Harlem Grown

King Charles III came to Harlem and met a real one. Not for a photo op. Not for a moment. But to acknowledge a movement. Fifteen years ago, Tony Hillery walked into a vacant lot. With no spotlight or headlines, just vision — the kids noticed and Tony invited them in. That lot became a classroom. That classroom became a pipeline. That pipeline became possibility. To date, Harlem Grown has delivered over 213,000 pounds of fresh food, reached 30,000+ youth and families, and helped shape futures: students going on to graduate and pursue advanced degrees because someone saw them, invested in them, and refused to quit on them. That’s King mentality to me. I met Tony through his service and it’s undeniable. He doesn’t wear a crown, but he’s royalty in the community. The kind of royalty that builds, protects, and feeds his people on all levels. The kind that keeps showing up, even when the budget gets cut by 30%. He didn’t panic or retreat. He stayed committed to the cause — still making sure people are paid, still serving families and still pushing forward. Sometimes it takes someone from across the pond to shine a light on what’s already extraordinary. We appreciate you, His Majesty. And yes, the visibility from outlets like TIME, The Wall Street Journal, and NY1 News matters. It helps to build momentum. But let’s be clear, the real story isn’t the visit. It’s the work. And the work is bigger than any one moment. So consider this your warning…I’m about to get even more annoying. Because this is the type of impact that deserves it. I’m going to be calling on a lot of our friends, industry peers, and allies — to show up, support, invest, and help ensure this work not only continues, but scales in a sustainable way. LinkedIn is usually where we talk about our own wins, our own campaigns, our own highlight reels. Today, I’m using it to recognize a King. Tony Hillery. Real impact. Real servant leadership. Real love for the people.  A Real one.

An iconic image concludes an historic visit by Their Majesties to New York City. On the third day of their State Visit to honour the American people in their 250th year, King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid tribute at the @911Memorial, toured an urban farm run by Harlem Grown, explored our shared history and literary heritage at the The New York Public Library, attended a business and trade event focusing on the depth and breadth of US-UK economic ties at Rockefeller Center, and celebrated the power of US-UK cultural partnerships with The King's Trust USA. Today, Their Majesties continue their State Visit in Virginia. #GreaterTogether #America250 #StateVisit2026

Yesterday, we had the incredible honor of welcoming King Charles III to Harlem Grown's 134th Street Farm! We are deeply grateful that His Majesty chose to spend time with us, planting lavender, feeding our chickens, and witnessing a cooking lesson in action. King Charles III is a lifelong gardener and environmental advocate, and it was a true privilege to share how we do things here in Harlem. At Harlem Grown we don't just grow fruits and vegetables; we grow people. Having our mission on the international stage fills us with hope. We hope this moment inspires young people around the world to engage with their communities through food, farming, and nutrition education. There is so much good work to be done, and we'd love for you to be part of it.  A heartfelt thank you to His Majesty King Charles III and the British Consulate General New York for this extraordinary opportunity, to the amazing second-grade students who joined us from Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School, our Board of Directors, and to every supporter and partner who makes this work possible every single day. Sharing Excess, Genesis Companies, LLC, The New York Public Library, ASCAP, Tiny Spoon Chef, Newman's Own Foundation, Chef JJ Johnson, Elite Media

Harlem Grown turned Spring Break Camp into a Restaurant Week! Our campers stepped into the role of chefs, creators, and entrepreneurs. 🌱🍽️ Throughout the week, campers explored Harlem’s food scene from the inside out. They visited local restaurant partners for a behind-the-scenes look at hospitality, teamwork, marketing, and what it takes to run a successful business. Then they brought those lessons back to camp and built restaurants of their own. From choosing a theme and designing menus to harvesting vegetables, grocery shopping, developing recipes, and cooking for others, campers worked together to create dishes they proudly shared with their families at our culminating Restaurant Expo. 🎉 A huge thank you to our amazing community partners for welcoming our campers and showing them the passion and purpose behind Harlem’s restaurant scene. This week was about so much more than food. It was about creativity, confidence, teamwork, cultural pride, and helping young people see what is possible when they bring their ideas to life. Thank you to our staff, families, and partners for making this camp so joyful, delicious, and deeply Harlem. ❤️ Rosa A. Marruffo Geraldine Figueroa #HarlemGrown #SpringBreakCamp #RestaurantWeek #Harlem #YouthDevelopment #FoodEducation #CommunityPartnership #FamilyEngagement #Fieldtrip #HarlemShake #Settepani