Overview
Headquarters
St. Paul, Minnesota
Category
Empower Youth. Nourish Community.
Imagine a place where young people work hard to nurture the earth, growing 25,000 pounds of produce every year on our 3.5 acre farm to nourish the community. This diverse group of youth, between the ages of 14-17, harvests over 40 different fruits and vegetables, cultivating healthy relationships with land and food as they taste freshly dug carrots for the very first time. They gain an intimate understanding of hunger relief by donating 40% of their harvest to local food pantries and soup kitchens, preparing and serving meals to those in need from produce that they planted, tended, and harvested. That place is Urban Roots. In 2008, Urban Roots began as a program of YouthLaunch to empower and develop Austin youth and promote healthy lifestyle choices. Urban Roots’ innovative approach of employing youth to grow fresh, healthy food in the heart of an underserved neighborhood while empowering their development as leaders and good citizens, proved to be a powerful concept. The program grew significantly over the years and became a stand-alone non-profit organization 2011. Today, Urban Roots' mission is to use food and farming to transform the lives of young people and to inspire, engage, and nourish the community. Urban Roots is a Saint Paul organization with a mission to build vibrant and healthy communities through our 3 programs: Market Garden, Cook Fresh, and Conservation. We cultivate youth leaders and support healthy communities on the city’s East Side through paid internship programs that provide hands-on learning and foster critical life skills around entrepreneurial thinking, resilience and collaboration. Urban Roots experiential “earn as you learn” programs are grounded in improving urban food systems, supporting and fostering connection to Saint Paul’s parks and green spaces, and promoting healthy and active living. Our vision is to be a leader and innovator in using food, conservation and youth development programs so that youth and community members can: • Gain opportunities for leadership, service and career connections • Engage with their community and environment • Learn about and access healthy food Our Values Collaboration – Together we can achieve more than if we act alone. Inclusivity – All are welcome while we recognize and celebrate diversity Stewardship – Notice, understand, and respect the natural environment Opportunity – Open eyes and hearts to new possibilities Discovery – Enriching new experiences lead to learning and engagement Urban Roots provides comprehensive landscape services for small space gardens. Our services include consultation, design, installation and maintenance for urban.
