Cornell University Cooperative Extension New York City

60+ years. 5 boroughs. 1 mission.

It starts with Cornell's land-grant mission. As New York State's land-grant institution, Cornell University is charged with advancing the lives and livelihoods of the state's citizens through teaching, research and public service—ideals set in motion by the federal Morrill Land Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890. Cornell University Cooperative Extension in New York City is how that promise reaches all five boroughs.

Accessible education for real-world impact. Swipe to learn more about who we are and what we do. →

to fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers’ markets across NYC. How many can you name? Drop your answers in the comments!

Visit us at a farmers’ market near you and discover what’s in season this summer.

Food not only connects us—it also creates meaningful opportunities to learn, share knowledge, and build healthier communities.

It's officially farmers' market season! Swipe for the 2026 market schedule across all five boroughs, plus how to use your food and nutrition benefits.

Accessible education, real-world impact — market by market.

Cornell University Cooperative Extension - New York City was honored to be invited by Weill Cornell Medicine to participate in their summer health and safety fair. Outside on a basketball court under a tent, alongside colleagues covering everything from emergency medicine to gastrointestinal (GI) screening, our nutrition educators did what they do best.

They showed community members how much sugar is hiding in some of our favorite drinks — and offered a refreshing alternative: our famous “water with a twist,” naturally flavored with fresh fruit and mint. On a hot, hazy New York City day, it was a hit.

Prevention education is not always dramatic. But one behavior shift — one drink swapped, one label read, one new habit formed — can change the trajectory of a life. That is what our nutrition educators do every day, one community at a time.

We are grateful to Weill Cornell Medicine for the invitation and for creating space for all of it — the urgent and the everyday — under one roof.

📸 Danielle Parks

📢 CUCE-NYC is hiring! Are you passionate about strengthening families, supporting young people and creating lasting community impact?

Cornell University Cooperative Extension New York City (CUCE-NYC) is seeking a Director of Family and Youth Development to lead research-informed, community-responsive programs serving more than 30,000 New Yorkers each year.

This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to:

• Shape the future of family and youth development across NYC's five boroughs
• Build partnerships with community organizations, government agencies and Cornell faculty
• Lead innovative programs in youth development, parenting education and related initiatives
• Advance Cornell's land-grant mission through research, outreach and education

If you're an equity-centered leader committed to improving the lives of children, youth and families, CUCE-NYC would love to hear from you.

📍 Location: New York City
🗓️ Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Apply here: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32047

Freshly-picked strawberries 🍓 at the Tree of Life Partnership Garden InJamaica are more than a sign of the summer season—they’re a reminder of how perennial plants can strengthen urban and community gardens over time.

Returning year after year, crops like strawberries can help urban and community gardens build more consistent access to fresh food while making the most of limited growing space, especially important in a place like New York City.

🍓 Sweet bonus fact: strawberries stop ripening once they’re picked, so choose carefully! 🍓

At CUCE-NYC STEM learning comes to life when students can see the impact of their work beyond the classroom.

In our hydroponics labs, learning for students doesn't stop at understanding the science of growing plants without soil—it grows into action, responsibility, and making a difference for their peers. Here student interns harvest fresh basil, rosemary, and cilantro that will be add to produce boxes for their fellow peers.

By combining hands-on STEM education with service to their community, students gain valuable skills in urban agriculture, problem-solving, and leadership while helping increase access to fresh, healthy food.

📸: Danielle Parks

We're continuing our "What is the Meaning of Extension?" segment with Michele Luc. Michele is a training coordinator at Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research and a positive youth development (PYD) specialist in Family & Youth Development, a program with a long, respected history—one built on deep relationships, community trust, and decades of meaningful work with young people and their families.

Since 2010, she has conducted programming across New York State, engaging youth-serving organizations around training, technical assistance, and capacity-building.

Thank you, Michele, for 16 years (and counting) of service to CUCE-NYC!