I was impressed by your group’s presentation last week and I hope it serves as a model for the

other groups! The effort and planning you put into the project very much shows. I have a few
notes and pointers of things I feel went well, and areas where you can be steered in the right
direction.

Introducing the Issue

Impact of food desert in lower Bronx -- Very well explained, examined multiple angles related to
public health, affordability, inaccessibility, structural inequality, etc. Shows a sharp understanding
of your issue and its impacts. The visuals were very much appreciated by other YA-YAs to
illustrate the food deserts and healthcare/income inequality. Great your heard back from Bella’s
connection at New Roots Institute.
● However, the connection to factory farming was lost. I know many groups changed their
issue of focus, or began with a problem and narrowed it down to an issue. Is this what
happened here? I would take out the part of the presentation on factory farming–I know
it’s where ya’ll began but I think it takes away focus from the actual issue you examine.
Theresa noticed this–you lead with factory farming and then the actual content and
scope of your project takes us in a completely different direction. Can be confusing. Your
action project doesn’t really address the impacts of factory farming that you all shared,
except the most tangential, the lack of healthy affordable food in urban and poor areas.

On Hegemonic Narratives
HEGEMONIC NARRATIVES: Individual responsibility, market-driven solutions, technological
solutions, charity-based solutions – EXCELLENT. I was very impressed by your larger political
understanding of the forces which converge and inform this issue, and the gaps with neoliberal
approaches like philanthropy and tech to address it. I liked the part criticizing market-driven
solutions–as you know I discussed with the large group the limits and failures of “social
entrepreneurship” in creating structural change–it is market forces which in fact create the food
deserts in the South Bronx.

I’m proud of the research and work you all put into reaching out to organizations–good strategy
here of casting a wide net knowing you may just hear back from a couple.

Demands
Your demands need clarity–I feel like they’re glossed over and I was not entirely convinced they
would solve the issue you all examined. Would like to see more on this–the role of public parks,
and government grants/subsidies for community-run food production. Is this starting and funding
urban farms? Vertical farming? Also you aren’t allowed to grow things in public parks–might you
consider allocating vacant lots for this and then scaling up? What other demands was your
group considering before landing here?

Targets
If you're trying to make changes in the South Bronx, you might want to consider having Council
Members representing Lower Bronx districts among your targets. Their buy-in would be useful
for any public projects you are trying to start in their district. Especially if your overall strategy is
to secure funding for your proposed solution: every City Council member is given a pool of
$400,000+ in discretionary funds to dole out to projects or nonprofits in their district. Here’s an
interactive map of CM districts.

Power Analysis
Power analysis needs work. Power analysis should be congruent with TARGETS. I did not see
your primary and secondary targets on your power analysis table. Nor did I see the most
important and obvious stakeholder group–residents of the South bronx.

Number assignments seemed a bit arbitrary. Think of this is a guide:

1 is no decision-making power, 5 is the most decision-making power.

1: Decision-makers don’t know we exist

2: Decision-makers are aware of our position
3: Decision-makers can be influenced by us
4: Decision-makers consult us when making decisions
5: Decision-makers won't make decisions without us / Is the decision-maker

These questions may also be helpful to ask as you rework your power analysis:

Continued below
Group ethic
I noticed the presentation was dominated by a couple group members and Lola’s voice was
virtually absent. Was this a planned arrangement where it was collectively decided Lola would
contribute to the presentation but voluntarily forgo a speaking role? Interested to know.

In Closing
All in all, this looks like a very strong action project and you all had a solid presentation. You’re
in the right direction–as you charge forward I would recommend you go back to rework and
reevaluate your demands and power analysis.