Takes a Village - Food Insecurity and Isolation among East Harlem Older Adults during COVID19

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This presentation will give 1) an overview of the East Harlem Village (EHV), a project to combat food insecurity and social isolation among older adults age 60+ in New York City and help them age in place with dignity; 2) challenges and successes during COVID-19 related to food and nutrition access, technology barriers, and social isolation; and 3) findings and lessons learned, including best practices for meeting low-income seniors’ needs through hybrid virtual and in-person services. We will also share an interactive view into a virtual grocery store tour to demonstrate the hybrid model strategy.

Ailin Liu, MS

Senior Program Manager, Food Initiatives

Public Health Solutions

Ailin Liu is the Senior Program Manager of Food Initiatives at Public Health Solutions. She oversees a range of SNAP enrollment sites NYC-citywide and serves as Project Director/Principal Investigator for East Harlem Village, a 3-year project to address food insecurity and social isolation among older adults in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments. Ailin has extensive experience working with local communities, government agencies, Community-Based Organizations, and healthcare systems and is committed to empowering the most disadvantaged.Ailin holds a master’s degree from the Columbia University Institute of Human Nutrition in human nutrition and a bachelor’s degree in ecology from Sun Yat-Sen University.

Marco Vela, MPH

Project Coordinator: East Harlem Village

Public Health Solutions

Marco is the Project Coordinator for Public Health Solutions East Harlem Village Project. This 3-year project addresses food insecurity and social isolation among older adults in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments.Marco has gained increased experience through his responsibilities for the project including client outreach, partner engagement and development, and data analysis among other duties. He continues to work towards his desire to serve those in disadvantaged situations.Marco attended Texas A&M University where he obtained a Master of Public Health degree in Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences.

Laila Khundkar, MPH

Deputy Director, Community Health & Nutrition Access

Public Health Solutions

Laila Khundkar is the Deputy Director for the Community Health & Nutrition Access (CHANA) unit of Public Health Solutions, where she provides overarching support for all programs under CHANA, including health insurance, SNAP, and WIC enrollment across NYC. She oversees development and new initiatives.Laila has expertise in development and program implementation, evaluation, and working with local communities and stakeholders, and is committed to advancing health equity and the social determinants of health.Laila holds an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences and Health Policy & Promotion from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of California, San Diego.