respect it. In our country, we have become so disconnected from community on every level, and the reality is that the community itself is our security. I believe this could be the case in every city across the country!
We have 52 full-time employees, and our programs run about 300 days a year. During school breaks, after school, summer—it’s all us. We support kids when parents are at work and schools are closed. We’ve built everything around the kids as they grow. We started with kindergarteners and now have alumni in college and beyond. One of them is working toward her PhD.
Can you describe the children you work with?
TH: They’re just like my biological children—bright and full of potential. About 40 percent come from domestic violence shelters or are unhoused. Regardless of their background, when they come to our farms, they’re happy. Those smiles are what pulled me back in. I was the black sheep of my family; I grew up privileged and made questionable decisions in my youth. But because of my foundation, I was able to fail upwards. If you come from a poor community, it’s never about what you’ve done, but who you are.
If you give a kid consistent presence, they’re going to light up. Kids as young as two or three come to events at the farm with their parents, and we grow with them. Starting in kindergarten, they visit with their school. But something happens between third and fourth grade—the pressures of poverty start to close in and their innate bright light starts to dim. We see it every year. That’s why we build our programs to grow with the kids and support them along the entire trajectory of their youth and early adolescence. Mentorship also plays a huge role in what we do. Our staff is compassionate, consistent, and present. The kids drop their bags and run to their person. That connection—that trust—is the root of everything we do.
Through programming that starts with the youngest community members, Harlem Grown aims to be a source of consistency, mentorship, and support.
What kind of impact have you seen in the community?
TH: Beyond words. That haunted garden across the street from the school? Years ago, it was filled with cats, rats, and trash. Now, it’s a thriving urban farm, and everyone in the community has witnessed that transformation. The kids no longer see blight—they see possibility. That change in mindset is everything—if they’re able to see potential in a dilapidated building, they can see the potential in themselves and their peers. It is activating their imagination beyond what seems possible. What if something beyond their wildest dreams could be true? We invite our young people to cocreate our spaces so they have ownership and investment—this is huge.
We’re not just growing food; we’re shifting perceptions. A kid who used to warn me about that abandoned garden now dreams about what’s next in his own life. That is impact.
How do you see Harlem Grown as a mental and physical health intervention?
TH: These farms are healing spaces. Three steps inside the gate, and time slows down. You hear birds. It’s quiet. It’s these kids’ happy place. We’ve also found that targeting young children means that they have young parents—if kids are coming home talking about compost, their parents get curious! They then come to join our on-farm workshops, and many end up getting hired by Harlem Grown. The ripple effect is huge.
I’ve also been able to move formerly unhoused family members of current and former staff into incredible affordable living situations. These people need to be able to play, live, and work in their own community. I’m really looking to invest more in this area, which would require me to work with developers to reimagine a strategic, responsible approach to gentrification. If nothing changes, nothing changes, and these communities deserve to be invested in in a mindful and community-centered way.
What are your biggest challenges and opportunities right now?
TH: In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, we had a large influx of money into our organization that allowed us to create a sustainable model to keep our most valuable asset—our staff.
Our goal is to create systems within the organization that will allow our former graduates to spread their wings and experience opportunities beyond Harlem Grown, but then have the chance to return to their community and get a real job with us. This full circle approach is what we’re really working toward—these kids have never had consistency, and we want to be that for them along every step of the journey.
We also only work in seven of the 39 elementary schools in Harlem—it’s very expensive to run programs when you pay fair wages in New York City. However, the need is undeniably there, and there are many more kids in need of support than we are currently able to reach.
What brings you hope, personally or professionally, during these trying times?
TH: The power of community brings me immense hope. Our office is across from Harlem’s largest domestic violence shelter—400 women and children. We are the safety net. Even when the world feels chaotic—like the day after the 2024 presidential election, when everything felt deliberately disorienting—we just go to work. We all have the ability to open our eyes to our environment, see an immediate need, and get started.
What is it about the kids that inspires you most?
TH: They’re everything. Watching a child from a “failing” school system go on to earn a PhD, then come back to show the next generation it’s possible—that’s it. Every year, we have a new Nevaeh, a new kid who overcomes all odds and reminds us why we do this. We create alternative pathways for children who were written off because they didn’t thrive in traditional classrooms. And when a kid runs into our after-school program, drops their bag, and hugs their person? That joy is fuel. That’s the cycle we’re in—one of healing, of growth, of love.
What do the children show you about their world?
TH: If you give these kids a box of crayons and ask them to draw their community—they’ll show you everything—the good and the bad. However, when you ask what they want to see, they draw parks, trees, birds, the ocean. We all have similar desires for what makes a beautiful, meaningful life. So, how do we get there? How does everyone have the opportunity to live in a safe nourishing space?
We know that education is the clearest route out of poverty. However, these kids who face high degrees of trauma—PTSD, anxiety, and ADHD—are in under-resourced schools with no support. Harlem Grown is a hub within the community that meets families where they are, with food, farming, mental health support. These little farms? They’re portals to something far greater.
How do systemic issues play into this?
TH: Redlining still exists in NYC. Politicians will say what they need to get elected, but the South Bronx—the poorest congressional district in the country—is 10 minutes from here. Decades of systemic neglect. I’m honored to be the guy standing in the middle of that with these kids. I wasn’t always this person—I dropped out of high school, battled addiction, and made millions chasing a false version of success. But the moment I walked into a classroom of unhoused, joyful children, my entire perspective shifted. At 51, I pivoted, and Harlem Grown was born. The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner!
You’ve had an incredible personal journey. What keeps you moving forward now?
TH: These kids, and kids everywhere. Our model is absolutely replicable. Today, a good portion of my time is spent traveling around the country sharing my successes and failures and helping others set up programs similar to Harlem Grown. The overarching goal is to develop programs that support participants in becoming advocates for themselves, their communities, and the planet.
The kids we’ve worked with are thriving. Nevaeh just won an academic award at the University of Albany. Two longtime students just made the dean’s list. We walk with them through the hard parts—especially that tough freshman year. We share in their successes. Generational poverty is real, and the guidance system in public schools often shoots down dreams. We counter that. We tell kids: apply to your dream school. We’ve got kids at New York University, at Pennsylvania State University. As I said, the only way out of poverty is education, and every child deserves the chance to dream big.
What’s the larger message you want to share?
TH: We are the change we seek. All of us. If more people just took ownership of one problem and addressed it, real transformation could happen. I always say—focus on what’s right in front of you. The noise is meant to keep us distracted. But we have the power to ground ourselves, to build something meaningful. Harlem Grown started grassroots, and it grew with desire, persistence, and love. If you want to do something, do it. But go all in.
With 52 full-time staff and 14 working farms, Harlem Grown operates 300 days a year and has programming for children when it’s needed most, including after school, during school breaks, and through summer.
This interview is part of the Nova Institute for Health’s Insight Collaborative for Mental Well-Being project. The Insight Collaborative is supported by a generous seed grant from the Mental Insight Foundation.
Responses
I’m really digging this series of interviews. Thanks for sharing. All have been so inspiring and the passion comes through. I love it.
Hi Aaron! Thanks so much for your appreciation + engagement — it’s such a delight to highlight luminaries in this space who are bringing such joy and healing to their communities. Let me know if there are any folks in your world who might be a good fit for this interview series, always looking to expand the circle in new ways!
fantastic article – thank you for sharing it – and for witnessing the LIVING of this
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Cari! Tony was a true treat to learn from <3