Food Production
Food Access
Youth Employment
PRIMARY GOALS
Deepen training and engagement of young people and hard-to-employ adults, who are struggling to improve their quality of life through urban agriculture.
Goal 1: We hope to be in full-production with our current built infrastructure, to complete additional hoop houses and greenhouses for year-round growing, as well as establishing perennial bed zones and ecological buffers. Having our farms at full production will increase our ability to supply fresh food access through farmers' markets, on-site farm stands, and through the Fresh Moves Mobile buses.
Goal 2: The Farmers for Chicago Job-Readiness Program is composed of three distinct projects areas: teen education, farmer incubation, and transitional job trainings. Established in 2004, our Youth Corps curriculum is rooted in hands-on, experiential learning rooted in sustainable urban agriculture, ecology and local community food system development with a S.T.E.A.M. framework that reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the complex food system and serves 300 Chicago teens annually. The CHI-READI Transitional Job Training Partnership for adult men with limited employment options and experience is done in partnership with Heartland Alliance to support 18-months of intensive job training in agricultural technologies and environmental resiliency. Finally, our Farmer Incubation program provides long-term technical training, business consulting and land tenure for individuals hoping to start a small farm enterprise.
Download UGC Goals and Objectives 2018
249
YOUTH WE EMPLOY
1500
VOLUNTEERS ON THE FARM
10
NEW INCUBATOR FARMERS GROWING FOOD
150
PRESCHOOLERS FELL IN LOVE WITH KALE
THOUGHTS FROM OUR TEENS
“Because of this program, I was able to both pay for myself and better myself mentally, physically and socially and I made new friends. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!” - Justin
“Thank you for this great opportunity for me to get a feel of a work environment. This experience will benefit me for the rest of my life. I have learned to work with others, time management and interviewing skills. You have given me life long memories this summer and a little spending money. Thank you for the opportunity ” - Agustin
“I really enjoyed myself and learned a lot about farming. I don’t know what I would have done without this program. I am grateful for what I was able to experience. I really improved my speaking, communication and farming skills. I loved coming to the farm and working in the warm sun. I got to meet new people and all this wouldn't have been possible without you. Thanks!” - Karen
Our Goal: Expanding Food Access
Our Goal: Food Literacy Education
Our Goal: Employment For Teens
Rooted in Growing Food, we cultivate nourishing environments which support health, economic development, healing and creativity through urban agriculture.