YOUTH FARM AND MARKET PROJECT
128 W 33RD ST RM/STE 2, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55408 www.youthfarmmn.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: YOUTH FARM'S MISSION IS SIMPLE - WE FARM TO GROW. WE FARM TO GROW FOOD, COMMUNITY, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUNG LEADERS. YOUTH LEARN TO PLANT, GROW, COOK, AND RESPONSIBLY DISTRIBUTE LOCAL PRODUCE WHILE DEVELOPING REAL WORLD LEADERSHIP SKILLS ALONG THE WAY BY USING FOOD AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

YOUTH FARM'S MISSION IS SIMPLE - WE FARM TO GROW. WE FARM TO GROW FOOD, COMMUNITY, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUNG LEADERS.

YOUTH FARM SUCCESSFULLY GROWS NOT ONLY YOUNG LEADERS, BUT ALSO FOOD AND COMMUNITY BY ENGAGING YOUTH FROM MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL IN URBAN FARMING AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. YOUTH AS YOUNG AS NINE PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMMING AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY INVOLVED UNTIL THE AGE OF 24, BUILDING NEW LEADERSHIP SKILLS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. OUR PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON A UNIQUE PROGRESSIVE PROGRAM MODEL WHICH PLACES YOUTH IN FOUR SPECIFIC COHORTS BASED ON THEIR AGE: YOUTH FARMERS (AGE 9-11), ALL STARS (AGE 12-13), PROJECT LEAD (AGE 14-18), AND FARM STEWARDS (AGE 19-24). EACH COHORT WORKS TOGETHER AND BUILDS ON THE LAST, ENSURING THAT YOUTH ARE TAKING ON AGE APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE CHALLENGING, ENGAGING, AND EFFECTIVE. NO MATTER WHETHER A YOUNG PERSON IS ENGAGED WITH YOUTH FARM PROGRAMMING FOR ONE WEEK OR TEN YEARS, THEY WILL LEAVE KNOWING THAT THEIR VOICE WAS HEARD AND THAT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IN 2020, YOUTH FARM ENGAGED OVER 800 TWIN CITIES YOUTH IN FOOD, COMMUNITY, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING. YOUTH FARM'S MISSION IS SIMPLE - WE FARM TO GROW. WE FARM TO GROW FOOD, COMMUNITY, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUNG LEADERS. YOUTH LEARN TO PLANT, GROW, COOK, AND RESPONSIBLY DISTRIBUTE LOCAL PRODUCE WHILE DEVELOPING REAL WORLD LEADERSHIP SKILLS ALONG THE WAY BY USING FOOD AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH FARM AND FOOD PROGRAMMING, YOUTH FARM STRIVES TO ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING GOALS: 1.TO DEVELOP AND NURTURE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS; 2.TO CREATE NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTEDNESS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTRIBUTION; 3.TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE POSITIVE IDENTITY OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH; 4.TO PROMOTE HEALTHY BODIES AND MINDS; AND 5.TO BUILD YOUNG LEADERS. YOUTH AS YOUNG AS NINE PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMMING AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY INVOLVED UNTIL THE AGE OF 24. OUR PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON A UNIQUE PROGRESSIVE PROGRAM MODEL WHICH PLACES YOUTH IN FOUR SPECIFIC COHORTS BASED ON THEIR AGE: YOUTH FARMERS (AGE 9-11), ALL STARS (AGE 12-13), PROJECT LEAD (AGE 14-18), AND FARM STEWARDS (AGE 19-24). EACH COHORT WORKS TOGETHER AND BUILDS ON THE LAST, ENSURING THAT YOUTH ARE TAKING ON AGE APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE CHALLENGING, ENGAGING, AND EFFECTIVE. NO MATTER WHETHER A YOUNG PERSON IS ENGAGED WITH YOUTH FARM PROGRAMMING FOR ONE WEEK OR TEN YEARS, THEY WILL LEAVE KNOWING THAT THEIR VOICE WAS HEARD AND THAT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IN 2020, YOUTH FARM ENGAGED OVER 800 TWIN CITIES YOUTH IN FOOD, COMMUNITY, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING. COVID-19 IMPACT: THIS YEAR, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT PROGRAMMING HAS LOOKED DIFFERENT AT YOUTH FARM. TYPICALLY, THE GROWING SEASON IS PACKED FULL OF COMMUNITY EVENTS, SUMMER SCHOOL CLASSES, AND COOKING IN THE KITCHENS OF OUR PARTNERS. AS WE HAVE WORKED TO ENGAGE YOUTH FROM A DISTANCE AND CONTINUE TO GROW FOOD, OUR PROGRAMS HAVE SHIFTED TO FOCUS ON THE ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP GOALS OF OUR PROJECT LEAD AND FARM STEWARD STAFF. THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN SMALL GROUPS TO MANAGE GARDEN SPACES, GROW AND DISTRIBUTE PRODUCE, AND INFLUENCE WHAT PROGRAMMING WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO SAFELY WELCOME BACK GROUPS OF YOUNGER YOUTH INTO SPACES. OUR WORK HAS NOT STOPPED BECAUSE OF COVID-19, AND THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE GROWTH WE ARE LOOKING TO TAKE ON AND THE WORK WE DO AROUND FOOD, YOUTH, AND COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER. AS WE WORK TO BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR RECOVERY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE POSITIONED RACIAL EQUITY WITHIN THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. BY WORKING DIRECTLY WITH COMMUNITIES AND YOUTH OF COLOR AND FOLLOWING THEIR LEAD, WE CONTINUE TO SHIFT PROGRAMMING AND THE WAYS IN WHICH WE APPROACH OUR WORK AS THEY CONTINUE TO NAME HOW THE NEEDS WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CHANGING. OUR DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS BELOW IS BOTH A COMBINATION OF A DESCRIPTION OF OUR MODEL PROGRAM AND HOW IT MANIFESTS MOST YEARS, WHILE SPECIFICALLY NOTING HOW THAT CHANGED IN 2020 DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19. GROWING LEADERS: YOUTH FARM'S PROGRESSIVE PROGRAM MODEL HAS PROVEN TO BE BOTH EFFECTIVE AND ENGAGING, AS YOUTH HAVE NAMED THAT THEY FEEL APPROPRIATELY CHALLENGED AT EACH STAGE. ALTHOUGH THE TASKS IN EACH COHORT BUILD UPON THE TASKS FROM THE LAST, YOUTH WHO ARE INVOLVED DURING ANY STEP OF THE PROCESS WILL TAKE AWAY IMPORTANT FOOD ACCESS AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. YOUTH FARMERS (AGE 9-11): YOUTH FARMERS WORK TO MASTER GARDENING AND COOKING SKILLS WHILE DEVELOPING STRONG INTERPERSONAL SKILLS. THEY ALSO LEARN ABOUT HOW FOOD CHOICES IMPACT THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES AND SHARE THIS KNOWLEDGE WITH THEIR PEERS AND FAMILIES. ALL STARS (AGE 12-13): ALL STARS TAKE ON INTENTIONAL, SPECIFIC PROGRAM AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP ROLES WHILE FOCUSING ON CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS SKILLS AND BECOMING ROLE MODELS FOR YOUNGER YOUTH. THEY ALSO LEARN ABOUT FOOD SYSTEMS WHILE TAKING PART IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS SURROUNDING FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD. PROJECT LEAD (AGE 14-18): THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT LEAD PROGRAM, HIGH SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH TAKE PART IN A SCHOOL YEAR INTERNSHIP FOLLOWED BY HOURLY SUMMER EMPLOYMENT. PROJECT LEAD PARTICIPANTS MANAGE PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH FARMERS AND ALL STARS WHILE ALSO DESIGNING FARMS, SEEDING, PLANTING, WEEDING, HARVESTING, AND DISTRIBUTING THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE. ADDITIONALLY, THESE YOUNG LEADERS ENGAGE THEIR PEERS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, ACTIVELY LEARNING TO USE FOOD AS A TOOL FOR CHANGE. THROUGH THIS STAGE OF YOUTH FARM PROGRAMMING, PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP MENTORSHIP, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, AND CAREER SKILLS. FARM STEWARDS (AGE 19-24): THE FARM STEWARDS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IS THE FINAL STAGE OF YOUTH FARM'S PROGRESSIVE PROGRAM MODEL. FARM STEWARDS, WHO ARE OFTEN PROJECT LEAD GRADUATES, ARE YOUNG ADULTS THAT YOUTH FARM SUPPORTS TO BECOME SOCIAL CHANGE LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THROUGHOUT THIS PROGRAM, FARM STEWARDS FOCUS ON A COMBINATION OF INCREASING PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGH LEVEL LEADERSHIP, BUILDING WORKFORCE SKILLS, AND DEVELOPING EXPERTISE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF FOOD, SOCIAL CHANGE, AND PROFESSIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. YOUTH FARM DESIGNED THE FARM STEWARDS PROGRAM TO EMPHASIZE A MORE PERSONAL AND FLEXIBLE APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. WE AIM TO INCLUDE FARM STEWARDS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THEIR PERSONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING THOSE PURSUING A LONG-TERM CAREER IN YOUTH WORK, STUDENTS WHO ARE EARNING HIGHER EDUCATION CREDIT THROUGH THEIR FARM STEWARD EMPLOYMENT, AND YOUNG ADULTS EXPLORING A SPECIFIC AREA OF YOUTH FARM'S WORK IN FARMING, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT, ETC. GROWING FOOD: THROUGH YOUTH FARM PROGRAMMING, YOUTH GROW FOOD IN THREE TWIN CITIES NEIGHBORHOODS: NORTH MINNEAPOLIS AND THE FROGTOWN AND WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS OF ST. PAUL. WITH THE VISION OF BUILDING COMMUNITY, WE MANAGE AND/OR ASSIST ON 10 URBAN FARM PLOTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A MULTITUDE OF ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE HERBAL STUDIES PROGRAM, LA PUERTA ABIERTA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, NELLIE STONE JOHNSON COMMUNITY SCHOOL, AND COUNTLESS NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS, WE STRIVE TO INVOLVE YOUTH DURING EVERY STEP OF THE GROWING PROCESS. PROJECT LEAD AND FARM STEWARDS ARE TASKED WITH EVALUATING THE NEEDS OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEN CHOOSING CROPS TO PLANT, CREATING FARM PLANS, AND DESIGNING PROGRAMMING THAT WILL ALLOW FOR YOUTH FARMERS AND ALL STARS TO HAVE AS MUCH INVOLVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON AS POSSIBLE. ONCE PLANS FOR THE YEAR ARE MADE, YOUTH FARMERS AND ALL STARS ARE TASKED WITH SEEDING THOUSANDS OF PLANT STARTS IN OUR ST. PAUL GREENHOUSE OR IN THEIR CLASSROOMS IN MINNEAPOLIS. SEEDING BEGINS AS EARLY AS JANUARY AND PLANT STARTS ARE NURTURED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. IN 2020, PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN, YOUTH HELPED SEED THOUSANDS OF PLANT STARTS AT OUR SCHOOL GREENHOUSE, AND AFTER MID-MARCH WHEN SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED, OUR PROGRAM STAFF WORKED INDEPENDENTLY TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 10,000 PLANT STARTS TO YOUTH FARM SITES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND OVER 60 SCHOOL FAMILIES AS THE WEATHER GETS WARMER, PLANT STARTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO GARDEN SPACES AND ARE PLANTED BY YOUTH DURING SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, BY PROJECT LEAD AFTER SCHOOL, AND BY STAFF AND VOLUNTEER WORK GROUPS. WHEN SCHOOL LETS OUT, YOUTH FARM PROGRAMMING SHIFTS TO FOCUS ON FARM MANAGEMENT. DURING THE PEAK GROWING MONTHS OF SUMMER, YOUTH MANAGE GARDEN SPACES, ENSURING TO EVALUATE WHICH CROPS ARE DOING WELL, WHEN THEY ARE READY TO HARVEST, AND WHO THEY SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO. IN 2020, DUE TO COVID-19, THIS GROUP OF YOUTH LEADERS WAS REDUCED IN SIZE TO COMPLY WITH SAFETY PROTOCOL AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, BUT STILL MANAGED TO GROW THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF PRODUCE FOR THE COMMUNITY. ALL OF YOUTH FARM'S DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS ARE INFORMED BY YOUTH AND ALSO AIM TO PROVIDE FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE TO TH

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