Urban Roots works to create a just food system by cultivating an environment where youth leaders and nutritious, culturally relevant food can thrive. On our farms, youth leaders grow food in service to others, distributing thousands of pounds of nutrient-dense produce to those in Austin that experience food insecurity or hunger. We like to think of it as creating a just food system one youth leader at a time. Our programs are designed to build community around the land and the nourishment it provides and to support youth participating in our programs to grow as leaders and to advocate for positive change in our food system. Each year we provide paid internships and fellowships to 75 young people, ages 14-23. They work together with 1,000-plus community volunteers to harvest between 25,000 to 35,000 pounds of fresh food annually. We work with partner organizations to distribute the food through home delivery, mobile markets, pop-up markets in low-income housing complexes, neighborhood food pantries, and through organizations that provide prepared meals. Finally, we host educational farm tours for school aged children, who engage in learning games and get their hands dirty as they experience where their food comes from, which may mean planting seeds or nibbling a freshly harvested carrot.