HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Roger Horne-Urban GreenworksSubmitted into the pubic
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URBAN GREENWORKS
54 NE 99th Street, Miami Shores, Florida 33138
E I N#: 27-3974009
(786) 873-0526
City Clerk
Urban GreenWorks (UGW) is a multi -faceted organization whose programs are dedicated to
planetary health, food security, and social responsibility. UGW has orchestrated a number of
programs to serve many disenfranchised communities, such as the Mustard Seed project that
worked with abused women and veterans; we have developed school garden curriculum, food
forests, aquaponic systems, and urban farms; we create and restore native habitat through our
"Hammocks in da Hood" and "Pollinator Pathways" projects; we offer sustainable, replicable,
and community -driven services to those interested in the work; we are developing farm training
programs for youth (elementary to college); and we continue to grow healthy, affordable, organic
food (up to 7500 Ibs.).
UGW was founded in 2010, with the intent of improving the environmental quality and
community health of inner-city neighborhoods. Our aim was to first disrupt the "Cradle to Prison
Pipeline" - a system of incarceration that plagued many urban communities. We began with a
horticulture program at the South Florida Reception Center, a youth out -of -prison service in
Miami -Dade County, and then at the Department of Juvenile Justice. We engaged participants
in community -based environmental and food security projects - from planting trees to increase
canopy coverage, to building food forest at local schools to bring food security awareness and
education to children in a "food desert" community.
UGW started growing food as part of its community food security programming 11 years ago
through a small community grant from the American Community Gardening Association. We
had the idea of combining small plot gardens across the City to create one big community urban
farm. We connected with supporters at the City of Miami and inquired about open -spaces,
unused and available.
Food is Medicine. After 2 years of corporate restructuring and reorganizing, UGW lives at the
intersection of planetary and population health. Our team of public health experts, farmers,
residents, and community partners help us in studying planetary health not only through the
society -inflicted disruptions, but also through analysis of the effects on our food systems and the
impacts on human health.
Signature Programs
Cerasee Urban Community Farm
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Cerasee Farm is the result of UGW s initial food security programming. It is located on 3 City
lots ('/3 acre) in Liberty City, FL - a USDA certified "food desert". We bring agriculture and
nutrition awareness/education through workshops, training, demonstrations, lectures, and
hands-on activity. Food is Medicine!!! This is what we teach, with the goals of improving
preventive and community health outcomes through nutrition education and health awareness.
Bee Girls (CombCutters collaboration)
The BEE Girls program defines the relationship between bees, our pollinator gardens, and our
edible farms. It is intended to help young girls confront fear and build confidence, through
education about and hands-on interaction with bees.
CRAFT Scholars Program (Barry U collaboration)
CRAFT (Creating Resilience through Agriculture and Farm Training) Scholars Program starts in
the Spring of 2024 with 10 college students participating in UGW's "Impact Academy" - an
online training system that uses modular learning, guest lectures, site visits, and hand -on
training to educate young people about the opportunities available to them in the field of
agriculture, food production, and consumption.
Participatory Budgeting (University of Miami collaboration)
Participatory budgeting is an activity whereby community members meet to discuss the need for
funds to address local issues, debate solutions and establish priorities, propose budgets to fund
solutions, and offer formal budgetary plans to City or County officials.
This program was started right before the pandemic. The collaborative team provided several
training sessions to various community groups that requested the service. Our biggest success
to date is in West Liberty City where members of a local church have taken ownership of the
process and made great strides in their efforts to improve their community. UGW continues to
work with this group in studying and addressing the social and structural determinants of
health.
Planting seeds in the community through awareness, education, and community
involvement.
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Belated farm manager Anita Franchetti working the compost system in 2020.
Initial participatory budgeting meeting in 2020.
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Farm stand at Little Haiti Cultural Arts Center, run by local youth.
Student volunteers at Cerasee Farm during a spring break work visit.
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Ingrid Robinson, our resident farm manager.
An expecting mom getting healthy food at Cerasee Farm.
City Clerk
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Kids can cook too! Vegan youth chefs presenting samples at Cerasee Farm event.
CombCutters teaches kids about bees, farming, and the environment at Cerasee Farm.
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Teens at a local high school working hard on their farm site.
We start them young, so that there is greater impact.
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City Clerk
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Melba Rose on Z City
1055 NW 50th Street
Miami, Florida 33127
Re: City Hall Meeting
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami Florida 33133
To whom it may concern,
This correspondence is being penned in support of the Urban GreenWorks (UGW) project.
Roger Horne has been for many years a professional acquaintance of mine. He is highly
regarded for his expertise, creativity and consistency of his craft within our community. His
educational platform integrates the sciences with hands-on experience that inspires children to
develop interests and aspirations towards agriculture, hydroponics and other areas of natural
science.
To enhance his future opportunities for children's experiential learning. I am in full support of
UGW being allocated designated community lots that can be converted to urban farm spaces
accessible to the community. Opportunities of this nature are sorely needed with rising food
costs and smaller supply selection at stores. However, this process engages the community in
a cooperative process that supports health, nutrition, and potential commerce. Wholeheartedly,
I support the transfer of community lots to Urban GreenWorks for the purposes of creating urban
farming and food security resources in our community.
Sincerely,
Melba Rose
Resident & Advisory Board Member