Our Vision & Mission

Urban Roots envisions a thriving food system cultivated by youth and community that is sustainable, equitable, and just. To achieve that vision, our mission is to work with youth leaders to grow fresh food and build a community dedicated to achieving food equity

our story

The only farm-based youth leadership organization in Austin, Urban Roots has been working with youth leaders and nourishing our community for 15 years. Urban Roots started in 2008 with just 15 teenagers and one field as a project of a youth development organization, becoming an independent nonprofit in 2011. With two urban farms (located in East and South Austin), we work with teens and young adults through paid learning opportunities that focus not just on farming, but also on their growth as leaders and agents of change.
YOUTH PROGRAMMING

our Work

Each year we provide paid internships and fellowships for youth ages 14 - 23. They work together with volunteers and our team to harvest thousands of pounds of fresh food annually that we share with our community. We also host educational farm tours for school-aged children to engage in on-the-farm learning with hands-on and in-the-soil experiences to see where their food comes from. 
SEE OUR Annual ReportVOLUNTEER WITH US

our team

Jenny Atmar

Jenny Atmar

FARM COORDINATOR
RENAE BILLIOT

RENAE BILLIOT

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Micaela Buda

STEWARDSHIP & DATABASE COORDINATOR

Sydney Corbin

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM MANAGER

BIANCA DAVIS

YOUTH PROGRAMS COORDINATOR

Jacob Grob

FARM MANAGER
PILI GYASI

PILI GYASI

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

K. Angel Horne

 COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

IAN HUNTER-CRAWFORD

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

MELISSA LAUREL

GRANTS MANAGER
A person is kneeling in a farm field next to vibrant orange and red marigolds.

José Martinez

SENIOR MANAGER FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS

Melissa Nicewarner Daly

SR. DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Person smiling at camera on a farm, holding bell peppers in their arms.

George Rojano

FARM ASSISTANT 
SHAINA SMITH

Shaina Smith

VOLUNTEER MANAGER
Person in an Urban Roots shirt smiling at the camera, posing in a field of leafy greens.

Brian Stephens

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Volunteer leadership

Board of Directors

Michele Freeman, Board Chair
Notley

Paul Stanley Mannie, III, Vice-Chair
The University of Texas at Austin

Erin Fohn, Board Treasurer
Victory Dog Branding + Marketing + Communications

Cat Duong, Secretary
H-E-B

Sergio Negrete
Catellus Development

Adam Orman
L’Oca D’Oro

Anthony Sobotik
Lick Honest Ice Creams

Victoria Villarreal
VRV PR

Design by  STAV Creative
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram