Dennis Derryck
Dennis Derryck is the Founder of Corbin Hill Food Project (CHFP) and also a Professor of Professional Practice at the New School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy for the past 15 years. Corbin Hill is his third start-up. Corbin Hill is a social enterprise with a mission of providing food to those who need it most. Its work is grounded in the values of sovereignty, racial equity, and sharing power.   Corbin Hill was founded by “ordinary people trying to do extraordinary things” (Margaret Meade). The initial $700K in equity was provided by 11 individuals with 71 percent coming from Blacks and Latinas and 51 percent from women. In its first four years, CHFP grew from 200 Shareholders to 1,000 and in the last two years provided over 150,000 shares, with 66 percent of produce going to low-income and minority populations with household incomes of less than 200% of the poverty line.  Corbin Hill’s impact continues to grow as it innovations are adopted as best practice by organizations like Grow NYC. Its flexible model now serves both low-income communities of color and middle-income communities. Corbin Hill has been the recipient of the LISC’s Big Apple Innovation Award and recognized by Urban Health Plan, The Interchurch Center, and West Harlem Group Assistance for its community work.