Alchemist Cdc

WE CONNECT SACRAMENTO AREA COMMUNITIES TO LAND, FOOD AND OPPORTUNITIES

FARMERS' MARKET PROGRAMS: PROVIDED CALFRESH PROCESSING SERVICES FOR 8 FARMERS' MARKETS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO AN ADDITIONAL 12 MARKETS AND FARM STANDS, TO ENSURE THAT LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD. ALCHEMIST OFFERED CALFRESH APPLICATION ASSISTANCE AND IMPLEMENTED THE MARKET MATCH INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT MATCHED CALFRESH BENEFITS SPENT AT FARMERS' MARKETS. MARKET MATCH EMPOWERS LOW-INCOME SHOPPERS TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES BY OVERCOMING FINANCIAL BARRIERS. IN 2023, ALCHEMIST CDC PROCESSED 49,453 CALFRESH TRANSACTIONS, AND FACILITATED THE DISTRIBUTION OF 686,636 IN CALFRESH AND 590,232 IN MARKET MATCH INCENTIVES TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. IN 2023 ALCHEMIST CDC IMPLEMENTED THE CA FRUIT & VEGETABLE PILOT PROJECT AT TWO FARMERS' MARKET LOCATIONS. THIS PROJECT PROVIDED UP TO 60 IN MONTHLY NUTRITION INCENTIVES WHEN PARTICIPANTS PURCHASED FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITH CALFRESH BENEFITS. ALCHEMIST'S FACILITATION OF THIS PROGRAM RESULTED IN LOW-INCOME PARTICIPANTS EARNING 328,364 IN CALFRESH PURCHASING INCENTIVES. ADDITIONALLY IN 2023, ALCHEMIST LAUNCHED THE PEOPLE TO PRODUCE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARATRANSIT AND MEALS ON WHEELS. THIS PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED 20 IN WEEKLY VOUCHERS TO UP TO 64 SENIOR PARTICIPANTS, TO ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION INACCESSIBILITY AND ENCOURAGE THE USE OF PARATRANSIT'S FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE TO THE FLORIN FARMERS' MARKET. IN 2023, ALCHEMIST DISTRIBUTED 38,470 IN FARMERS' MARKET VOUCHERS TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.

PARTICIPATED IN COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS TO DEVELOP AND EXPLORE SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS, COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED HEALTH AND WELLBEING CHALLENGES FOR LOW-INCOME AND UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS. ADVOCATED FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

ALCHEMIST KITCHEN: ALCHEMIST KITCHEN IS A FOOD BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOCUSING ON ENTREPRENEURS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS AND UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. IN 2023, THE PROGRAM SERVED 61 BUSINESSES. THE ENTREPRENEURS WE'VE SERVED ARE 67% ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR, 60% LOW-INCOME, 63% FEMALE, 23% LGBTQIA+, 16% ENTREPRENEURS WITH A DISABILITY AND 4% VETERANS. THE ALCHEMIST MICROENTERPRISE ACADEMY (AMA) IS A 12-WEEK FOOD BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM COVERING FUNDAMENTAL TOPICS FOR STARTING AND GROWING A FOOD BUSINESS. IN 2023 WE GRADUATED 32 BUSINESSES ACROSS TWO COHORTS WITH EACH COHORT OF AMA HAVING OVER 48 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION AND 25 GUEST INSTRUCTORS. THE ALCHEMIST KITCHEN INCUBATOR PROGRAM (AKIP) PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT, GOAL PLANNING, CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND REDUCED-RENT AT COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACES FOR PARTICIPATING FOOD BUSINESSES. IN 2023 WE GREW THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES IN THE INCUBATOR PROGRAM TO 27, PROVIDING THEM A COMBINED TOTAL OF OVER 600 HOURS OF 1-ON-1 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. INCUBATOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS USED OVER 1,100 HOURS AT ALCHEMIST KITCHEN (SHARED COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SPACE) AND HAD A COMBINED TOTAL OF OVER 655,000 IN SALES. WE ALSO CONNECTED THESE BUSINESSES TO OVER 22,000 IN GRANTS.

NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT: ALCHEMIST CDC SERVED AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS 95820 PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDES FREE WEEKLY LOCAL PRODUCE DELIVERIES TO HIGH-NEED, FOOD-INSECURE FAMILIES IN SOUTH SACRAMENTO, UNTIL THE FALL OF 2023 WHEN IT BECAME AN ALCHEMIST CDC PROGRAM, COMMUNITY FOOD CONNECTIONS, AND EXPANDED SERVICES TO INCLUDE FOOD BOXES WITH SHELF STABLE PRODUCT DELIVERED BY SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. ADDITIONALLY, ALCHEMIST CDC IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH LOCAL NEIGHBORS TO REMAKE BLIGHTED LAND INTO VIBRANT, NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES THROUGH DIRECT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, DESIGN AND HANDS-ON PARTICIPATION IN CREATING PUBLIC GARDENS AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE: THE OAK PARK ART GARDEN (FEATURING A 15-FRUIT TREE PUBLIC FOOD FOREST, NATIVE POLLINATOR GARDEN, SPRAY ART FREE WALL, AND ART INSTALLATIONS); OAK PARK SOL COMMUNITY GARDEN (FEATURING 17 RENTABLE PLOTS, AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN AND CHILDREN'S GARDEN/CREATIVE SPACE); AND THE PANSY COMMUNITY GARDEN PARK (FEATURING 9 RENTABLE PLOTS, CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND, PICNIC AREA AND 5 FRUIT TREES). ALCHEMIST CDC ALSO PROVIDES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE MIRASOL VILLAGE COMMUNITY GARDEN, FEATURING 68 PLOTS, OVER 30 FRUIT TREES AND GRAPE VINES, AND AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN AND EDUCATION AREA. THESE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY SPACES PROVIDE A PLACE TO GROW FOOD, EXPRESS AND SHARE CREATIVITY, DEMONSTRATE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND BUILD COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY.