On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will host an in-person event on building a stronger food economy in New York State. Sessions will focus on building resilience and capacity in the food economy, connecting small food producers with capital, supporting accessible and abundant local food systems, and enhancing community health.
This event will be of interest to health and food policymakers, agricultural producers and stakeholders, advocates, entrepreneurs, and investors.
Registration closes on April 21, 2025.
Event Details
Date & Time
April 24, 2025
2:00pm-5:00pm
(Networking preceding event; reception to follow.)
April 24, 2025
2:00pm-5:00pm
(Networking preceding event; reception to follow.)
Location
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY
Audience
This event is open to the public.
This event is open to the public.
Media
Agenda
This event is open to the media. All remarks are on the record, with the recording to be made available afterwards. For media inquiries, please contact Ellen Simon at Ellen.Simon@ny.frb.org
Agenda
Agenda
| 2:00pm-2:05pm | Opening Remarks
Tony Davis, Director of Community Outreach and Health, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
| SESSION 1: AN ABUNDANT, RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM IN NEW YORK STATE
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| 2:05pm-2:15pm | FedTalk: The Empire State Foodshed
Phoebe Schreiner, Executive Director, Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship |
| 2:15pm-3:05pm | Panel 1: Building a Better New York Food Economy
Moderator: Julian Macrone, Community Development Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Charley Cummings, CEO, Walden Mutual Bank Kate MacKenzie, Executive Director NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy Julie Suarez, Associate Dean, Director of Translational Research Programs, Office of Land-Grant Affairs, Cornell CALS |
| SESSION 2: INVESTING IN LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
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| 3:05pm-3:15pm | FedTalk: Food Security and Healthy Food Access
Greg Silverman, CEO and Executive Director, West Side Campaign Against Hunger |
| 3:15pm-4:05pm | Panel 2: Food System Access and Small Enterprise Capital Needs
Moderator: Mark Watson, Co-founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer Potlikker Capital Carlos Aguilera, West Haven Farm Ivy Jack, Westfuller Advisors Jarrad Nwameme, Chief Operating Officer, Triple J Farms Roraj Pradhananga, Partner, Chief Investment Officer, Managing Director, Investment, Veris Wealth Partners Olivia Watkins, Co-Founder & President, Black Farmer Fund Karen Hiniker Simons, Principal, Hudson Varick Resources, Ltd. |
| 4:05pm-4:55pm | Panel 3: Building New York’s Food Future in Buffalo
Moderator: Hanaa A. Hamdi, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Allison DeHonney, Executive Director, Buffalo Go Green Pastor George F. Nicholas, Chief Executive Officer, Buffalo Center for Health Equity Michelle Roberts, VP of Community Impact and Executive Director, Buffalo Bills Foundation Michael Ball, Vice President, Community Affairs, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York |
| 4:55pm-5:00pm | Closing Remarks
Javier Silva, Senior Associate Director, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
Speakers
West Haven Farm
Vice President, Community Affairs
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York
CEO
Walden Mutual Bank
Director of Community Outreach & Health
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Executive Director
Buffalo Go Green
Visiting Scholar
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Principal
Hudson Varick Resources, Ltd.
Ivy Jack
Westfuller Advisors
Executive Director
NYC Mayor's Office of Food Policy
Community Development Specialist
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Chief Executive Officer
Buffalo Center for Health Equity
Chief Operating Officer
Triple J Farms
Partner, Chief Investment Officer, Managing Director, Investment
Veris Wealth Partners
VP of Community Impact and Executive Director
Buffalo Bills Foundation
Executive Director
Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship
Senior Associate Director, Community Development
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
CEO and Executive Director
West Side Campaign Against Hunger
Associate Dean, Director of Translational Research Programs
Office of Land-Grant Affairs, Cornell CALS
Co-Founder & President
Black Farmer Fund
Co-founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer
Potlikker Capital
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