As a 2021-2022 Morgan Stanley/ANHD Community Development Fellow working at Cooper Square Committee, Lily assisted with the research and publication of a report on the East Village commercial district produced as a joint venture between Cooper Square, Village Preservation, and East Village Community Coalition. Released in July 2022, the report highlights the neighborhood’s business landscape and explores the impact of COVID-19 on the East Village merchant community. Read the full report here.

In spring of 2022, Lily conducted a study on school garden programs and policy in NYC as her graduate thesis for Hunter College. The study includes a literature review of current school garden programs and citywide policy and stakeholder interviews with nonprofit leaders, researchers, and policymakers. The project aims to propose solutions for improving the effectivity and equity of school garden program implementation at school sites across NYC.

In Spring of 2021, while exploring urban public health in her graduate coursework, Lily researched healthcare access for Sunset Park residents. Drawing from community leader interviews and secondary research, the report examined the many barriers that the largely immigrant population in the Sunset Park neighborhood faces and the additional challenges that COVID-19 raised for the neighborhood and NYC’s healthcare system.

In Fall of 2020, Lily and a team of fellow Hunter College graduate students conducted research on NYC community gardens and local food systems for the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. The study included expert interviews, a survey of NYC community gardeners, and a focus group with members of the Phoenix Community Garden. The report concluded that community gardens play a critical role in providing access to fresh produce for local residents and serving as sites for community-based food system education and empowerment.