Harlem Grown Expands Board of Directors with Three New Members
Diverse Experts Will Help Growth and Sustainability of Community Nonprofit
(New York - NY, July 18th, 2023) — Harlem Grown today announced the addition of three members to its Board of Directors: Jenny Flores, Head of Small Business Growth Philanthropy at Wells Fargo Foundation; Angie Henderson Moncada, Staff SVP of Marketing at FM Global; and Eric Anthony Wells, Principal Architect at Warburg Pincus. These new board members not only increase the range of skill sets and expertise available to Harlem Grown as it plans for the future, but also open the doors for meaningful partnerships and sustainability strategies.
Harlem Grown’s Board of Directors now includes 16 professionals within the finance, law, healthcare, sustainability, education, and wellness sectors who share best practices within their respective industries.
“Our Board of Directors are absolutely essential in accomplishing our mission to inspire youth to live healthy and ambitious lives,” said Tony Hillery, Founder and CEO of Harlem Grown. “I am thrilled to welcome Jenny, Angie, and Eric to the ‘farmily’ and am deeply appreciative of their willingness to contribute so much time and energy to our organization and our beloved community.”
“I extend a heartfelt welcome to Jenny, Angie, and Eric, whose invaluable expertise, commitment and passion for community empowerment will undoubtedly strengthen our organization's mission and build a more sustainable, food secure Harlem” said Joshua Strugatz, Board Chair of Harlem Grown. The Board helps build connections within their networks that share Harlem Grown’s core values. They often host volunteer days on the farms, engaging their companies in dozens of hours of support that impact crop production, enhance farms, and inspire young people. Flores, Henderson Moncada, and Wells expand Harlem Grown’s reach and ability to find new partners in food justice, environmental sustainability, and youth development.
“Harlem Grown’s Board of Directors contribute to the success of our organization in so many ways — from fundraising, to strategic planning, to oversight,” said Nicole Engel, Executive Director of Harlem Grown. “The Board works alongside us to ensure we efficiently utilize our assets to maintain our organization’s financial health for the long term. I know that Jenny, Angie, and Eric will help us continue to raise the bar on what’s possible for Harlem Grown.”
Flores has more than two decades of experience in banking, impact philanthropy, employee engagement, and corporate citizenship. She is responsible for combining financial resources with business expertise to help underserved and diverse entrepreneurs expand their contribution to the economy and their ability to provide jobs. “I know the impact that securing financial support can have on organizations aiming to make a difference. That is where my passion for Harlem Grown comes from: I believe we must lift up all people and find resources that can enable all communities to thrive. For years I’ve been a loyal advocate of Harlem Grown,” said Flores “My career has been dedicated to investing capital into underserved communities and I plan to help Harlem Grown make sustainable decisions and expand its impact.”
Henderson Moncada is a marketing executive who drives transformational change and profitable growth. Her experience spans more than 20 years across all disciplines of marketing and communications, with more than 15 years in financial services that includes leadership roles at the world’s largest bank, top reinsurer, and leading commercial property insurer, FM Global. “I was honored to visit Harlem Grown farms with FM Global last summer, and was so captivated by their mission I brought my daughter to Saturday youth programming on the farm last fall” said Henderson Moncada. “What I saw demonstrated the values and commitment to community resilience that FM Global and Harlem Grown share. That’s why FM Global is thrilled to be receiving the Pioneering Partnership Award at Harlem Grown’s 12th Annual Gala. Over this next year, I’m already looking forward to increasing FM Global employee engagement on the farms, creating professional development opportunities for staff and youth, and providing marketing and branding guidance.”
Wells joined Warburg Pincus in 2012. Prior to joining the firm, Wells held senior IT management positions at NYU Langone Medical Center and the American Red Cross. He holds 15 professional IT certifications from Microsoft and CompTIA, and is a TOGAF 9.1 certified Information Technology Architect. “My fondness of Harlem Grown started the moment I volunteered on the farms last year,” said Wells. “Since that day, I’ve rallied my colleagues to engage in Harlem Grown’s work and developed professional development opportunities for our youth. With my involvement on the Board, I now get to find new ways to elevate the critical work of the organization.”
About Harlem Grown
Harlem Grown is an independent, non-profit 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. Founded in 2011, we operate local urban farms, increase access to and knowledge of healthy food for Harlem residents, and provide garden-based development programs to Harlem youth. For more information, visit: www.harlemgrown.org.