Sankofa Community Development Corporation

The Fresh Start Market is a cornerstone project on St Claude Avenue within Sankofa CDC's commercial corridor revitalization initiative. The Fresh Start Market provides consistent access to locally sourced fresh produce and a teaching kitchen to help ensure all families have access to nutrient-rich food in a community facing significant food insecurity. The teaching kitchen is co-led by the Xavier University Health & Wellness Center and offers healthy cooking and nutrition education classes. The Fresh Start Market program also raises awareness of food system deficits and opportunities to advocate for effective policy and programs. Stakeholders will have the resources they need to shape public policy to improve equity, opportunity, and collaboration in our local food system by working with community partners, stakeholders and residents to increase food access and nutrition security.

The Lower Ninth Ward Mainstreet Program aims to revitalize St. Claude Avenue into a vibrant commercial corridor by attracting economic development, promoting cultural richness, and uplifting future generations through sustainable investments, education, and equitable systems. The program will support the revitalization of the St Claude Ave corridor to foster opportunities for innovation, the development of a healthy and sustainable circular economy, and design elements that reflect the beauty and culture of the Lower Ninth Ward area. The program goals are to: 1) facilitate economic growth of the St. Claude Avenue corridor; 2) improve public perception of the St. Claude Ave corridor through projects and programs designed to elevate the built environment; 3) support community engagement, leadership, and thought partnership on Lower Ninth Ward Main Street priorities by working with community stakeholders to advocate for resources that support economic investment on St. Claude Ave corridor; and 4) utilize diverse marketing and outreach approaches to communicate L9W Main Street programs and priorities.

Sankofa CDC's edible educational garden grows edible food with healthy eating programs.The garden grows foods representing local indigenous culture, work with community gardeners to offer growing spaces, and grow starter plants from seeds for planting. The edible educational garden is a continuation of Sankofa CDC's efforts to support healthy ecosystems as we offer progressive approaches to revitalize our community in a sustainable way. The garden programming includes family-centered community programming, bi-annual seed planting workshops, and giveaways of starter plants for community members to plant in the garden or their home backyard gardens.