Urban Roots of Tennessee, a new agricultural training center for youth in Raleigh is set to provide transformative learning experiences, generate opportunities for children and allow them to give back to the community.
A ribbon-cutting was held Aug. 20 for the $1.5 million garden and educational space located behind Tennessee Full Gospel Baptist, 3240 James Road in Memphis.
In the coming months, the bare soil, will soon be filled with all manner of fruits and vegetables under the care of local youth.
The new program gives children and teenagers a place to learn about agriculture and sustainability, gain leadership and entrepreneurial skills, and enjoy spending time with
their peers.
'Answered prayer' to propel youth opportunities
Founder Edward Stephens III said Urban Roots was an “answered prayer” for providing opportunities for local children and teens across Memphis.
“We are in the barrier-removing business,” Stephens said, “removing the barrier between our children and opportunity, removing the barrier between our classroom and real-world learning experience, between education and entrepreneurship, between where a young person is today and what they might become."
Urban Roots’ garden space is tranquil.
Around the looping path that surrounds a man-made pond and fountain, areas are situated for kids to learn about agriculture, from planting small and large beds for vegetables like okra, peppers and eggplants to maintaining a chicken coop.
Plant diagrams throughout the space teach students optimal methods for farming nearly a dozen different types of plants.
A covered gathering space, and a tool shed doubling as storage also rests on the property.
Stephens said to further teach entrepreneurship, any produce grown will be sold back to the local community at a premium.
“We cannot continue training our children to pass standardized tests,” he said. “We've got to teach them how they can compete in this increasingly globalized and automated community.”
Building community
Joey Lankford, executive director of Cul2vate, is sponsoring Urban Roots. Cul2vate provides fresh local produce to people fighting food insecurity and trains formerly incarcerated people and those in recovery to farm.
Lankford, who’s now visited Memphis twice, praised the city’s “friendliness,” but also the ways in which agriculture is able to unite people and build community.
“I think agriculture is going to lead us into conversations that we've never been able to have,” he said. “ ... everybody has to eat. We need to learn more about what it means to the community and our family table, and bring that back into the homes across this state, and we will find each other around that table and around the food that's produced in this garden by these kids.”
The work of agriculture advisor Maddy Hunter ensures that Urban Roots’ agricultural curriculum is aligned with the latest farming science.
Hunter said the ribbon cutting is the first of many steps to come over the coming months and years.
“[You’ll see] more students learning here, more food being produced, and more partnerships forming across education, science and industry,” Hunter said. “You'll also see agriculture expand in new ways here, including aquaculture, farmer's markets, and seasonal growing systems that teach not just how to farm, but how to understand cycles, sustainability, and stewardship.”
Urban Roots has two additional phases of construction coming at later dates to expand the space and educational offerings. Those will include a commercial teaching kitchen, solar panels and greenhouses, additional storage and walking paths.
Mayor praises program, possibilities, opportunity
Memphis Mayor Paul Young praised Urban Roots as one of many ways for students to find their interests and passions.
“You never know what that exposure can spark in our young people,” Young said. “We want [young people] to know that there isn't just one definition of success or one road to a good career. Agriculture is a part of this region's history, but it's also very much a part of our future. There are careers in agriculture, food production, technology, sustainability … to build something and to own something.
"And I want the people, the young people of Raleigh and North Memphis to have access to every one of those possibilities.”
Young said community initiatives like Urban Roots are what it takes to “elevate our city”.
“Oftentimes we look beyond opportunities like this. This is the answer, the answer to all of the poverty, all of the crime, the answer is opportunity. And when we can present opportunities like this to our young people, our young people are going to take our community to heights that we've never seen.”
Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal covering Dining, Retail and Real Estate in the Memphis area. You can reach him at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Urban Roots of Tennessee grows produce and opportunity for Memphis youth
