Leaf Project Inc

THE LEAF PROJECT CONNECTS YOUTH TO THE FOOD THEY EAT, THE LAND ON WHICH IT GROWS, AND TO EACH OTHER THROUGH ENGAGING IN FARM WORK, CULINARY SKILL DEVELOPMENT, WORKSHOPS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH THE MEANINGFUL WORK OF BUILDING HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM. YOUTH ARE MOTIVATED TO MAKE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE WHILE INCREASING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AND ACCESS TO LOCALLY RAISED FOOD IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE LEAF PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE YOUTH LEADERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS THROUGH MEANINGFUL WORK IN THE FOOD SYSTEM. WE DO THIS BY EMPLOYING YOUTH LEADERS TO MANAGE FARMING AND FOOD VENTURES WHILE DEVELOPING THEIR UNIQUE LEADERSHIP CAPACITY. WE UTILIZE SKILL DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA SO YOUTH CAN TRACK THEIR COMPETENCIES IN TASKS LIKE TECHNICAL FARMING SKILLS, CULINARY COMPETENCIES, PUBLIC SPEAKING, ETC. MASTERING THESE SKILLS IN A PROGRESSION WILL GUIDE YOUTH THROUGH THEIR GROWTH WITHIN LEAF AND THE COMMUNITY. AS YOUTH LEADERS GAIN HIGHER LEVELS OF SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP, THEY SHARE AUTHORITY IN BUILDING THE ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAM. THE PURPOSE OF CREATING THE LEAF PROJECT WAS TO PARTNER WITH OUR YOUTH'S UNTAPPED POTENTIAL, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE MEANINGFUL WORK OF ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. LEAF HAS DONE EXACTLY THAT OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS, BY HIRING MORE THAN 100 YOUTH INTO YEAR-ROUND POSITIONS MANAGING ORGANIC FARMING AND FOOD VENTURES, WORKING ALONGSIDE REGIONAL LEADERS IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM, AND LAUNCHING NEW INITIATIVES THAT HAVE FED AND EDUCATED MORE THAN 20,000 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.