The summer session of YCAP was a huge success with 9 youth employed for the entire 7 week program, working 30 hours a week at the FLP farm planting, cultivating, harvesting and distributing a bounty of fresh produce. They also connected with other community leaders who advocate for food justice, urban farmers, chefs, entrepreneurs, climate justice activists, mapping and geography experts, other young people who want to make changes in their communities and a network of folks who are engaged in meaningful food systems change initiatives. They also developed their leadership skills as they engaged younger youth participants of Field-to-Fork club and families visiting the farm as part of the Fund for the Arts’ Cultural Pass program.  

At the end of the season, the crew hosted their friends, family and neighbors to the farm for a celebratory community meal. They prepared a delicious spread of nutritious and farm-fresh foods and invited guests to learn more about their work over the summer. They shared about the ways this program has helped shape their thinking around their community, and ways that they can activate their power to create positive change.  

In the words of one YCAP participant:  

“My favorite part of my YCAP experience is the daily expansion of my knowledge. There has yet to be a day I haven’t learned something. Whether is be the speakers coming to talk to us about various topics (climate change, scholarships, redlining, power mapping and other topics) or us making connections with people who come to the farm such as Field-to-Forkers of cultural pass visitors. I’ve learned the importance of networking as the Food Literacy Project has several partners which I would like to become after I’m done with the program. Along with the farm skills I have attained I’ve also learned the importance of community involvement as residential issues and advocacy are prioritized within out work.” 

  • Gabrielle Knox, YCAP 2024  

Another participant noted that this program has helped them to cultivate patience and grow their capacity to work with a team, and yet another shared that they were proud of the way they’ve helped increase the access that folks have to good, clean food.  

Overall, we are so proud of all the ways that the summer YCAP crew stepped into their power and worked through the heat as a strong team dedicated to growing and distributing good food and to engaging more folks alongside them in this very important work.