Seeding an Equitable Future

In 2021, we finalized a five-year strategic plan designed to enrich our three areas of focus: youth development, food justice, and community wellbeing. The goal is to expand on each of these founding pillars to increase our impact across all areas of our work.

“The centrality of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in our youth programs serves as a beacon for the organization, guiding our approach to community partnerships and staff culture,” says Anne Hayes, Executive Director. “This strategic plan comes at a time of both internal and external growth, enabling us to make a greater impact in each of the communities we serve.”

The planning process began in 2020, but came to a quick halt with the rest of the world when COVID-19 hit that March. Planning resumed in 2021 with every staff member contributing ideas to ensure growth in each of their departments. 

Our main goals are:

Extending leadership pathways by providing more opportunities for youth to build critical skills and demonstrate their leadership throughout the organization’s work, including through new fellowships for alumni.  

Advancing food justice by building on our partnerships to increase access to fresh, healthy, affordable food, particularly by supporting residents in growing their own food through our expanding Build-A-Garden initiative.

Investing in community health by working with neighbors and like minded organizations to create transformative spaces that bring people together around food and serve the greater community.

“This plan allows us to dream a little bigger, grow a little stronger, and bloom in ways in which we haven’t before,” says Hayes. “I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for The Food Project family.”