Tony Hillery
Author, Speaker, Organizer
Meet
Tony Hillery
In 2011, driven by a commitment to address health and academic challenges faced by public elementary school students in Harlem, Tony founded Harlem Grown. While volunteering at a Harlem elementary school, Tony observed the school’s insufficient resources and inadequate nutritional support for students. One day after school, Tony and the children noticed an abandoned community garden across the street and envisioned an opportunity for positive change, marking the beginning of Harlem Grown’s first-ever growing season.
Tony worked alongside 400 students to plant 400 seedlings, yielding 38 pounds of produce for the initial season, setting the stage for a remarkable journey. The organization now partners with seven local schools, cultivates over 6,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables each year, positively impacts over 12,000 youth annually.
Harlem Grown is in the heart of Harlem; planting fruits & vegetables and growing healthy children & sustainable communities.
Books
You can purchase Harlem Grown and Saturdays at Harlem Grown at Sister’s Uptown Bookstore, your favorite local bookstore, or online.
What people are saying…
“Perfect both for a lap-sit to pour over the details and for community-garden or farmers’-market story times.”
- The Horn Book
“An illuminating ode to a natural space in an urban environment.”
- Kirkus Reviews
Appearances
Tony is surprised by the Harlem Grown community — with the help of Good Morning America — in a special celebration of his hard work supporting healthy lives.
Book Readings
2025 - Union Settlement, East Harlem
Tony connects monthly with East Harlem youth to read Saturdays and explore the ways we can live and eat healthily with fruits and vegetables right from our own neighborhood.
Spring, 2025 - Schenectady, NY
Tony spent this spring speaking with and reading to local Schenectady schools — from elementary to high school — and collaborating on how to develop their own sustainable gardens.
Past Speaking Engagements
June, 2025 - ReFED Summit - Seattle, WA
Tony is on the road to meet with other food system leaders to learn more and find solutions for food waste both locally and nationally.
March, 2025 - SACAC Annual Conference - Atlanta, GA
Tony spoke with leaders in the college admissions space to share the mission and vision of Harlem Grown and celebrate the achievements of HG students; inspiring others to make similar healthy changes in their lives.