Youth as Community Organizers

Youth as Community Organizers

Accomplishments/Milestones

1. Train 12 youth leaders in theories of sustainable agriculture, community building, and local government policy as it relates to rural communities and agriculture.
Fourteen youth completed training in sustainable agriculture and community building in the first six months of the project. They also learned sustainable agriculture, marketing, service and life skills through 2500 hours of meaningful work experience and employment.
2. Hire 2 youth as community liaisons to act as mobilizers in creating partnerships with community development agencies, local civic groups, and farm personnel.
Two youth were interviewed and hired for the following two positions:
Community Liaison and Marketing Liaison. Youth completed more than 200 hours during the four week summer youth employment program to develop relations with community members that the youth share and donate and sale produce. Ernest Lee served as the community liaison and Quentin Andrews served as the marketing liaison. In addition to coordinating and supporting weekly service and market outlets, the two liaisons also delivered a workshop in professional development for youth and adults members of Southeast Heifer Project International groups. They will also participate in the national sixth annual Rooted In Community Conference in July 2004.
3. Plan and host an activity during Alachua County’s Sustainable Agriculture Week to promote rural farming, sustainable agriculture, local restaurants, community education and involvement.
Youth and adults worked together to complete Parade of Restaurants to promote rural farming sustainable agriculture, local restaurants and community involvement. The first Parade of Restaurants was held during Sustainable Agriculture Week
Enjoy a delicious dinner artfully prepared by the best chefs in Gainesville and support the important work of NNN and ICA by purchasing tickets for one or more of the Parade of Restaurant dining events. Chefs at Ivey’s, Mildred’s, Paramount, Emiliano’s, Book Lover’s, Satchel’s and The Hungry Ram will prepare dishes from ingredients grown and produced in North Central Florida. Local growers will discuss their farms and farming practices at each venue. Students involved in both the NNN and ICA programs will help with the event and assist the chefs as well.

Parade of Restaurants
Income Expenses Net Income
$4,105.00 2499.36 $1,605.64

Youth shadowed chefs to gain professional culinary art experience at local restaurants during the “Parade of Restaurant” fundraiser outreach event called “Parade of Restaurants.” 165 consumers attended Parade of Restaurants and enjoyed a meal made with local produce. $1600 was raised to benefit Neighborhood Nutrition Network and Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School. Nine local farmers participated in the event and built a relationship with local chefs to begin or continue sales of produce to local restaurants.

Collaborators: