Partner Spotlight: POAH and Carnegie Elementary

This year, the 61st Street Farmers Market made big impacts in our community—partnering with Carnegie Elementary School and the Jackson Parkside Terrace (JPT) community to bring fresh food, hands-on learning, and joyful experiences to hundreds of families.

We kicked things off with a Back-to-School Bash on August 13, hosted by POAH Communities. More than 200 attendees and 31 vendors joined us for a day full of abundance—families enjoyed produce giveaways, Chef Fea’s chef demo, free plants, smoothies, and a raffle of four brand-new bikes courtesy of Blackstone Bicycle Works (BBW).

All summer long, we continued our JPT Pop-Ups at our Hoop House garden. Residents picked up produce grown on-site, tasted seasonal recipes, and connected around fresh, healthy food. We connected 45 teens to their food through the Blackstone Bike Works summer camp.

In the spring, we brought programming directly to Carnegie Elementary students. Chef Fea led our After-School Cooking Classes, teaching kids how to chop, sauté, and season their way to healthy meals while exploring seasonality and new flavors. We also offered Healthy Eating and Gardening Classes, inspiring students to grow, cook, and share meals from the ground up.

The connection between Carnegie Elementary, JPT, and the 61st Street Farmers Market is a living bond. Families shop our market, children learn in our classes, and neighbors gather around food, bikes, and shared experiences. Together, we’re building healthier habits, stronger families, and deeper roots right here in our neighborhood.

This Saturday, August 23, offers an opportunity to connect with us! Join BBW for Kidical Mass, a free family-friendly ride through Jackson Park for kids and families (meet up is at 9:15am at Ray Elementary).