Sarah Webster Fabio Center For Social Justice

HUMMINGBIRDS URBAN FARMING COLLECTIVE HUMMINGBIRDS IS A CHILDREN'S PROJECT DEDICATED TO CREATING DEEP CONNECTIONS TO LAND AND COMMUNITY FOR CHILDREN OF COLOR. THE NAME IS INSPIRED BY A FOLK TALE TOLD BY WARANGARI MAATHAI ABOUT THE MIGHTY POWER OF EVEN THE SMALLEST AMONG US. WE ARE BUILDING A LAND PROJECT IN THE OAKLAND HILLS THAT WILL SERVE AS A COMMUNITY SPACE CENTERED ON CHILDREN, CAREGIVERS, AND EDUCATORS. THIS IS AN ASPIRING BLACK-LED, LAND-BASED LIBERATION SPACE FOR HEALING, GROWING, AND LEARNING. THIS PROJECT WAS BORN OUT OF THE DESIRE TO PROVIDE CHILDREN FROM OAKLAND ACCESS TO OPEN LAND, GARDENING, NUTRITION, ANIMAL CARE, AND UPKEEP. THE CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES WILL BE THE STEWARDS OF THIS LAND, LEARNING HARD SKILLS THAT WILL SUPPORT HEALTHY, CONNECTED FUTURES. RECENT RESEARCH POINTS TO THE POWER OF PLAY, OUTDOOR SPACE, AND CONNECTION TO ANIMALS FOR THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE. ACCORDING TO WWW.LIFESBETTEROUTSIDE.ORG, CHILDREN WHO PLAY OUTSIDE ARE "HEALTHIER PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, DO BETTER IN SCHOOL, HAVE HIGHER SELF-ESTEEM, HAVE GOOD SELF-DISCIPLINE, FEEL MORE CAPABLE AND CONFIDENT, ARE GOOD PROBLEM SOLVERS, ARE MORE COOPERATIVE WITH OTHERS, ARE MORE CREATIVE, FEEL CONNECTED TO NATURE, ARE TOMORROWS CONSERVATIVE LEADERS." WE ARE LAUNCHING AN ONGOING SERIES OF COMMUNITY WORK DAYS THAT WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR NETWORK OF FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND SUPPORTERS TO CONTRIBUTE SOME SWEAT EQUITY TO THE PROJECT, CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND SHARE/BUILD VISIONS FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS IN THE SPACE.