Jeff Perez, manager of C-Town Supermarket on Wethersfield Avenue. Winner of the Business Award.

You know you’re at the Community Food Security Awards when working the room means having multiple conversations about urban beekeeping.

Every year, the City of Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy honors those who are working to improve access to nutritious and affordable food. This year’s award winners are Tenaya Taylor (Youth Individual) for her work as program coordinator for Summer of Solutions; Michelle Cloutier, M.D. (Adult Individual) for her role, up until recently, in leading the Hartford Childhood Wellness Alliance; Jeff Perez (Business), manager of the Wethersfield Avenue C-Town Supermarket, for his partnership with Wholesome Wave and Hartford Food System; and The Family Day Foundation’s Keney Park Sustainability Project (Nonprofit).

2016 Community Food Security Awards program

Before receiving their awards, Hartford City Councilwoman Wildaliz Bermudez thanked the awardees “for creating hope and opportunity” for young children. State Rep. Angel Arce and Hartford City Councilman Jimmy Sanchez were also in attendance.

Perez, of C-Town Supermarket, has actively been providing $5 SNAP UP fruit and vegetable vouchers to customers who are already using SNAP, but not necessarily leaving the store with fresh, nutritious foods. This pilot program, which has only been in effect for a few months, has already allowed shoppers to redeem vouchers for over $5000 worth of produce.

Up in Keney Park, the Sustainability Project has focused on youth and food security, resulting in a flower and vegetable garden in the park.

The award winners received potted plants from the Elizabeth Park Conservancy.

Following the award ceremony, representatives from Gardening the Community spoke about the Springfield-based organization.

Ibrahim Ali, GTC’s Director for Youth and Programs, said a few words about this organization that was created in 2002. To sustain youth involvement, Ali said three things need to happen. He believes in making sure the youth receive a stipend. Putting trust in the youth, so that they can learn, is an important element. “Having people to work for who look like them,” he said, matters.

Isshiah Stone and Brandon Robinson, both from Gardening the Community, also shared their experiences learning leadership with the organization.

The event was held in the Hartford History Center section of the Hartford Public Library on Thursday night.