When We Grow Together, We Grow Together

K-12 STEAM Education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

The issue of food insecurity and food injustice is something that is more apparent now than ever before. It relates to both K-12 STEAM Education and Green Spaces as we need to incorporate both education and creation to bring food security to those locally in the city of Los Angeles. Individuals having to choose between healthy food and other things like clothes shouldn't be the reality we live in. Physical, mental and emotional wellbeing are all heavily impacted by the environments we are in and the food we eat. This problem is affecting everyone, all across the globe, however, our kids are heavily impacted by this as they are growing up in a time where fast food is glorified and healthy food isn't valued. In the United States, individuals in food deserts are an average of 3 miles away from healthy, fresh food. Teaching individuals how to grow, tend to and harvest their own food is not only beneficial for themselves, but also beneficial for the preservation of the planet.

The program we are looking to have this grant support is in depth educational programming that can be accessible for teachers, parents, leaders, etc. to learn how to plant, grow and harvest their own food. We would like to host workshops quarterly at The Ron Finley Project garden covering topics from composting to hugelkultur to vermiculture. In addition to these live workshops, we will utilize the grant for recording material that will turn into modules and live on the website for individuals to access on a sliding scale. Each of these modules will be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour that can lead individuals through introductory, intermediate and advanced gardening topics. It will range from starting their own home garden to starting a community garden. Each of these modules will have a correlated list of tools and materials needed for each one respectively so that those who are watching know what to have ready to implement what they've learned from the module. Through accessible and informative education on these topics, we aim to empower individuals and communities to grow their own food, promote self-sufficiency, and engage with one another.

LA County will be different when our work is successful because individuals will be more educated on the resources around them. They'll learn what's truly valuable is healthy, nutritious, organic food and that you can't eat diamonds. While there are great programs out there teaching these skills and lessons to kids, they aren't always available or accessible for all kids and bridging this gap is part of our vision for this program. We aim to spark the thought in their minds that this planet is alive and it is our responsibility to keep it that way. We do that by protecting the planet and protecting ourselves. The county will look and feel different as we see the children knowing the importance of what they're putting in their bodies and seeing communities grow together. In learning the value of Mother Earth and that you shouldn't trash the Mother, we aim to have a cleaner city and work towards being one of the healthiest cities in the world.

With this being an early-stage project, we'll define and measure success first and foremost by the smiles on people's faces. We would like to track and measure the health outcomes in the city. We will also define success by the number of families impacted by this program and aim to send follow-ups after both workshops and the virtual modules are taken to gain feedback and learn more about the impact made. We'll know it's been successful, when there is more beauty throughout the city and see a shift in the air quality.