Urban Growers Collective’s work aims to address the inequities and structural racism that exist in the food system and in communities of color. Research suggests that urban agriculture can produce a range of social, health, and economic benefits for communities. We believe engaging in this work will ultimately lead to healing trauma on many levels and will improve the economic vitality and overall health of communities in Chicago.
Our approach is to build economic opportunity for urban farmers and ranchers, mitigate food insecurity, and increase access to high-quality, affordable, and nutritionally-dense food on Chicago’s South and West Sides. As a Black- and women-led organization, healing through food justice is integral to our mission and in our approach to creating a market for urban growers, providing good food for the communities we serve, and throughout all of our programming.