Urban Roots Works To Have Students Pull Lifelong Lessons From City Gardens

CBS Minnesota

September 7, 2021

With the skyline as her backdrop, another hot morning starts on Ravoli Bluff for Adora Thao, giving the St. Paul garden bed a close look. The Harding High School student is one of 75 youth who may experience barriers to more typical employment working a paid internship this summer at Urban Roots, where marketing, conservation and cooking skills are honed and shared.

“Every summer I want to do something. I don’t want to stay home. I want to feel like I accomplished something,” Thao said.

“Our mission is to increase access to nature and healthy food in our community,” Ball said. “One of our goals here at Urban Roots is to grow culturally relevant produce, because 97% of our youth are from BIPOC communities. So we work with our youth every year — what are you going to grow and eat in your households and what’s relevant to you and your culture?”

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