Where Healthy Living and Community Take Root
Building a thriving ecosystem where environmental health, wellness, food access, and economic growth flourish together
WE ARE
Sankofa
Community Development Corporation
We believe health to be the cornerstone of a thriving community. When individuals are healthy, relationships function better, families operate more easily and communities are more cohesive. This creates opportunities for increased safety, stability and overall viability.
Our Story: Community-Led Innovation in Action
The Beginning: When Residents Became Leaders
Founded in 2008 by Lower Ninth Ward residents, Sankofa Community Development Corporation emerged from a simple but powerful belief: communities create the best solutions for themselves. When traditional recovery efforts fell short, neighbors came together to build something different—an integrated approach that addresses environmental health, food access, and economic development as one interconnected ecosystem.
Our name, Sankofa, means “go back and get it”—honoring the wisdom of our past while building toward our future. It’s an Akan symbol representing the importance of learning from history to move forward with purpose.
What Makes Us Different: The Holistic Model
Environmental Leadership
- Sankofa Wetland Park and Nature Trail: 40-acre wetland park with capacity to manage 8 million gallons of stormwater annually
- Living wetland laboratory studied by environmental scientists and engineers
- 100+ bird species returned to the restored ecosystem
- Model for climate-resilient community development
Food Justice
- Sankofa Fresh Start Market: 1,600 sq ft community-owned grocery eliminating a food desert
- 30% savings compared to corporate chains
- Community kitchen and café fostering connection
- Family-centered cooking classes building healthy habits
Economic Development
- Community-owned businesses creating local wealth
- Sankofa Gardens 10,000+ sq ft urban farm on formerly vacant lots
- Main Street corridor revitalization with a neighborhood green grocery as an anchor
- Circular economy supporting neighborhood farmers and vendors
Our Impact: 17 Years of Measurable Results
Environmental Transformation
- 27,000 cubic yards of debris cleared from what was an illegal dumping ground
- 1.5 miles of walking trails connecting the community to restored nature
- Reduces rainfall impact from 5.37 inches to 1.58 inches in adjacent areas
- Environmental scientists studying our community-designed water management
- 1000+ invasive trees and plants removed
Community Health & Connection
- 800+ households served monthly by our food pantry
- 1,600 sq ft Fresh Start Market serving fresh, affordable groceries daily
- Weekly healthy cooking demonstrations building food and nutrition knowledge with community connections
- Second Saturday Programming – Community outdoor recreation and youth STEM activities connecting families to nature
Economic Development
- Vacant lots are transformed into productive urban gardens and a neighborhood green grocery
- Lower Ninth Ward Main Street revitalization underway with the Fresh Start Market as an economic anchor
- Replication requests from communities across the country
Crisis Leadership
When Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans, Sankofa CDC remained open. We distributed meals, provided communication access and heat relief, and served as a community resilience hub—proving our model works not just in good times, but when it matters most.
Recognition & Partnerships
Policy Influence: Our work informs national conversations about climate funding and community-led adaptation strategies.
Scientific Collaboration: We maintain long-term partnerships with national organizations, universities, and environmental scientists, engineers, and urban planners.
Media Coverage: Featured as a positive story within the New Orleans post-Katrina recovery narratives and environmental justice coverage by national and international media.
Replication Interest: Communities from across the country contact us to learn how to implement our integrated model.
The Bigger Picture: Why Our Model Matters
Sankofa CDC affirms that the most effective solutions often come from the communities closest to the challenges. Our integrated approach addresses root causes rather than symptoms, creating lasting change that strengthens communities from within.
We believe in uplifting healthy environments for everyone and that real change happens when we practice equity and justice for all, through respect, resource investments, and mission-aligned partnerships.”
Sankofa’s integrated model demonstrates what becomes possible when communities have the resources and support to lead their own development. Our success points toward solutions that could transform not just our neighborhood, but communities across the United States facing similar struggles.
Join Our Movement.
For Communities: Learn how to implement our model in your neighborhood.
For Funders: Support proven solutions that create lasting impact.
For Partners: Collaborate with us on future projects, expansion, and replication efforts.
For Neighbors: Shop, volunteer, and be part of the ecosystem we’re building together.
In holding with foundational principles of community development, we believe that the power for true transformation lies within the community. We therefore, work with residents and other stakeholders to identify locally-felt social challenges and address them in thoughtful, culturally-competent ways.