Harlem Grown Welcomes Shanon Morris as Chief Program Officer
Shanon Morris, a registered dietitian and nonprofit leader with over fifteen years of experience in food and nutrition, has joined the nonprofit, Harlem Grown, as the Chief Program Officer to lead the organization into their next phase of programmatic growth. The organization whose annual operating budget was $1.6 million in 2021 and served 2,000 community members, is now serving nearly 20,000 with an operating budget of $7.4 million. The additional resources have provided the organization with the opportunity to bring Morris to its leadership team to deepen their impact and strengthen their commitment to creating healthy outcomes for the Harlem community.
Harlem Grown’s mission is to inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition. In their 13-year history, it has been transformed from one community garden, providing a green sanctuary for the neighborhood children, to being a driving force for youth empowerment, food sovereignty, and sustainability. The organization now operates 14 farms; provides in-school, after-school, and summer camp immersive programs for children 5 to 18 years; organizes family programs and community celebrations on their farms; facilitates mentorship and internships for teenaged youth and young adults; feeds the community with healthy, fresh produce at their weekly Farm Stands; provides healthy cooking demonstrations and workshops with the aid of its Mobile Teaching Kitchen; and operates a robust composting program that diverts tens of thousands of pounds in food waste from landfills to become nutrient-rich fertilizer for their farms; all of which are free to the community.
“I never would have imagined that we’d be where we are today,” said Founder and CEO, Tony Hillery. “I call myself the accidental founder of Harlem Grown because I was just looking to volunteer in the community, but working with young people was transformative for me. It was impossible not to see the talent and brilliance in our children, but also see the challenges and obstacles they faced. I wanted to do everything I could to support them.” With the addition of Morris to the Harlem Grown executive team, the organization is well-positioned to fully realize the movement Tony started in 2011. She has dedicated her career to working with children, adults, and seniors, with the goal of making food and nutrition relatable and accessible, especially amongst diverse BIPOC communities.
As the former Executive Director of Edible Schoolyard NYC, Morris led the organization in a four-year strategic plan that encompassed programmatic refinement and expansion. Under Morris’ leadership ESYNYC was able to increase its reach across New York City including building and expanding its mobile education program, allowing edible education to impact more children in schools and gardens. The organization also went on to expand its summer programming to ensure youth and community members had access to free and safe growing spaces in the summer months. During her time with the American Heart Association, Morris developed impactful programs across the city, including but not limited to, spearheading the first year-long farmers market in the Bronx in partnership with GrowNYC. She also created New York Edge's afterschool Food Explorers program and curriculum, both still impacting New Yorkers today. Morris has brought this expertise to Harlem Grown where she is following her passion of directly developing impactful programs that change the health outcomes for those who have been historically excluded from access to healthy food and nutrition education.
“The rapid growth we’ve experienced has been exhilarating,” said Harlem Grown’s Executive Director, Nicole Engel. “We’re excited to bring Shanon’s wealth of experience to our full portfolio of programs. We’ve listened to the needs of Harlem families and launched new free programs to address their childcare, food, and wellness needs. Shanon’s expertise will ensure our programs operate with the highest standards.”
Through Morris’ leadership, Harlem Grown will be expanding their school-based and after-school programs, while developing curriculum to optimize each learning experience across all programs. She’ll also develop the organization’s agriculture work to ensure Harlem Grown can meet the growing demand for their food distribution and composting programs. “I’m fortunate to have a career doing what I love,” said Morris. “I look forward to what this team of amazing professionals can achieve together.”
In addition to her professional practice, Morris is the author of MC Veggie Fresh Rocks the Mic, a book that combines her love for food with her passion for creative writing. As a devoted foodie, Morris continuously explores new ways to make food enjoyable for all.