Sankofa Community Development Corporation

The Sankofa Wetland Park is a 40-acre green instrastructure stormwater management project in the Lower Ninth Ward area of New Orleans. The project will reduce stormwater overflow by approximately 8 million gallons of stormwater runoff for the area and impact such factors as flood damage reduction, water quality, reduced strain on pumping systems, habitat value, carbon sequestration, and subsidence risk reduction. The Wetland Park engages with students, educators, and residents to lead environmental education programs that promote good stewardship of native Louisiana habitats. The development of the first 8 acres of the Wetland Park has restored wildlife habitats and increased restoration of the bird population by over 85 percent with over 200 bird species populating the area.

I. The Lower Ninth Ward Main Street program is applying a strategic approach to restoration of the St. Claude Ave. Corridor and highlighting the unique cultural assets of the area through community leadership to address blight and disinvestment in the area, restore commercial buildings and historic structures, and provide localized small business support. By transforming St Claude Ave into a MainStreet we hope to improve community access to healthy options, attract more economic development, and support sustainable community growth. II. The Sankofa Fresh Food pantry is a designated Second Harvest Food bank partner designed to help individuals and households achieve or maintain food security through access to healthy nutritious foods. III. The Fresh Stop Market is a 1,600 sq ft healthy food store and teaching kitchen with daily access to fresh produce, a wellness center with healthy cooking classes, and cardiovascular health educational programs - allowing the community a greater opportunity for healthy living. The Fresh Stop Market is presently being constructed on St Claude Ave in the Lower Ninth Ward, an area designated as a food dessert by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) because the neighborhood lacks easy access to healthy and affordable foods, often contributing to poor diet, obesity, and other diet-related illnesses.

Our Community Health Programs (CHP) include the Sankofa Fresh Food Pantry, Community Health Ambassador, and Healthy Heartbeats programs. Community Health Ambassadors apply leadership and cardiovascular health training through community- based heart healthy classes to and nutrition education programs. The Healthy HeartBeats program provides community-based cardiovascular health and diabetes education programs in alliance with local and national partners.

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.