Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for the Fair Food Project includes low-income youth and families in Rockford, Illinois. 17% of all participants in the Fair Food Project were youth under the age of twelve, 30% were between the ages of 12 and 17, and 35% were between the ages of 18 and 25. The majority of the youth and adults in this project come from Blackhawk Courts or surrounding communities, where 86% percent of heads of household are African American, 13% are White, and 1% are Native American. Residents of Blackhawk Courts report a very low average annual gross income of $5,160. The youth involved with the Eco-Advocates program are young adults ages 17 to 21 who have not yet graduated from high school. The Fair Food Project worked with the following primary partnering non-profit and community-based organizations to develop Food Planning Associations (FPAs): 1) Blackhawk Buddy House (Lutheran Social Services, & Zion Outreach), 2) Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc. (CCS), and 3) the Roots & Wings Youth Leaders. The Fair Food Project has also received guidance and assistance from the following partners: 1) Angelic Organics Farm, which has provided youth and adult leaders in the Roots & Wings network with technical assistance and training on sustainable agriculture, farm management, marketing, and enterprise development, 2) Rockford Housing Authority, 3) the City of Rockford/Community and Economic Development Department, and 4) Upper Midwest CRAFT – Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training, which provides coaching and strategic business planning for the Roots & Wings farmer’s market initiative, value-added enterprise and fresh produce stand in Rockford. Additional resource partners include Hazzard Free Farm, Pine Row Farm, Natural Land Institute, Severson Dells, Rockford Public Schools, University of Illinois Extension, Cherry Valley Nursery, WIA, HUD, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, General Mills Foundation, Cedar Tree Foundation, Booker T. Washington Community Center, United Way of Rock River Valley, Small Business Development Center, Anderson Botanic Gardens, Klehm Arboretum, Rockford Police Department, 350.org (Rockford), Rockford Park District, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The Fair Food Project offers training to participants, and professional development for leaders of FPAs. AOLC staff provided over 2,681 hours of training for all participants of our programs through a variety of venues, including classroom and farm-based education; apprenticeships; arts-based programming; participatory project planning, implementation, and evaluation. Additionally, the project offered over 261 hours of hands-on enterprise, market and value-added trainings for Eco-Advocates, Youth Leaders, and leaders of the Blackhawk Courts FPA. We coached and trained these core leaders in effective and unique ways to develop on-site market stands, including a market stand at Blackhawk Courts, and an expansion of the Youth Leaders’ CSA. Through this project, Angelic Organics Learning Center also offered 8 sessions of trainings at 2 rural farm enterprises. Additionally, we offered an urban aquaponics training and trips to observe multiple farmers’ markets in Rockford, for over 49 hours of additional market training. Under Goal 4, we supported seven youth and six adults to attend the Rooted in Community conferences in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Through the project, FPA leadership led over 26 workshops and presentations events in Rockford. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Angelic Organics Learning Center and partnering FPA leadership disseminated results to communities of interest through the Learning Center’s website and annual report, and through public presentations and events. The Youth leaders produced a video about their efforts to develop a free CSA for seniors in their community, which AOLC and the Youth Leaders shared through our website and at events throughout Rockford. Blackhawk Courts farm FPA completed a door-to-door survey with residents to identify food needs and gaps, and shared the results with residents. FPA leadership spoke at five other events in Rockford this year, including a kids’ nutrition program, an earth day event, a business summit, and a peace poetry slam related to urban farming, reaching several hundred people total. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Through the Fair Food Project, Angelic Organics Learning Center (AOLC) and its partner Food Planning Associations (FPAs) conducted activities and produced outputs under four strategic goals. Goal 1: Develop strong youth and adult leadership that will guide neighborhood food planning associations in building community food security in Rockford, Illinois. We focused our work with three primary FPAs, delivering 2,681 hours of training and technical assistance through 883 trainings, workdays, and project events, reaching 1,249 participants (551 adults and 698 youth). We worked with 46 Youth Leaders (YL) from 2011-2013, providing over 3-5 trainings per week with YL during the spring and summer. YL assisted with site management, and served as role models for youth gardeners at Blackhawk Courts, and initiated a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) business in 2012, which they expanded in 2013. We offered the EcoAdvocates program through June of 2013, and provided at least 17 hours of training per/week of training for 34 out-of-school youth. We held 4-8 trainings per week for youth and adults at Blackhawk Courts. Goal 2: Increase access for low-income youth, adults and families to high-quality fresh and local vegetables through expanded community garden sites, education and outreach. Under this goal, we created and maintained gardens to increase community access to high-quality, fresh, local vegetables on a total of 1.5 acres of land dedicated to urban agriculture. We helped our FPAs and YL plan for and deliver 37 community cooking and nutrition workshops. We worked with four local growers to bring farm goods to the project, including watermelons, apples, pears and greens. Goal 3: Expand youth and adult food entrepreneurship through garden-based product training, production, and sales opportunities in low-income communities. Under Goal 3, we coached and trained FPAs in effective and unique ways to develop on-site market stands, including a market stand at Blackhawk Courts, and an expansion of the youth leaders’ CSA by adding five paid shares. AOLC staff provided over 261.5 hours of hands-on enterprise, market and value-added trainings. The FPAs received 8 sessions of trainings at 2 rural farm enterprises, in addition to an urban aquaponics training and trips to observe multiple farmers’ markets in Rockford, for over 49 hours of additional market training. Goal 4: Make community food security a priority in Rockford, Illinois. Under this goal, we supported 2 FPAs to attend the 2013 Rooted in Community conference each year. One of the Youth Leaders was selected to attend an additional leadership training for the Rooted in Community conference in 2012. FPA (Blackhawk Courts farm) leadership completed a door-to-door survey with residents to identify food needs and gaps, which went into planning for the farm businesses. Youth Leaders offered a free CSA to seniors and others from the community in 2012 and 2013, providing a total of 20 seniors with free vegetable deliveries. The Youth Leaders also produced a video about their CSA experience. FPA leadership spoke at five other events in Rockford this year. Through the Fair Food Project, Angelic Organics Learning Center and its partner Food Planning Associations (FPAs) worked toward outcomes under four goals. This report documents the cumulative activities undertaken to achieve by goal. Goal 1: Develop strong youth and adult leadership that will guide neighborhood food planning associations in building community food security in Rockford, Illinois. Three neighborhood FPAs, co-led by youth and adults, designed and implemented three-year plans to build capacity to grow and maintain organic community gardens and increase community food security. We surveyed youth and adult participants each year. Over the course of three years, participants report the following skill development: 92% reported increased leadership skills, and 91% reported increased ecological understanding and gardening skills. Goal 2: Increase access for low-income youth, adults and families to high-quality fresh and local vegetables through expanded community garden sites, education and outreach. Over 200 families gained access to high-quality, fresh, local vegetables through the project. We grew vegetables on 28,300 square feet of bed space, generating an estimated 27,135 lbs of vegetables. Each year, we surveyed participating families, who reported the following results: 96% significantly increased their understanding of the value and use of high-quality fresh and local vegetables, and 81% incorporate them into their diets. Goal 3: Expand youth and adult food entrepreneurship through garden-based product training, production, and sales opportunities in low-income communities. Youth leaders generated $1,047 in gross income from their paid CSA in 2013. The Blackhawk Courts farm generated $1,027 income in farm sales in 2013. The Youth Leaders and EcoAdvocates also generated income in the first two years of the project. In all three years of the project, FPAs generated a total of $5,038 in gross income. FPAs donated additional food to the community through the free CSA, donations to food pantries, gifts to neighbors, and deep discounts for the cost of produce. The value of food donated over three years is estimated at over $14,690. Youth and adults continued to improve production, harvesting and marketing skills. Goal 4: Make community food security a priority in Rockford, Illinois. 26 Youth and adults leaders became advocates for food policy, gaining experience of or exposure to advocacy work. Youth and adults helped fund and co-present the 2011 Local Foods Conference in Rockford. Seven youth and six adults from FPAs participated in the annual Rooted in Community conference. Blackhawk Courts leadership surveyed residents to learn about food access needs, and used this information to build their farm plans for the season. The Youth Leaders group addressed senior household food insecurity by implementing a free CSA for 10 seniors in 2012 and 2013. Project partners made presentations around Rockford, including to a kids’ nutrition program, an earth day event, for a business summit, and held a peace poetry slam related to urban farming, reaching several hundred people total.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for the Fair Food Project includes low-income youth and families in Rockford, Illinois. 17% of all participants in the Fair Food Project were youth under the age of twelve, 30% were between the ages of 12 and 17, and 35% were between the ages of 18 and 25. The majority of the youth and adults in this project come from Blackhawk Courts or comparable communities, where 86% percent of heads of household are African American, 13% are White, and 1% are Native American. Residents of Blackhawk Courts report a very low average annual gross income of $5,160. The youth involved with the Eco-Advocates program are young adults ages 17 to 21 who have not yet graduated from high school. The Fair Food Project worked with the following primary partnering non-profit and community-based organizations to develop Food Planning Associations (FPAs): 1) Blackhawk Buddy House (Lutheran Social Services, & Zion Outreach), 2) Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc. (CCS), and 3) the Roots & Wings Youth Leaders. The Fair Food Project has also received guidance and assistance from the following partners: 1) Angelic Organics Farm, which has provided youth and adult leaders in the Roots & Wings network with technical assistance and training on sustainable agriculture, farm management, marketing, and enterprise development, 2) Rockford Housing Authority, 3) the City of Rockford/Community and Economic Development Department, and 4) Upper Midwest CRAFT – Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training, which provides coaching and strategic business planning for the Roots & Wings farmer’s market initiative, value-added enterprise and fresh produce stand in Rockford. Additional resource partners include Hazzard Free Farm, Pine Row Farm, Natural Land Institute, Severson Dells, Rockford Public Schools, University of Illinois Extension, Cherry Valley Nursery, WIA, HUD, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, General Mills Foundation, Cedar Tree Foundation, Booker T. Washington Community Center, United Way of Rock River Valley, Small Business Development Center, Anderson Botanic Gardens, Klehm Arboretum, Rockford Police Department, 350.org (Rockford), Rockford Park District, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The Fair Food Project has two goals that relate to training and professional development for participants in our program. During the project year, AOLC staff provided over 93 hours of hands-on enterprise, market and value-added trainings. We coached and trained participants at Blackhawk Courts farm and market as well as the Youth Leaders in effective and unique ways to develop on-site market stands, including a market stand at Blackhawk Courts, and an expansion of the Youth Leaders’ CSA. Through this project, Angelic Organics Learning Center offer 8 sessions of trainings at 2 rural farm enterprises. Additionally, we offered an urban aquaponics training and trips to observe multiple farmers’ markets in Rockford, for over 30 hours of additional market training. Under Goal 4, we supported 2 FPAs to attend the 2013 Rooted in Community conference in Los Angeles. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Angelic Organics Learning Center and partnering FPA leadership disseminated results to communities of interest through the Learning Center’s website and annual report, and through public presentations and events. The Youth leaders produced a video about their efforts to develop a free CSA for seniors in their community, which AOLC and the Youth Leaders shared through our website and at events throughout Rockford. Blackhawk Courts farm FPA completed a door-to-door survey with residents to identify food needs and gaps, and shared the results with residents. FPA leadership spoke at five other events in Rockford this year, including a kids’ nutrition program, an earth day event, for a business summit, and held a peace poetry slam related to urban farming, reaching several hundred people total. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In Year 3 of the Fair Food project, Angelic Organics Learning Center (AOLC) and its partner Food Planning Associations (FPAs) conducted activities and produced outputs under 4 strategic goals. Goal 1: Develop strong youth and adult leadership that will guide neighborhood food planning associations in building community food security in Rockford, Illinois. We focused on three primary FPAs this year, delivering 934 hours of training and technical assistance through 312 trainings, workdays, and project events, reaching 281 participants (105 adults and 176 youth). We identified 10 Youth Leaders (YL) in the spring of 2013, and provided over 3-5 trainings per week with YL over the summer. YL managed a CSA business, assisted with site management, and served as role models for youth gardeners at Blackhawk Courts. We continued the Eco-Advocates program through June of this year, and provided at least 17 hours of training per/week of training for out-of-school youth. We held 4-8 trainings per week for youth and adults at Blackhawk Courts. Goal 2: Increase access for low-income youth, adults and families to high-quality fresh and local vegetables through expanded community garden sites, education and outreach. Under this goal, we created and maintained gardens to increase community access to high-quality, fresh, local vegetables on a total of 1.5 acres of land dedicated to urban agriculture. We helped our FPAs and YL plan for and deliver 26 community cooking and nutrition workshops. We worked with four local growers to bring farm goods to the project, including watermelons, apples, pears and greens. Goal 3: Expand youth and adult food entrepreneurship through garden-based product training, production, and sales opportunities in low-income communities. Under Goal 3, we coached and trained FPAs in effective and unique ways to develop on-site market stands, including a market stand at Blackhawk Courts, and an expansion of the youth leaders’ CSA by adding five paid shares. AOLC staff provided over 93 hours of hands-on enterprise, market and value-added trainings. The FPAs received 8 sessions of trainings at 2 rural farm enterprises, in addition to an urban aquaponics training, and trips to observe multiple farmers’ markets in Rockford, for over 30 hours of additional market training. Goal 4: Make community food security a priority in Rockford, Illinois. Under this goal, we supported 2 FPAs to attend the 2013 Rooted in Community conference in Los Angeles. FPA (Blackhawk Courts farm) leadership completed a door-to-door survey with residents to identify food needs and gaps, which went into planning for the farm businesses. Youth leaders continued to offer a free CSA to 10 seniors from the community, and produced a video about their efforts. FPA leadership spoke at five other events in Rockford this year. The YL group addressed senior household food insecurity by implementing a free CSA for 10 seniors. Project partners made presentations around Rockford, including to a kids’ nutrition program, an earth day event, for a business summit, and held a peace poetry slam related to urban farming, reaching several hundred people total. AOLC and its partner Food Planning Associations (FPAs) worked toward outcomes under four goals. Goal 1: Develop strong youth and adult leadership that will guide neighborhood food planning associations in building community food security in Rockford, Illinois. Three neighborhood FPAs, co-led by youth and adults, designed and implemented three-year plans to build capacity to grow and maintain organic community gardens and increase community food security. Among 34 youth and adults who were surveyed, 87% reported increased leadership skills, and 94% reported increased ecological understanding and gardening skills. Goal 2: Increase access for low-income youth, adults and families to high-quality fresh and local vegetables through expanded community garden sites, education and outreach. Over 200 families gained access to high-quality, fresh, local vegetables through the project. We grew vegetables on 13,300 square feet of bed space, generating an estimated 9,123 lbs of vegetables. Of the families surveyed, 94% reported that they significantly increased their understanding of the value and use of high-quality fresh and local vegetables, and 89% incorporate them into their diets. Goal 3: Expand youth and adult food entrepreneurship through garden-based product training, production, and sales opportunities in low-income communities. Youth leaders generated $1,047 in gross income from their paid CSA. The Blackhawk Courts farm generated $1,027 income in farm sales. Both projects donated additional food to the community through the free CSA, donations to food pantries, gifts to neighbors, and deep discounts for the cost of produce. The value of donated food is estimated at over $7,000. Youth and adults continued to improve production, harvesting and marketing skills. Goal 4: Make community food security a priority in Rockford, Illinois. 2 FPAs participated in the 2013 Rooted in Community conference in Los Angeles (2 youth, 2 adults). Blackhawk Courts leadership surveyed residents to learn about food access needs, and used this information to build their farm plans for the season.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In Year 2 of the project, Angelic Organics Learning Center (AOLC) and its partner Food Planning Associations (FPAs) conducted activities and produced outputs under 4 strategic goals. Goal 1: Develop strong youth and adult leadership that will guide neighborhood food planning associations in building community food security in Rockford, Illinois. We worked with 3 primary FPA, all of which developed 3-year visions. We delivered 718 hours of training and technical assistance through 182 trainings, workdays, and project events, reaching 346 participants (193 adults and 153 youth). FPAs provided weekly on-site garden and leadership sessions for 118 Youth Gardeners. We identified 17 Youth Leaders (YL) in the spring of 2012, and provided over 62 trainings to YL throughout the year. YL managed farm stands, assisted with site management, and served as role models for youth gardeners. We continued the Eco-Advocates program launched in Year 1, and provided an average of 24 hours/week of training for out-of-school youth (14 core for 24 hours/week and 115 additional for 4/hours/week). Goal 2: Increase access for low-income youth, adults and families to high-quality fresh and local vegetables through expanded community garden sites, education and outreach. Under this goal, we created and maintained 10 bio-intensive and high-yield gardens to increase community access to high-quality, fresh, local vegetables. We helped our FPAs and YL plan for and deliver 6 community cooking and nutrition workshops. 17 YL incorporated nutrition education into 9 CSA deliveries for 15 customers. Eco-Advocates incorporated nutrition education into over 10 market stands reaching 300 customers. Goal 3: Expand youth and adult food entrepreneurship through garden-based product training, production, and sales opportunities in low-income communities. Under Goal 3, we coached and trained FPAs in effective and unique ways to develop on-site market stands, engage in farmers' markets and CSA sales, and create value-added products, resulting in new enterprises for 2 FPAs. One FPA sent a member to the Stateline Farm Beginnings business planning course. We provided training and support to Eco-Advocates in expanding their farmers' market enterprise at the new urban youth farm site. The YL initiated a new CSA serving over 10 senior citizens with bi-weekly vegetable shares. AOLC provided over 132 hours of hands-on enterprise, market and value-added trainings. The FPAs received over 15 hours of additional training at 1 urban and 2 rural farm enterprises. Goal 4: Make community food security a priority in Rockford, Illinois. Under this goal, we supported 2 FPAs to attend the 2012 Rooted in Community conference in Iowa; 1 participated in the Growing Food and Justice For All Conference in Wisconsin. YL applied for and received a $2,000 youth community service award, and produced a10-minute documentary about their action to address senior household food insecurity.1 FDA participated in the national "Bring Healthy Back" healthy food campaign. AOLC and FPAs are planning to co- host a youth-based food security conference in Rockford in 2013. PARTICIPANTS: In the reporting period, Angelic Organics Learning Center completed the project with the following individual staff members: Angelic Organics Learning Center Executive Director, and Project Program Director, Thomas Spaulding committed 4% of time to the project. Co-Project Director, Danica Hoehn committed 45% of time for 3 years for the project. Antar Baker, Program Coordinator, left our staff mid-year. His duties were reassigned among Deb Crockett (Senior Program Director who took on some overall program management), Kelly Sanford (Program Assistant who helped with record keeping), Tedd Snowden (Urban Farm Educator who worked with Youth Leaders on their enterprises). Also working toward the goals of this grant include bookkeeper, Kathy Kelly and Urban Farm Educator, Katie Townsend. The Fair Food Project worked with the following primary partnering non-profit and community-based organizations to develop Food Planning Associations (FPAs): 1) Blackhawk Buddy House, 2) Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc. (CCS), and 3) the Roots & Wings Youth Leaders. The Fair Food Project has also received guidance and assistance from the following partners: 1) Angelic Organics Farm, which has provided youth and adult leaders in the Roots & Wings network with technical assistance and training on sustainable agriculture, farm management, marketing, and enterprise development, 2) the City of Rockford/Community and Economic Development Department, and 3) Upper Midwest CRAFT - Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training, which provides coaching and strategic business planning for the Roots & Wings farmer's market initiative, value-added enterprise and fresh produce stand in Rockford. Additional resource partners include Natural Land Institute, Rockford Housing Authority, Severson Dells, Rockford Public Schools, University of Illinois Extension, South West Ideas For Today Tomorrow, Cherry Valley Nursery, WIA, Heifer International, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, General Mills Foundation, Cedar Tree Foundation, Booker T. Washington Community Center, United Way of Rock River Valley, Small Business Development Center, Wild Ones, Anderson Botanic Gardens, Klehm Arboretum, Rockford Police Department, Rockford Park District, Rockford Housing Authority, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for The Fair Food Project includes low-income youth and families in Rockford, Illinois. 18% of all participants in the Fair Food Project were youth under the age of twelve, 22% were between the ages of 12 and 17, and 38% were between the ages of 18 and 25. The majority of the youth and adults in this project come from Blackhawk Courts or comparable communities, where 86% percent of heads of household are African American, 13% are White, and 1% are Native American. Residents of Blackhawk Courts report a very low average annual gross income of $5,160. The youth involved with the Eco-Advocates program are young adults ages 17 to 21 who have not yet graduated from high school. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
In Year 2 of the project, AOLC and its partner Food Planning Associations (FPAs) worked toward outcomes under four goals. Goal 1: Develop strong youth and adult leadership that will guide neighborhood food planning associations in building community food security in Rockford, Illinois. Three neighborhood FPAs, co-led by youth and adults, designed and implemented three-year plans to build capacity to grow and maintain organic community gardens and increase community food security. 94.2% (99/105 responses) report increased leadership skills, and 94.6% (53/56 responses) report increased ecological understanding and gardening skills. 17 teens self-selected to serve as Youth Leaders, and 129 out-of-school youth ages 17-21 (14 Eco-Advocates, 115 Youth Build) gained leadership skills in their communities. Goal 2: Increase access for low-income youth, adults and families to high-quality fresh and local vegetables through expanded community garden sites, education and outreach. 346 individuals gained access to high-quality, fresh, local vegetables through the 8 new and 2 expanded existing gardens. We maintained 28,294 square feet of growing space generating an estimated 6,112 lbs of vegetables. The midwestern region experienced record-breaking heat and drought in 2012, which affected our rates of production. Of the families surveyed, 97% (34/35 responses) reported that they significantly increased their understanding of the value and use of high-quality fresh and local vegetables, and incorporate them regularly into their diets. Goal 3: Expand youth and adult food entrepreneurship through garden-based product training, production, and sales opportunities in low-income communities. 14 Eco-Advocates expanded their farmer's market enterprise to a full season growing season business, participating in 3 markets and generating $1,065.16 in gross income. Youth Leaders and Blackhawk Buddy House (BBH) decided to focus their food enterprises on donations in order to make the food more accessible to those who needed it the most. Neither group had revenue in 2012, however, BBH donated an estimated $4,000 worth of produce to RHA residents, and the YL created a successful 10 member free CSA (valued at $3,000). The youth learned production, harvesting and marketing skills which they will need to expand their CSA to accept payment next year. BBH is planning to expand their donation-based enterprise in 2013 to include an EBT so that they can market fresh produce to individuals with receiving SNAP benefits. Goal 4: Make community food security a priority in Rockford, Illinois. 2 FPAs participated in the 2012 Rooted in Community conference in Iowa (3 youth, 2 adults) and 1 participated in the Growing Food and Justice For All Conference in Wisconsin (5 adults). 14 Eco-Advocates lead tours of their farm and educated participants about local foods. 5 core YL received a $2,000 grant award to address senior household insecurity, with which 17 YL implemented a free CSA for 10 seniors. 1 FPA participated in the national "Bring Healthy Back" healthy food campaign (3 youth). AOLC and FPAs are planning to co- host a youth-based food security conference in Rockford by 2013.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In Year 1 of the Fair Food Project, Angelic Organics Learning Center (AOLC) and its partner Food Planning Associations (FPAs) conducted activities and produced outputs under four strategic goals. Activities and outputs are listed under each goal below: Goal 1: Develop strong youth and adult leadership that will guide neighborhood food planning associations in building community food security in Rockford, Illinois. Under this goal, we have formed and supported 3 Food Planning Associations (FPAs). 3 FPAs have developed 3-year visions. We delivered 1,029 hours of training and technical assistance through 389 off-site and on-site project-based trainings, workdays, and project events reaching 622 participants, including 253 adults and 369 youth. FPAs provided weekly on-site garden and leadership sessions for 274 Youth Gardeners. We identified 19 Youth Leaders (YL) in the spring of 2011, and provided over 92 trainings to YL throughout the year. YL managed farm stands, assisted with site management, and served as role models for youth gardeners. In Year 1 of this grant, we launched the Eco-Advocates program and provided an average of 20 hrs/week of urban agriculture training for 20 out-of school youth. Goal 2: Increase access for low-income youth, adults and families to high-quality fresh and local vegetables through expanded community garden sites, education and outreach. Under this goal, we created and maintained 10 bio-intensive and high-yield gardens in order to increase community access to high-quality, fresh, local vegetables. We helped our FPAs and Youth Leaders plan for and deliver 5 cooking and nutrition education workshops for the community. YL incorporated nutrition education into over 24 market stands, reaching 500 customers. Eco-Advocates incorporated nutrition education into over 10 market stands reaching 300 customers. Goal 3: Expand youth and adult food entrepreneurship through garden-based product training, production, and sales opportunities in low-income communities. Under Goal 3, we coached and trained FPAs in effective and unique ways to develop on-site market stands, engage in farmers' markets sales, and create value-added products, resulting in new enterprises for each FPA. Consultants delivered 4 trainings in Year 1, and FPAs created 2 on-site market stands at growing sites. We provided training and support to youth leaders in expanding their farmer's market enterprise at the new urban youth farm site. AOLC and consultants provided over 40 hands-on market and value-added trainings. Goal 4: Make community food security a priority in Rockford, Illinois. Under this goal, We supported 3 FPAs in creating a three-year advocacy vision and strategic plan, delivering 4 civics workshops. 6 FPAs defined their advocacy issues in Year 1 of the grant. Youth and adult leaders delivered 3 workshops and 8 presentations about food security and food policy, and conducted 2 food issue campaigns. 2 Youth Leaders attended the 2011 Rooted in Community conference. AOLC and FPAs are planning to co- host a local, regional, or national youth-based food security conference in Rockford by 2013. PARTICIPANTS: In the reporting period, Angelic Organics Learning Center completed the project with the following individual staff members: Angelic Organics Learning Center Executive Director, and Project Program Director, Thomas Spaulding will commit 4% of time for 3 years to the project. Co-Project Director, Danica Hoehn will commit 45% of time for 3 years for the project. Antar Baker will commit 100% of time for 3 years to the project. Other individuals working toward the goals of this grant include bookkeeper, Kathy Kelly and urban farm educator, Katie Townsend. The Fair Food Project worked with the following partnering non-profit and community-based organizations to develop Food Planning Associations (FPAs): 1) Blackhawk Buddy House, 2) Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc. (CCS), and 3) the Roots & Wings Youth Leaders. The Fair Food Project has also received guidance and assistance from the following partners: 1) Angelic Organics Farm, which has provided youth and adult leaders in the Roots & Wings network with technical assistance and training on sustainable agriculture, farm management, marketing, and enterprise development, 2) the City of Rockford/Community and Economic Development Department, and 3) Upper Midwest CRAFT - Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training, which provides coaching and strategic business planning for the Roots & Wings farmer's market initiative, value-added enterprise and fresh produce stand in Rockford. Additional resource partners include Natural Land Institute, Rockford Housing Authority, Severson Dells, Rockford Public Schools, University of Illinois Extension, South West Ideas For Today Tomorrow, Cherry Valley Nursery, WIA, Heifer, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, General Mills Foundation, Cedar Tree Foundation, Booker T. Washington Community Center, United Way of Rock River Valley, Small Business Development Center, Wild Ones, Anderson Botanic Gardens, Klem Arboretum Rockford Police Department, Rockford Park District, Small Business Development Center, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for The Fair Food Project includes low-income youth and families in Rockford, Illinois. 35% of all participants in the Fair Food Project were youth under the age of twelve, 17% were between the ages of 12 and 17, and 20% were between the ages of 18 and 25. 87% of FPAs reported that their program participants had an income levels under $30,000/year, and 12% reported income levels under $60,000 per year. 69% of all program participants in Year 1 are African American, 6% are Latino/Hispanic, and 4% are two or more races/ethnicities. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Angelic Organics Learning Center has determined to work with two of the community-based organizations originally listed in our proposal narrative to conduct in-depth programming. These partners are Blackhawk Buddy House and Comprehensive Community Solutions (CCS). The Learning Center is not working directly with the previous partners: Concord "College", Salvation Army-Kilburn Community Center, and Northwest Community Center. The two remaining partners will more effectively carry out the goals of the Fair Food Project. We are currently in partnership discussions with the Rockford Housing Authority. We intend to formalize our partnership by 2012 and collaborate on intensive urban agriculture projects within the 2-3 Rockford Housing Authority Complexes by 2015. The urban agriculture work would support the creation of a FPA within each of the 2-3 of the housing authority complexes, the expansion or creation of urban agriculture production sites (operating under a business model), the expansion or creation of urban agriculture production sites (operating under a community garden model), and the implementation of intensive on-site training at 2-3 housing authority complexes.
Impacts
In Year 1 of the Fair Food Project, Angelic Organics Learning Center (AOLC) and its partner Food Planning Associations (FPAs) worked toward outcomes under four goals. Updates on the progress of these outcomes are listed under each goal below: Goal 1: Develop strong youth and adult leadership that will guide neighborhood food planning associations in building community food security in Rockford, Illinois. Three neighborhood FPAs, co-led by youth and adults, designed and implemented three-year plans to mobilize stakeholders, obtain and deliver education and training, secure resources, build capacity to grow and maintain organic community gardens, support youth leadership and entrepreneurship, and increase community food security. 95.8% (92/96 responses) report increased leadership skills, and 85% (41/48 responses) report increased ecological understanding and gardening skills. 19 teens self-selected to serve as Youth Leaders, and 20 out-of-school youth ages 17-21 (Eco-Advocates) gained leadership skills in their communities. Goal 2: Increase access for low-income youth, adults and families to high-quality fresh and local vegetables through expanded community garden sites, education and outreach. 622 families gained access to high-quality, fresh, local vegetables through the 8 new and 2 expanded existing gardens. We increased urban land under vegetable production from 1,900 square feet (3,800 lbs. of produce) to 28,294 square feet, (11,900 lbs.) Of the families surveyed, 98.4% (122/124 responses) reported increased understanding of the value and use of high-quality fresh and local vegetables, and incorporate them into their diets. 71.8 % (89/124 responses) reported that they significantly increased their understanding of the value and use of high-quality fresh and local vegetables, and incorporate them regularly into their diets. Goal 3: Expand youth and adult food entrepreneurship through garden-based product training, production, and sales opportunities in low-income communities. 3 food production sites created community garden market stands selling produce and value-added products to generate $192.50 in sales to benefit participating families. 19 teens (Youth Leaders, ages 12-18) expanded their farmer's market enterprise to a full season growing season business, generating $1,706.00 in gross income. Goal 4: Make community food security a priority in Rockford, Illinois. 1 FPA identified advocacy areas to focus on in their community, and began development of a three-year advocacy plan. 26 youth and adult leaders became advocates for food policy, gaining experience of or exposure to advocacy work. 10 youth took active advocacy roles, creating workshops and presenting at local conferences and organizations, and 4 adults participated in food policy conferences. 9 youth participated in the creation and public reading of the Youth Food Bill of Rights in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Rockford, Illinois to bring the voices, vision and experience of Roots & Wings youth and neighborhood leaders into the civic dialogue about community food security. Youth Leaders and Roots & Wings helped fund and co-present the 2011 Local Foods Conference in Rockford.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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