Page 23 - NYC Imagine Awards Journal

Rising Star

David Nidus, Executive Director Dylan Zajac, Founder and Executive Director
Andromeda Community Initiative Inc. Computers 4 People
49-12 31 Place, Long Island City, NY 11101 321 Newark St. #32, Hoboken, NJ 07030
st
(929) 233-7696 | www.andromedainitiative.org (551) 399-1202 | www.computers4people.org
Founded in 2018, the Andromeda Community Initiative (ACI) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Computers 4 People is a nonprofit dedicated to fostering digital equity by transforming used
organization dedicated to breaking down barriers to employment for underserved individuals technology into valuable resources for underserved communities. Founded in 2019 by then
in New York City. Through free educational and workforce development programs, ACI 15-year-old Dylan Zajac, Computers 4 People provides digital access to those in need while
empowers participants facing challenges like criminal justice reentry, homelessness, and welfare combating the growing issue of e-waste.
dependence to secure meaningful employment in the construction and building restoration
industries. Our mission is twofold: to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital age and to reduce
the environmental impact of discarded technology. We partner with individuals, businesses,
ACI’s Construction Career Pathways Program addresses the critical demand for skilled, and community organizations t32qo collect unused devices, refurbish them, and redistribute
credentialed workers while tackling socioeconomic disparities. This comprehensive program them to those without reliable access to technology. By refurbishing donated computers and
includes two distinct training cycles: Masonry Restoration Training and Clean Construction teaching digital skills classes, we give individuals and organizations the tools they need to pursue
Technology Training. Provided in 5-week cohorts, the Masonry Restoration Training Program education, employment, and essential services in today's digital world. Our impact reaches
focuses on essential skills like bricklaying, waterproofing, scaffold safety, and certifications thousands of people, helping foster digital equity across the Northeast.
including OSHA and NYC Department of Buildings (NYCDOB) Site Safety Training (SST), and
more. Provided in 8-week cohorts, the Clean Construction Technology Training Program Whether it’s helping students complete schoolwork, enabling job seekers to apply for positions,
prepares participants for careers in energy efficiency and sustainable construction. This or supporting families in accessing telehealth, we believe that a single computer can make a
training includes additional coursework in HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems, alongside world of difference. At Computers 4 People, we’re committed to building a more inclusive
certifications like EPA 608 on Refrigerants and GPRO Mechanical, positioning graduates for digital future for all.
emerging opportunities in green construction and green building operations management.
Since 2018, ACI has trained over 900 individuals, maintaining an 85%+ graduation rate, with
80-85% securing employment within a year of completing training. ACI’s holistic approach
ensures success through resources such as free PPE, meals, and travel reimbursement, as well as
wage-subsidized internships, job placement and retention support, and vocational counseling.
By fostering workforce diversity and equity, ACI strengthens the construction industry while
providing life-changing opportunities to its participants.

Dan Zauderer, Founder & CEO Katherine Soll, Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Grassroots Grocery Teens for Food Justice
(917) 497-2514 | www.grassrootsgrocery.org 33 W. 60 Street, Suite 1211, New York, NY 10023
th
(833) 524-2742 | www.teensforfoodjustice.org
Grassroots Grocery is a nonprofit dedicated to bridging communities through food, service, and One in four children in New York City experience food insecurity, and, since 2019, monthly
connection. We reduce food waste and promote food security by redistributing fresh, surplus visits to food banks and other community food assistance programs have increased by 75%.
produce to food-insecure neighborhoods. Every Saturday morning, we host a family-friendly To address this ever-growing need, Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ) is building a food-secure
"Produce Party," where volunteers of all ages come together to rescue and deliver fresh fruits future through school-based, youth-led hydroponic farming, providing local, sustainably-grown
and vegetables to over 1,200 households in under-resourced communities across the Bronx, produce while building health, education, and opportunity equity for all New Yorkers and
Harlem, and Upper Manhattan. beyond. TFFJ operates in Title I schools, teaching students to manage indoor hydroponic
At the heart of Grassroots Grocery is the belief that everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy farms that can produce up to 10,000 pounds of produce annually. This produce is served daily
food, and that community members can be a part of the solution. By creating fun, meaningful in school cafeterias and distributed biweekly to campus families and local residents facing food
service opportunities, we aim to inspire people from all walks of life to take action, engage with insecurity.
their neighbors, and cultivate kindness. TFFJ first launched in 2011 as Students for Service, then shifted to food security and social
Since our founding, we've rescued over 2 million pounds of produce, nourished thousands of justice in 2013 with a hydroponic farm in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. TFFJ now operates
families, and fostered a culture of giving that turns small acts of kindness into lasting change. five hydroponic farms across NYC, and by 2025 will launch three additional farms. With all
Grassroots Grocery is a “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” movement to strengthen community ties, eight NYC farms operational, TFFJ will produce over 61,000 pounds of fresh produce annually
empower volunteers, and nourish neighborhoods, one Produce Party at a time. for 9,800 students across 24 schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.
We hope to see you at a Saturday Produce Party soon! Our program boosts student and community health outcomes through increased access to
healthier foods, improved understanding of nutrition and health, and enhanced academic and
leadership abilities. Operating the farm and producing food provides students with valuable life
skills and workforce development training in commercial-grade hydroponic growing techniques,
preparing them for careers in this burgeoning industry while equipping them with tools to work
toward community food systems change.
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