What's Happening?
The Gaining Relevant and Outstanding Work Skills (GROWS) program, an initiative of Cornell Cooperative Extension Monroe County, has significantly expanded its operations due to the acquisition of a new van. This program targets young adults aged 18 to 24
who face employment barriers, such as single parenthood, past incarceration, or not having completed high school. The van has enabled the program to increase its field trips, logging 448 miles between early June and early August, compared to 87 miles in the same period last year using personal vehicles. This expansion has allowed GROWS to grow from two participants to six, with plans to accommodate up to ten participants across two growing seasons in the coming year. The program focuses on teaching urban farming skills while also imparting valuable work, career, and life lessons, including routine setting, professionalism, and budgeting for healthy food. The Avangrid Foundation assisted GROWS in acquiring the new vehicle.
Why It's Important?
This expansion is crucial for addressing food insecurity and unemployment in urban areas. By providing young adults with urban farming skills, GROWS helps them connect with healthy, accessible food systems and contributes to local food pantries like People’s Pantry and Trillium Health’s Food and Nutrition Pantry. This directly impacts neighborhoods identified as food deserts, improving access to fresh produce. Furthermore, the program offers a pathway to employment for a vulnerable demographic, equipping them with practical skills and fostering independence. The increased capacity due to the new van means more individuals can benefit from the program's holistic approach, which combines agricultural training with essential life and career development, ultimately strengthening community resilience and local food economies.
What's Next?
Rachel DeVona, the urban garden educator for GROWS, anticipates further growth for the program. She hopes to implement two seasons of GROWS programs annually, with a team of five participants from April through July and another team of five from August through October. This would allow the program to provide quality programming to a total of ten individuals each growing season. The continued use of the new van will facilitate more field trips to local urban farms and gardens, providing ongoing support and learning opportunities for participants. The program aims to continue its mission of connecting young adults to healthy food systems and providing them with valuable life and career skills, potentially expanding its reach and impact within the community.
Beyond the Headlines
The GROWS program exemplifies a multi-faceted approach to community development, addressing not only food access but also social equity and workforce development. By targeting young adults facing significant barriers, the program tackles systemic issues that contribute to cycles of poverty and unemployment. The emphasis on practical life skills alongside urban farming creates a sustainable model for empowerment, fostering self-sufficiency and community engagement. This initiative highlights the broader trend of urban agriculture as a tool for social change, demonstrating how local food systems can be leveraged to create healthier, more equitable communities. The program's success could serve as a model for other urban areas seeking innovative solutions to similar challenges.
