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In the heart of North Minneapolis, a powerful movement is taking root. For the last day of our Fresh Start campaign, we’re returning our focus to Youth Farm – this time, our team on the Northside.

Youth Farm programming in North Minneapolis is led by Program Director, Marcus Kar, and team of young leaders who are transforming the story around food and quality of life on the Northside.

I spoke with Project LEAD, Jesse, about his experience growing up and working on the Northside. “Growing up was pretty fun. Me and my cousin used to go to the park and just play around, ride our bikes, go and play basketball, go to the park. We was always outdoors doing stuff, it was pretty fun.”

In many conversations about the Northside, it gets dubbed a “food desert” due to the lack of access to fresh and nutritious food. This phenomenon is not naturally occurring. It is due to a long history of systemic displacement and disinvestment in the area – an intentional and systemic process of segregation. For this reason, when we talk about food access in areas of the Twin Cities populated by primarily Black and Indigenous people, we use the term food apartheid.

The work of the Northside team is all about investing in our own communities and working to keep resources in the neighborhoods that need it most. We provide hands-on agricultural and nutrition education, all while working to support youth leadership development. As a result, we’re fostering sustainable local food systems and empowering young individuals to become agents of change.

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Jesse has been a part of this team since he was very young. “I first started [Youth Farm] in elementary. Mr. Marcus had come for a cooking class and I just got hooked onto the cooking class.” Over the years, Jesse stayed involved in Youth Farm programs. Now, as a Project LEAD, he is playing a major role in growing multiple acres of urban farmland on the Northside, providing fresh produce for his friends, family, and neighbors.

By empowering young individuals to grow and share food, we are not only addressing immediate needs but also sowing the seeds for a sustainable and just future. “Gardening made me look at nature in a different way, nature is not just big trees. Everything is nature around you.” By shifting the story and perspectives young people have on their environment, we can build a more sustainable and equitable future.

Thank you for your support of Youth Farm. Together, we can sow the seeds of change, nourish our communities, and cultivate a future where every young person thrives. Join us on this journey of growth and transformation today.

Thank you!
Pedro A. Bayón

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Picture this: a group of passionate young activists leading climate strikes, advocating for environmental justice, and demanding equitable policies around the world. Youth n’ Power creates moments like these, where youth take center stage, making their voices heard and inspiring meaningful action.

In our rapidly changing world, the youth face a myriad of challenges, including climate change, social inequity, and a lack of representation. These obstacles hinder their ability to address urgent issues and contribute to a better world. 

Youth n’ Power recognizes the immense potential of young people as change-makers. Through their dynamic programs and initiatives, they provide a platform for youth to develop leadership skills, deepen their understanding of systemic issues, and actively participate in building sustainable communities. 

I caught up with one of the current co-directors of Youth N’ Power, Traiveon Dunlap, to learn more about this transformative work. Youth N’ Power was founded by Traiveon and co-director Analyah Schlaeger dos Santos as a collaboration between MNIPL (Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light) and RCFL (Redeemer Center for Life). Over the years, Youth n’ Power has engaged over 5,000 young individuals, equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to become change agents. Through their initiatives, they have influenced policy decisions at local, regional, and national levels, driving positive change in areas such as renewable energy, environmental justice, and sustainable transportation.

Today, Youth N’ Power is taking on new life and entering into a new era, seeking to create an even greater impact in the lives of young people and in our communities through music, art, environmental justice organizing, and regenerative agriculture.

“The Peace N’ Power Garden, that’s a big project of ours. We’re trying to get in there and be intentional with what we’re planting in hopes that during the fall, [what we plant] can be harvested and preserved for the neighborhood through the winter. We’re partnering with Sovereign Starts in hopes of building this sort of Northside hub, where we’re harvesting from the gardens that we have access to and building up our resources.”

Our neighbor in North Minneapolis, we’ve collaborated with Youth N’ Power over the years through our shared connection to youth, food, and agriculture. This summer, we’re keeping that connection alive by collaborating in gardens, kitchens, and by simply being there for one another – keeping a village concept of community building front and center in North Minneapolis.

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“The most important thing of community is connection. You know, whether it’s connecting in space, having fellowship. Not necessarily knowing all your neighbors, but knowing them well enough to care for their being. Picking up the trash in front of your area, or even your next door area, and not saying that “that’s their problem.” Sharing all the problems, sharing all the issues. Many voices into one voice, if you will.”

We’re proud to be in community with Youth N’ Power and all of the other organizations, residents, and most importantly, youth, who are investing in a brighter and more sustainable future for everyone.

The future belongs to the youth, a generation brimming with passion, creativity, and a burning desire to shape the world. Together, let’s amplify the voices of young change-makers, foster a culture of sustainability, and create a world where youth are active leaders in shaping our future.

We invite you to support our cause. Your contribution will enable us to expand our reach, provide more opportunities for youth engagement, and foster the next generation of leaders dedicated to creating a just and sustainable future. 

Hope to see some donations soon!
Pedro A. Bayón

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My name is Pedro A. Bayón – allow me to introduce you to Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio aka CLUES. CLUES is changing lives and transforming latino communities across state of Minneosta. Latinos make up 5.5% of Minnesotans, yet 21% of Latinos are living below the poverty level, compared to 10% of all Minnesotans. Limited access to education, healthcare disparities, language barriers, and economic inequality all create a cycle of disempowerment, perpetuating inequities and limiting opportunities for growth for Latino individuals and families across our state.

At CLUES, they believe that every person deserves the opportunity to thrive, and envision a society where all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances, can unlock their potential and contribute to the greater good. Youth Farm is proud to be able to support this visionary work by providing free starts for their community gardening program.

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I spoke w/ Community Garden and Engagement Coordinator, Kelli Cook, about CLUES’ impact on the health and wellbeing surrounding Latino communities in the Twin Cities. “In the community health department [of CLUES] we have MNSure, food shelves, health screenings, and the garden, too.”

The Community Garden, located next to CLUES’ headquarters in East St. Paul, is a gathering space for the community to connect. “Community is everything,” says Kelli, “if we’re not united then there’s no power in that at all. It’s so empowering to be a part of community.”

“It just feels like a big family [in the garden]. Everybody is just happy to be together and connect with each other. That’s definitely my favorite part. It’s when relationships form and blossom, seeing kids run around, and people harvesting and enjoying the space together.”

At Youth Farm, we know that community gardens are not only a place to access nutritious food and gain skills, they’re a place to connect with the community and work together to create lasting change.

We are only as strong as our connections to one another. At Youth Farm, our mission is to seed, nurture, and tend to these connections in every aspect of our work; through our programs, students, plants, and all of the other resources at our disposal. This year, our fundraiser highlights work in our lovely St. Paul Greenhouse, located next to Cherokee Heights Elementary School. 

My name is Pedro Antonio Bayón, I’m a Farm Steward at Youth Farm. I work in the Greenhouse alongside Program Manager AJ Zozulin and Farm Steward Interns Karla Moreno Polanco and Tomini Ola.

While interviewing my team about their work at Youth Farm, Karla shared that he found community on the West Side through his work at Youth Farm.

“Moving from, Phoenix, AZ (which is a very big Latino community) to the Macalaster-Groveland area was a big change. During my first year at Mac, I was especially missing that feeling of community. So, working on the West Side and building a relationship to that neighborhood has been very important for me to feel more comfortable living in Saint Paul…It feels important for me to be able to serve the community in some way. It feels important to be able to give something back.”

We all came to Youth Farm at different times for different reasons, but what connects us all to this work is that we are making a difference in our beloved community by providing fresh produce.

Over the past years, Minnesotans have drastically increased the number of visits made to food shelves. In just this past year, Minnesotan families broke the state record for most food shelf visits within a calendar year, a staggering 5,505,100¹.

This statistic is just the tip of the iceberg surrounding the topic of food access/inequality across our beloved state. In Saint Paul, the neighborhoods Youth Farm works in (the West Side and Frogtown) are hit particularly hard by this. By distributing free plant starts and growing food, we’re increasing food access not only in St. Paul, but in the Twin Cities as a whole.

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Since the inception of our living room-sized Greenhouse in 2017, our St. Paul team has been able to seed, nurture, and distribute over 53,000 plants of different varieties across the Twin Cities, selected by the Farm Team and partners alike. After a few months of care, the plants we grow are distributed free of charge via our close partnerships with many organizations and schools across the Twin Cities.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve had to the opportunity to speak with some of these partners, as well as the youth and staff here at Youth Farm, to gather and share stories about their work and how free plant starts are impacting ourthe communities we are all a part of.

I hope you’ll stay tuned, share these stories with your friends, family, neighbors – those in your community who care about this work – and if you’re able, donate to our fundraiser. We’re hoping to raise $8,000 dollars this week, and we can’t do it without you. Join us! 

Talk to you tomorrow,
Pedro

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1. “2022 Food Shelf Visits Hit Record High.” Hunger Solutions, 8 Feb. 2023, www.hungersolutions.org/data-posts/2022-food-shelf-visits-hit-record-high-up-almost-2-million-visits-over-previous-year/. 

We’re thrilled to announce that Youth Farm has been awarded $750,000 in support of the Northside Youth Greenhouse. This funding was awarded through the 2023 federal appropriations bill. The Northside Youth Greenhouse is one of the many community projects funded in the Twin Cities. We thank Representative Omar for championing this project in the legislature. Thank you for believing in the longlasting and deep impact of this work!

Located at 1420 Dowling Ave N, the Northside Youth Greenhouse will be a youth-led community gathering and growing space. In this 1,700 square foot greenhouse and adjacent 1,700 square foot headhouse, youth will explore social enterprise and connect to the food system from seed to plate. This space, entrusted to Youth Farm by the Loppet Foundation, will also increase access to diverse healthy food options in North Minneapolis. To learn more about this project (as well as our food hub project in St. Paul) check out this video:

While this funding is a huge step forward for the project, we still need the continued support of our community to bring this dream into reality. As we build momentum around this exciting development, support us by simply staying in the loop! Click here to sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. 

Earlier this year, we announced that Gunnar Liden would be transitioning out of his role as Executive Director of Youth Farm after 22 years. This month Amanda Stoelb will step in as Interim Executive Director. Amanda will support Youth Farm this winter as we build and implement a shared leadership structure.

To learn more, check out this letter from Youth Farm Board Chair, Kenneth Edwards:

Dear Youth Farm Community,

Earlier this year, I shared that Gunnar Liden would be transitioning out of his role as Executive Director after 22 years. I continue to be grateful for all of Gunnar’s remarkable contributions to Youth Farm throughout his tenure. Gunnar will remain on staff until December 31st supporting the transition.

I’m happy to share that effective November 1st, Amanda Stoelb has stepped into a new role as Interim Executive Director! Amanda has been with Youth Farm for almost 20 years and has provided outstanding leadership at both the program and organizational level. In addition to being a values-driven leader, Amanda has extensive experience in youth program development, organization strategic planning, and operations. Myself & the rest of the Youth Farm board are confident that Amanda will effectively steward Youth Farm through this upcoming phase of organizational transformation and growth.

This winter Youth Farm staff and board members will work closely with a consultant to transition to a shared leadership model that allows us to live into our values of racial equity, youth voice, and community autonomy at all levels of our organization. Ultimately this work is about increasing our impact on young leaders in our primary neighborhoods and positioning Youth Farm for its next phase of growth. Having Amanda in this interim role will allow us to minimize any interruption to our work while we prepare for the future.

Keep your eyes open for more updates this winter – and, as always, if you have any questions or concerns please reach out!

Sincerely,
Kenny (Youth Farm Board Chair)
kenny@youthfarmmn.org

We have some bittersweet news to share: later this summer, Gunnar Liden will be transitioning out of his role as the Executive Director at Youth Farm. Gunnar has grown with Youth Farm for 22 years, serving as Executive Director since 2006. During this time, he’s stewarded the organization through many periods of change and growth with thoughtful, generous, and exemplary leadership. We want to take this moment to thank Gunnar for all the time and care he’s put into Youth Farm over the years! We know the future has great things in store for him and wish him all the best in this new chapter.

Gunnar and Youth Farmers Mark and Taya on the West Side Farm, 2001

Gunnar, Marcus, and Youth Farmers Calvin and Cece at the Nellie Stone Johnson Garden, 2021

Marcus (Northside Program Director) and Gunnar at Youth Farm’s “Taste of the Farm” fundraiser, 2019

Gunnar (top left) posing with all of the Youth Farmers from the West Side, 2001

So, what’s next for Youth Farm? The growing season is upon us, and we’re growing right along with it! We recognize this moment as an opportunity to reimagine what leadership looks like at Youth Farm – and that’s just what we’ve been doing. Since January of this year, a transition team of board and staff led by Associate Directors Sarah and Amanda, have been working hard to envision and actualize an updated leadership model that will allow us to live out our values and support our vision for the future of Youth Farm. 

In the coming months, we’ll continue to share information and updates about leadership at Youth Farm. For now, check out these letters from Gunnar & Kenny, Youth Farm’s Board Chair, to learn more.

A Message from Gunnar

Dear Youth Farm Family,

I am reaching out with much love to announce my planned transition from the Executive Director role at Youth Farm in Summer 2022.  

I began my work at Youth Farm just two days after I graduated college. I had no idea of the wonderful journey I was about to embark on. For the first 7 years, I had my dream job, building a neighborhood program from the ground up on the West Side of St. Paul alongside the most amazing group of young leaders. We did everything together – we farmed together, we cooked and ate together, we fed our community and ran markets together, we ran around and played together, but more than anything, we developed life long relationships. In both the fun and challenging times, we always knew we could lean on the trust and love we had for one another. In 2006, Youth Farm took a chance and hired me as Executive Director. The past 16 years, we have collectively grown Youth Farm into the amazing organization it is today, working through financial ups and downs, geographic and programmatic growth, all while staying true to our youth development roots and our mission – We Farm to Grow. We have accomplished so much during this time, and none of it could have been done without each other. 

Youth Farm is in a great place and is ready for new leadership to launch itself into its next phase as an organization. This transition is strategic and purposeful. Alongside our staff team of directors and our board, we have been working since January to envision and bring to life what’s needed next for Youth Farm’s future. We have solidified our values and our vision and we are aligning the skills, assets and the opportunities in front of us with a leadership model that supports the organization we will be in the future.  

I end this ironically struggling to find the words to express my gratitude and love for all in the Youth Farm family. From those original Youth Farmers on the West Side, to the multitude of amazing program staff, board volunteers and community partners who have been dedicated to the communities we work and live in, to the powerhouse team of leaders currently guiding Youth Farm to new heights, I say this without hyperbole, I love you like family. I am so excited to see Youth Farm continue to blossom and am so thankful for your willingness to let me be a part of your journey for so long. 

Thank You!
Gunnar

A Message from Youth Farm Board Chair, Kenny

Youth Farm Family –

As you saw in Gunnar’s note, after a remarkable 22-year journey, Gunnar will be leaving Youth Farm later this summer.  Before going any further, I want to express my gratitude for Gunnar – for his tremendous leadership over the years at Youth Farm, for helping us to grow as a recognized community leader, and for the caring, thoughtful, and deeply personal way that he helped Youth Farm get there.  Along the way he has become a friend and confidant to many including me.  Congratulations Gunnar and you will be missed!

After nearly six years on the Youth Farm board, today is my first chance to write to all of you so here’s the briefest of introductions:  I’m Kenny, I’m the board chair, a Minneapolis resident, a volunteer with Youth Farm since 2016, and someone who is inspired daily by the work of the Youth Farm team in the Twin Cities.

While I will miss my partnership with Gunnar, I agree with everything he said – Youth Farm is in a great place and it’s time to chart our course towards what’s next.  I want to give you my assurance that the stewardship of the organization is in good hands.  The Associate Directors, Amanda and Sarah, have worked with Gunnar and the Youth Farm board and staff to build and execute a strong plan for assessing our current state and determining what inclusive leadership looks like.  I’m proud that we’re approaching this work in a manner that is fully aligned with our vision, values, and purpose while balancing the needs of our day to day operations in neighborhoods, greenhouses, gardens, and beyond.  The growing season is underway!

Meanwhile, Gunnar isn’t bailing on us right away!  He has been a great partner in the transition plan and continues to play critical roles helping us to continue our youth development work while also building for the future.  It is a challenge that the Youth Farm board and staff are ready for.

With the upcoming transition, I hope that you’ll take a moment to share a word of thanks and gratitude with Gunnar.  If you have questions or concerns about the transition, organization, or our search processes and you want to connect directly with me, please do not hesitate to reach out.  Expect to hear more from me, the board, and staff in the coming months.

My continued thanks for your support and engagement with Youth Farm this growing season and beyond!

Kenny
kenny@youthfarmmn.org

At Youth Farm, we often talk about building resilient networks of support for youth – but what does that mean, really? Well, part of that work includes connecting to like-minded organizations and working collaboratively to provide engagement opportunities for youth. As Leo Howard III, the Residential Program Administrator at Rebound, pointed out, “A lot of youth don’t even know about the community programs that exist for them.”

Rebound is a Minneapolis-based organization that works to create possibilities for youth in their own communities, specifically focused on eliminating reliance on the juvenile justice system while meeting the needs of Black youth. In an effort to bridge gaps and connect the youth he works with to the community initiatives happening in their own neighborhoods, Leo began working with Youth Farm’s Director of North Minneapolis Programs, Marcus Kar, during the 2021 growing season.

“When I first connected with Marcus, he took me out to meet with another one of Youth Farm’s partners – the Loppet Foundation,” Leo said. “Within that first meeting I learned so much about both organizations’ programs. We also talked about how so many youth and community members feel like spaces like Theo Wirth Park (where Loppet is headquartered) aren’t for them. Together we need to do the work to make these spaces welcoming and show young people the possibilities that exist within them.”

As part of the work to make this happen, Marcus and Leo brought program participants from both Youth Farm and Rebound together in garden spaces across the Twin Cities. In our first year of partnership, teens worked together, leading and mentoring each other in activities including planting flowers, harvesting and pitting cherries to use in pies, and cleaning up garden spaces. Being in green spaces together has sparked conversations about food insecurity, why it is happening, and the power young people have to address it through community initiatives.

“We are planting seeds both figuratively and literally,” Leo said. “Historically, I have seen a lot of youth programs address challenges that young people face through punishment, exclusion, and other reactionary methods – this does not address the real issues. My goal is to meet youth where they are at and find creative, innovative, and engaging ways to proactively learn about what they are going through and involve them in things that support them long-term both mentally and physically.”

Leo believes that community food work is not only a tangible way for youth to grow food and address food insecurity, it is also a way for them to build peer to peer and cross generational relationships.

“As a youth worker, one thing that is important to understand is that so many young people have to put on a facade when they are out and about in their communities to protect themselves,” Leo said. “To change the systems that have made them feel this way, building relationships is one of the most powerful tools we have. When a young person has already connected with someone in a garden or on a bike ride or in a kitchen, they are able to break down walls and move through their community as themselves. Building trust is a game changer.”

After a summer of hands-on garden work, we are looking forward to the possibilities that exist as we continue to deepen our partnership with Rebound. In the coming years, Leo hopes to connect some of the teens he works with to jobs at Youth Farm. As we continue to make food and farming opportunities available to youth who need them most, we are also hoping to expand hands-on programming with Rebound to include cooking classes, farmers markets, and mentoring for younger youth.

“I think it is so important that people take this work seriously,” Leo said. “Being involved in collaborative community projects has more impact on young people than we know. It builds ownership, accountability, confidence, and trust.”

For years, Grace Mathews has spent time with her dad and her sister in the kitchen – this is where she first gained an interest in food and gardening. Now, as a Project LEAD staff member, learning about cooking and growing food is part of her job.

We asked Grace about what comes to mind in conversations around food, something that will continue to shape her life in new ways:

Q: How long have you been working at Youth Farm? Where does your interest/passion for food and/or gardening come from?

A: This is my first summer working at Youth Farm, but I have been involved in different ways since 6th grade. My dad and my sister were the ones who got me into cooking and gardening, which I think are super fun. I love having a job where part of it is learning more about how to cook and grow things.

Q: What does food mean to you?

A: To me, when I think of food, I think of it giving people energy. We all need food to survive and keep us healthy.

Q: Why is it important for people to learn about and gather around food?

A: I think it is important to learn about the foods that make you feel good. Food is something that can make you feel better if you are sick or having an off day. It is also fun to know how to put together different dishes with other people.

Q: What are some of your favorite foods to grow, eat, and/or cook?

A: Right now my favorite dish to cook is perogies. I like to add pesto, spinach, and peppers as well. It is super fun to cook and is also really delicious.

Q: What things are you still hoping to learn and/or experience related to food?

A: I really want to learn how to season food better. My dad is a good cook and he always tells me that that is the next thing I need to learn. I really love to cook and that will make the things I make even better.

Back in the days of Youth Farm’s summer program, it was easy to find a young Eliza Thompson asking to be part of the kitchen crew for the day. Almost every day she wanted to be involved in the kitchen somehow. After years of being involved at Youth Farm and in the kitchen at home, we asked Eliza about her personal food story:

Q: Where does your interest/passion for food come from?

A: I’ve always loved to cook! Currently, I make dinner, or at least help to make dinner, for my family every night. When I am looking for different meal ideas, I sometimes go back through my email to find some of the recipes we have been making this year at Youth Farm.

Q: What does food mean to you? Does it bring back memories, is it central in family gatherings, etc.?

A: Food is important to everyone. In my family, food means taking care of people. If someone isn’t feeling well or is going through a hard time, the first thing we do is make food for them. I think food can also be a really good part of hard days – it is easy to look forward to a good meal.

Q: Why is it important for people to learn about and gather around food?

A: I think learning how to cook food that is not only healthy, but truly good and enjoyable, is a great skill to have. Being able to make something and share it with other people feels really good. Last year, my sister returned home from a study abroad trip in Spain and made us a traditional Spanish dish of fried eggs and potatoes – it was a cool way to learn about her trip and another culture.

Q: What are some of your favorite foods to grow, eat, and/or cook?

A: I am definitely more of a baker than a cook! My all-time favorite thing to make is chocolate chip cookies. This year, in our family garden at home, we are growing lots of zucchini. I am excited to harvest those and make zucchini bread.

Q: What things are you still hoping to learn and/or experience related to food?

A: Even though I bake a lot of things I still struggle to make bread, which is something I would love to learn to do! I also really enjoy trying new things and want to continue eating and learning to make foods from other cultures.