Progress 11/01/22 to 10/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached includes five neighborhoods in Tallahassee, Florida currently experiencing food insecurity, economic disparity and support for community engagement. The target audience was reached through collaboration and engagement with each neighborhood association, community leaders, attendance and participation in neighborhood events and targeted outreach. The audience is predominately African Americans, with household incomes at or below the fedreral poverty level, between the ages of 16-76. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The THRIVE networks focus in year 1 was to establish the resources to be provided in 2023. With that said, the network has worked closely with the neighborhood leaders to provide mentorship and guidance in the creation and promotion of training programs to their respective communities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results of the THRIVE network's efforts have been disseminated through each respective neighborhood association and leaders. The THRIVE network has provided resources to those in attendance at the neighborhood association members and attendees to share the opportunities on the horizon. The THRIVE network has partnered with the City of Tallahassee's Neighborhood Affairs representatives for assistance and collaboration in sharing the changes and opportunities within the respective neighborhoods. The THRIVE network has hosted and/or participated in outreach events in Bond, SouthCity, Frenchtown and Providence neighborhoods for grassroot outreach on the various opportunities on the horizon. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The THRIVE network has already begun promoting the farmer training and food advocacy training opportunities on the horizon. The network will be hosting two separate training programs for urban farming and food advocacy in year 2. The THRIVE network will finalize the mentoring and support efforts to be offered in year 2, and will provide opportunities for program participants to participate in a 6-month entrepreneurship program and receive individual coaching/mentoring support. The THRIVE network will begin hosting extended network meetings to further involve community partners and identify additional resources to support the targeted neighborhoods. The network will work closely with the Providence neighborhood to develop and disseminate a 'wants' survey to encourage community engagement in the desired change regarding food and economic security. The network will partner with ImpactFood for the leasing of healthy foods vending machines to be located within the five targeted neighborhoods.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The development of the majority of training materials, presentations and handouts, for the execution of the urban farmer training program was completed in 2023. We were able to recruit, onboard and hire a professional to collaboratively work with the team to develop a curriculum that is relevant and digestible to our target market. The THRIVE network has also established a deeper relationship with the Red Hills Small Farm Alliance to begin bridging the gap of delivery-based SNAP-EBT enabled food to food deserts. Through this collaboration, the two parties are identifying ways to overcome barriers to accessing healthy foods via online ordering and delivery. The THRIVE network established a partnership with Florida Impact to strengthen the food advocacy training program that will be offered in 2024. The THRIVE network has begun to develop the mentorship support and training that will be offered through the Capital City Chamber of Commerce for program participants. The THRIVE network has attended and begun to promote training and development opportunities with the respective neighborhood associations.
Publications
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