Title
Celebrating Urban Roots and its 50 years serving the Saint Paul community.
Body
Whereas, Urban Roots celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2019 and is a vital local institution that cultivates youth leadership through connections to nature, healthy food and community with its unique “earn as you learn” programs; and
Whereas, the organization has a rich history serving the Twin Cities, beginning as a community development resource and evolving into a thriving youth development organization focused on engaging young people on Saint Paul’s East Side in life and work skills focused on healthy food and environmental stewardship while gaining entrepreneurial skills; and
Whereas, it was originally founded as the Community Design Center of MN, when its focus included services such as architecture, urban planning, economic development and food access; and
Whereas, the organization changed its name to Urban Roots in 2014 to reflect the shift in organizational focus to programs for youth and their families on the East Side; and
Whereas, Urban Roots has provided opportunities for over a thousand youth to gain job and life skills through hands-on programming while working with community and business leaders; and
Whereas, today, Urban Roots’ earn-as-you-learn paid internships continue to offer participants unique experiences working with local chefs, farmers markets, park managers and small businesses; and
Whereas, using three pillar programs to immerse students in job-skills through hands-on experience with healthy food and habitat restoration; and
Whereas, the three pillar programs are Market Garden, where interns learn urban agriculture while gaining skills in a “seed-to-sale” business model; Cook Fresh, where interns develop recipes and prepare healthy meals with the guidance of local chefs; and Conservation, where interns work to improve green spaces in their community; and
Whereas, by participating in Urban Roots’ internships, Saint Paul ...
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