What’s your word for 2022? You might have chosen family, joy, or considering our world today, endurance! Choosing a word has become a popular way to provide focus for the year, and it’s an exercise program leaders have led with Urban Roots youth long before it became trendy. Sharing their word creates a space for youth to practice empathetic listening and vulnerability.
Demonstrating vulnerability builds trust and can lead to authentic connection and a sense of belonging, which can make all the difference for youth leaders. Nitida, from the 2019 South Austin Internship cohort, said that the sense of community they built allowed her to be “able to talk to other people and feel at home conversing with them.”
That sense of being at home with one another deeply impacted Rae, a 2020 Food and Leadership Fellow. She said, “One of the biggest things that Urban Roots gave me was this feeling that I had a community that supported me… that I was allowed to ask for help from my community, that I was allowed to be vulnerable. It’s very impactful, and I’m very thankful for it.”
Vulnerability, a sense of belonging, empathetic listening—these are the social-emotional skills that have become most essential for today’s most effective leaders, and Urban Roots youth demonstrate every day that they are well on their way!
To support Urban Roots youth on a leadership journey that will enrich their lives and in turn enrich their communities, you can give to Urban Roots before Amplify Austin Day, March 2-3, 2022. Gifts at every level will support leadership development by covering program costs, from seeds to youth participation awards, for this summer’s farm program.
We hope you enjoyed the youth stories we shared for this year’s Amplify Austin Day that speak to the transformative power of food and farming.
Amplify Austin Day ends today! Give by 6 p.m. tonight to support Urban Roots youth on a leadership journey that will enrich their lives and in turn enrich their communities. Gifts at every level will support leadership development by covering program costs, from seeds to youth participation awards, for this summer’s farm program.
Each summer, the farm program unites a diverse group of 36 youth to learn and grow on the Urban Roots Farm. Young people age 14 to 17, many living in systematically under-resourced communities in Austin, spend 6 weeks strengthening life and leadership skills, building a unique, nourishing connection with food, and working hands-on to increase food access in our community.
Through the summer farm program, each youth has the opportunity for a transformational experience spending hundreds of hours on the farm, harvesting thousands of pounds of sustainably grown produce, participating in dozens of interactive workshops and cooking classes, and serving our neighbors in need through donating vegetables and volunteering at hunger relief agencies. Each program activity focuses on transferable life and leadership skills, personal health and wellbeing, and food justice values and knowledge that will stay with them for a lifetime.
Stay up to date with Urban Roots by subscribing to our newsletter. Follow us on social media @UrbanRootsATX on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Featured Image Photographer Credit: Lauren Slusher Photography
Amplify Austin Day is here! From March 2nd at 6 p.m. to March 3rd at 6 p.m., help Urban Roots raise $15,000 for this summers’ farm program by making a donation today! One youth’s chapter at Urban Roots can turn into a lifetime of leadership for our community!
Plus, Hu Kitchen is our official Amplify Austin Matching Partner and is matching donations up to $2,000! With the help of Hu Kitchen, you can maximize your impact by having your donation matched dollar-for-dollar.
Give now to give more! Gifts at every level will support leadership development by covering program costs from seeds to youth participation awards. For more information on our Amplify Austin Day or to make your gift early, click here.
AMPLIFY URBAN ROOTS YOUTH—DONATE NOW!
Each summer, the farm program unites a diverse group of 36 youth to learn and grow on the Urban Roots Farm. Young people age 14 to 17, many living in systematically under-resourced communities in Austin, spend 6 weeks strengthening life and leadership skills, building a unique, nourishing connection with food, and working hands-on to increase food access in our community.
Through the summer farm program, each youth has the opportunity for a transformational experience spending hundreds of hours on the farm, harvesting thousands of pounds of sustainably grown produce, participating in dozens of interactive workshops and cooking classes, and serving our neighbors in need through donating vegetables and volunteering at hunger relief agencies. Each program activity focuses on transferable life and leadership skills, personal health and wellbeing, and food justice values and knowledge that will stay with them for a lifetime.
Stay up to date with Urban Roots by subscribing to our newsletter. Follow us on social media @UrbanRootsATX on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Featured Image Photographer Credit: Lloyd Deviney
Tomorrow is Amplify Austin Day! Urban Roots is calling on our community to invest in future leaders by helping us raise $15,000 for this summers’ farm program. One youth’s chapter at Urban Roots can turn into a lifetime of leadership for our community. With your support, we can continue to uplift youth and support their leadership growth!
Plus, Hu Kitchen is our official Amplify Austin Matching Partner and is matching donations up to $2,000! With the help of Hu Kitchen, you can maximize your impact by having your donation matched dollar-for-dollar. We are so grateful for their generous support!
In case you haven’t heard of them, Hu Kitchen is a values-led food company with a mission centered on helping people “get back to human.” They make great tasting food made with simple and responsibly sourced ingredients. Our friends at Hu Kitchen shared, “We love opportunities to partner with organizations like Urban Roots that take a similarly holistic approach to food itself and the communities they take a part in.” Urban Roots is honored to partner with Hu Kitchen for this important fundraiser for this summer’s youth farm programming!
Give now to give more! Gifts at every level will support leadership development by covering program costs from seeds to youth participation awards. For more information on our Amplify Austin Day or to make your gift early, click here.
Each summer, the farm program unites a diverse group of 36 youth to learn and grow on the Urban Roots Farm. Young people age 14 to 17, many living in systematically under-resourced communities in Austin, spend 6 weeks strengthening life and leadership skills, building a unique, nourishing connection with food, and working hands-on to increase food access in our community.
Through the summer farm program, each youth has the opportunity for a transformational experience spending hundreds of hours on the farm, harvesting thousands of pounds of sustainably grown produce, participating in dozens of interactive workshops and cooking classes, and serving our neighbors in need through donating vegetables and volunteering at hunger relief agencies. Each program activity focuses on transferable life and leadership skills, personal health and wellbeing, and food justice values and knowledge that will stay with them for a lifetime.
Stay up to date with Urban Roots by subscribing to our newsletter. Follow us on social media @UrbanRootsATX on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Featured Image Photographer Credit: Lloyd Deviney
Something that really inspired me and motivated me was seeing how some of the other interns were growing out of their shell, becoming leaders, and having a voice for themselves. It motivated me to grow more.
– Jeff, Food and Leadership Fellow, 2020
Sure, Urban Roots youth help to grow some of the most beautiful produce in town, but that’s not all that’s growing on the farm. The youth themselves are growing in ways that inspire us every day, whether they are trying new skills, like growing and cooking their own squash for the first time, or facilitating an intergenerational recipe development project in the community.
Urban Roots programs support youth leaders as they explore the very foundation of who they are–their identity, their personal food stories and how those stories are connected to their culture; and they practice leadership skills like public speaking, team-building and problem-solving. South Austin Intern, Melanie, shared this about her experience, “I realized I can actually do this! My self-esteem started to rise.” With every new experience, every connection with fellow youth, they bravely step out of their comfort zones. And the reward for that kind of courage is a more deeply rooted confidence and empowerment, and our community is all the better for that!
Early giving for Amplify Austin is happening now! Support personal growth and confidence of youth leaders in our community by giving to Urban Roots before Amplify Austin Day, March 2 – 3, 2022. Gifts at every level will support leadership development by covering program costs, from seeds to youth participation awards, for this summer’s youth farm program.
Will you make a gift today in support of the 2022 summer farm program?
Each summer, the farm program unites a diverse group of 36 youth to learn and grow on the Urban Roots Farm. Young people age 14 to 17, many living in systematically under-resourced communities in Austin, spend 6 weeks strengthening life and leadership skills, building a unique, nourishing connection with food, and working hands-on to increase food access in our community.
Through the summer farm program, each youth has the opportunity for a transformational experience spending hundreds of hours on the farm, harvesting thousands of pounds of sustainably grown produce, participating in dozens of interactive workshops and cooking classes, and serving our neighbors in need through donating vegetables and volunteering at hunger relief agencies. Each program activity focuses on transferable life and leadership skills, personal health and wellbeing, and food justice values and knowledge that will stay with them for a lifetime.
Stay up to date with Urban Roots by subscribing to our newsletter. Follow us on social media @UrbanRootsATX on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Featured Image Photographer Credit: Lloyd Deviney
Save the date for the 10th annual Urban Roots Tour de Farm: The Farmer + The Chef + The Village on May 11, 2022 from 6-9 p.m.! You’re invited to an inspiring gathering that will feature a conversation with our community about food and food access led by Urban Roots youth leaders. Join us for an evening showcasing young voices of change and a delicious chef-crafted, farm-to-table dinner. Tickets will go on sale in April, and in the meantime, sponsorships and table sponsorships are now available! Contact Development Director Eric Maxson at eric.maxson@urbanrootsatx.org to learn more. Stay tuned to this page for future updates!
The event will include Distant Relatives modern African American food and a plant-strong menu sourced from Urban Roots farms. The menu will be paired with delectable items from the Meanwhile Brewing taproom and local artisan food and beverage makers. The benefit evening also includes:
– a South Austin Farm tour with an artisanal food tasting and signature cocktails;
– a performance by singer and soulwriter Ray Prim and his band;
– Chulita Vinyl Club ATX spinning the cocktail hour – El Disco es Cultura!;
– an auction and raffle; and
– lively yard games and great conversation!
This is an outdoor and COVID-conscious in-person event.
Stay up to date with Urban Roots by subscribing to our newsletter. Follow us on social media @UrbanRootsATX on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Save the Date: Amplify Austin is set for March 2 – 3, 2022! Between now and then, Urban Roots is amplifying youth stories that speak to the transformative power of food and farming. Urban Roots youth learn and practice the tools of effective leadership while growing fresh food for neighbors in need. We hope their stories will educate, resonate and inspire you.
This Amplify Austin Day, we’re inviting our community to invest in future leaders by helping us raise $15,000 to support the work of this summer’s youth farm programming. One youth’s chapter at Urban Roots can turn into a lifetime of leadership for our community. With your support, we can continue to uplift youth and support their leadership growth!
Gifts at every level will support leadership development by covering program costs from seeds to youth participation awards and help us expand our impact as we continue to grow on our South and East Austin farms. For more information on our Amplify Austin Day or to make your gift early, click here or visit amplifyatx.org/organizations/urban-roots-atx.
Each summer, the farm program unites a diverse group of 36 youth to learn and grow on the Urban Roots Farm. Young people age 14 to 17, many living in systematically under-resourced communities in Austin, spend 6 weeks strengthening life and leadership skills, building a unique, nourishing connection with food, and working hands-on to increase food access in our community.
Through the summer farm program, each youth has the opportunity for a transformational experience spending hundreds of hours on the farm, harvesting thousands of pounds of sustainably grown produce, participating in dozens of interactive workshops and cooking classes, and serving our neighbors in need through donating vegetables and volunteering at hunger relief agencies. Each program activity focuses on transferable life and leadership skills, personal health and wellbeing, and food justice values and knowledge that will stay with them for a lifetime.
Will you make a gift today in support of the 2022 summer farm program?
Stay up to date with Urban Roots by subscribing to our newsletter. Follow us on social media @UrbanRootsATX on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Featured Image Photographer Credit: Lauren Slusher Photography
This past month, the Urban Roots family has grown, with a new season of the Food and Leadership Fellowship kicking off! Meanwhile, the South Austin Interns were busy on and off the farm developing their leadership skills and more. Keep reading to get a full update on our new and growing leaders!
This month we were happy to have Amanda, Christina, Catherine, Noel, Ahnika, Zane, Mirella, Meghan, Cameron and Kanti join our Urban Roots family, and welcome back Ana and Ava as Assistant Crew Leaders for our Spring Food and Leadership Program. They’ve been learning the farm, spring cleaning, and preparing for the coming season. Stay tuned for more updates next month!
Meanwhile, the South Austin Interns have been getting dirty with seeding, processing, and field maintenance for spring, as well as doing in-person outreach to invite folks to apply for the Food and Leadership Program. They’ve also been discussing the significance of February being Black History Month, reading poetry on the subject, and learning about Black American farmers. They’ll be doing a “photo voice” project this month as well—what hard working, busy bees! Keep an eye out for their photography!
Stay up to date with Urban Roots by subscribing to our newsletter. Follow us on social media @UrbanRootsATX on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
This past month, Urban Roots young leaders were hard at work in their leadership programs. The Fall 2021 Food and Leadership Fellowship cohort wrapped up their season on January 14th, and South Austin Interns kicked off the year at the farm to practice and develop some key leadership skills. Keep reading to get a full update.
Congratulations to our Fall 2021 Food and Leadership Fellows for completing their program earlier this month! During their final weeks, they harvested most of the remaining carrots and cabbage at the South Austin Farm for our food access partners, helped prepare the east Austin Farm for our next season; and participated in a final workshop of pickling rainbow carrots with local farmer friend Hannah Beall. We wish our fellow alumni the best and hope to stay connected with them along the way! Way to go, Micayla, Jeff, Nicole, Isaiah, Renae, Cooper, Luis, Ana, Ava, Bianca, and Nathanial!
South Austin Interns returned from the winter break to spend more time on our east Austin farm to familiarize themselves with some of our farm processes. So far, they have worked on seeding red and green cabbage, processing carrots, and clearing the fields post-freeze to make room for the next growing season. These activities give us opportunities to practice and observe public speaking and teaching skills. We also made sure to save some room for a different type of fun—interns got to relax and enjoy a gift exchange over some tacos and snacks after one of our work blocks!
Stay up to date with Urban Roots by subscribing to our newsletter. Follow us on social media @UrbanRootsATX on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
The Urban Roots team is growing! We’re currently hiring for three staff positions. Plus, we’re still accepting applications for a paid youth program! Want to join the team? Learn more about these opportunities below.
Urban Roots Staff Positions Available: The deadline to apply for all three positions is February 4th!
Urban Roots Youth Program Opportunity:
– Spring 2022 Food & Leadership Fellowship: Apply by January 30th!
Stay up to date with Urban Roots by subscribing to our newsletter. Follow us on social media @UrbanRootsATX on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Featured Photo Credit: Lauren Slusher Photography
