Food Works

[boomtao]

Great work! Keep it up!

[CharTres1717]

Its great to see these young people helping to change their community and also show other young people the importance of food and how it gets to our stores and co-ops. It is not easy. Thanks.

[Madesobe]

It is nice to know more about the advent of this program. I'm certain a second video publication highlighting this will serve to successfully share the success and positive forthcoming of the initiative.

[teracouchmanwick]

The youth represent the housing complex - 10different ethnic groups have participated over the years, including white. They initiated starting a farm business and are active leaders & decision makers. If they seem to be moving slow in the video, I assure you that they work hard and are as motivated as any teenagers I know. They grew and donated over 2,000lbs of food to 120 of neighbors last year and earned over $8K in sales. They make above minimum wage for their work. This is their first job.

[Lady5Millz]

Are the participants of this program learning entrepreneurial and leadership skills in order to start community-building programs, such as FoodWorks, in their own communities?

[teracouchmanwick]

They are currently working in their own communities. This is one of the most powerful aspects of the program. The farm is a short distance from the housing communities where most of the youth and their families live. We would do what we could to support any participant who wanted to replicate the program elsewhere as long as there was an invitation from an interested community.

[teracouchmanwick]

To offer a little context for this program, the idea came about when a group of tenant organizers living in a public housing community which happens to be mostly black, identified gardening as a tool that could bring the communtiy together, provide healthy food for people who need it and offer employment and learning opportunities for the young people in their neighborhood. They invited me and the organization I work for to partner with the residents to create a communtiy garden.

[Chick6517]

Dude, two thumbs up! thanks for uploading this video it was great.

[carboncopyworldwide]

wanna help?? make the money to do that.

[MetalMajestie]

Great stuff. An uplifting video :)

[inmyownblood]

wow i so wish i could work for them. This job actually has job satisfaction and is really important- like WAAAY more important than we realize wow i cant believe it..so colourful, i would go as far as even making a film about this

[Madesobe]

This seems to me, just another faint attempt for people to make themselves feel better for their own interests by flaunting their work with minority groups, thereby unconsciously reinforcing that impending stigma about black kids being 'un-ambitious or un-motivated'. Videos like this seem to do nothing more than re-emphasize this idea of black kids in america being labelled from the get-go as 'not-empowered' and in dire need of direction from the 'more focused' non-minority groups.

[teracouchmanwick]

Hi Madesobe and Brickcity,

I'm the program director for this program, and I really appreciate the dialogue you are opening. I think it is vital to look critically at programs that say they benifit minority groups but actually unconsciously or consciously exploit people of color. I can also understand why the first thought that comes to mind is "field negro", Brickhouse. Agriculture has a history of being deeply traumatic and exploitative of people of color in the US.

[Madesobe]

I'm glad we can engage thoughts in a discussion; this just goes to show the great benefits and advantages of viral communication... The fundamental intentions of the initiave are certainly to be commended, but perhaps how it is portrayed leaves little to be drawn to it. Giving the youth the opportunity to do more than work in fields, and rather develop/explore abilities that go beyond physical aptitude, would serve them much more for their academic and professional endeavours.

[teracouchmanwick]

Agreed. All Food Works youth set personal, academic and career goals and create a plan to reach them. Every youth also identifies a career that interests them and completes a paid job shadow with a professional of their choice i.e. architects, engineers, sports trainers, hospitals etc. One young man credited us for helping him move his GPA from 1.5 to 3.5. This year, young people will be helping to advocate for their communities on city and county levels. It's hard to show all this in 5:40 mins.

[Madesobe]

How is this a diverse group of youth. You're exploiting young black teenagers to work in fields without actually exposing them to other types of tasks involved in entrepreneurship (which is what you've expressed as being a value you're trying to instill in these youngsters).

[cookingupastory]

They are exposed to and learn all phases involved in running a business, Madesobe. The community wanted to grow food. The young people decided to make it organic, what to plant, how to grow/harvest it, get it to market (local grocery stores), sell (at farmers market), and give back to their community by giving it away (for free).

[cookingupastory]

Not only have they learned how to start a business, they have learned how to grow relationships within the community. Those capabilities were always within them, but they never had the chance to use them, due to whatever reasons. The 2 or 3 of the group I talked to felt it had empowered them; they realized they had abilities never discovered before.

[cookingupastory]

This kind of project isn't for everybody, I'll grant that. But it did a tremendous amount of good for the few young people I talked with. They were given opportunities that might not otherwise have come their way due to a variety of reasons. And it was their choice to join the program. And they were paid money as they learned, too. Google it, and learn more.

[BRICKCITY1966]

I totally agree with you about the exploitation factor going on here.The first thing that came to mind was "field negroes",where is the diversity ?

[Koujinkamu]

Diversity doesn't mean skin color. Real diversity is in personality, skill, intelligence etc.

My first though was "at least somebody is doing some good" and that made me just a little bit happy.

[Madesobe]

Right, but seing as the intent is first to initiate the youth to a 'real-life' work environment experience, it's important to expose them to cultural diversity, thus showing enabling them to experience true social cultural sensibility and share knowledge with their peers. What we learn most in life, we learn through our experiences with others. And with such a multicultural landscape, it's still surprising that it seems no effort was taken to explore this further.

[BRICKCITY1966]

Do yourself a favor & read Madesobe's comment below yours.Your trying to make excuses for what's really going on, as it is explained in the comment i just mentioned.Diversity does not exist here,especially when they're all minorities & working the fields.Get your head out your ass & open your eye's...

[Koujinkamu]

Your kind of people should be shot. Really. You're doing no good and when others do, it's gotta be fishy somehow. You're depressing.

Again, diversity does NOT MEAN DIFFERENCE IN SKIN COLOR!

You tell me to get my head outta my ass, yet you're the one who only sees darkness... hmm...

[Lady5Millz]

I agree with your statement that diversity does not necessarily mean skin color. I definitely commend you for bringing attention to that fact. However, I do understand Brickcity's p.o.v as well. I, too, would like to see more diversity in regards to race. Seeing the 'white' people manage the org. while the 'black' people complete the physical labor was initially disturbing to me as well. However, I believe that the end results are much more significant than the means in which they were reached.

[forestcall]

@Madesobe Are you for real? Where do you live? this is a wonderful program. I travel the world and work with people around the world. This program is revolutionary! You can not look at someones skin color and mention diversity in the same sentence as it makes you appear like a bigot and a racist. Go travel the world and meet people of many countries and then come back and watch this video again and comment. Also in this video they say the kids are from a diverse background...not diverse color.

[furbsmom]

Where is the enthusiasm at. Why such agony?

The concept is great, but they should be more eager to learn.

[ziberteck]

This is work? Moving that slow?

[ziberteck]

diverse? 1 white person and all other black? yeah full of nationality there.

[cookingupastory]

sorry, not to have gotten to this sooner, ziberteck, but this might help you understand The program is set up for a geographical are of the city. Only young folks from that area can apply. The area is very diverse in economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, but they can only pick from those who apply. This might have an effect on the outcome. Yes, the folks who work/manage the project are caucasian, but they are out there working with them too.

[wardog635]

cool

[Mrmoc7]

This is good. People need to learn to WORK hard and enjoy working hard and be disciplined and live well and live strong and go to school and get educated and be smart and invent things and machines to do all the work and get lazy and get inspired and make poetry and make art and make music and die.

[caramelkidd]

LMAO I like it Moc

[HighAway]

Shallow idea: Less people for more food.

[elTMorales]

They work like Zombies ... if this is there best they can do, I'm not impressed ...

[itchyliabdo]

half of the world is starving, while the other half is on a diet

[2blakandbold]

I grew up learning with my granny!She had a garden!Vegetables and Herbs!Find out your history!Blacks bought a lot of produce and industry to this country.

[moebigsley1976]

Very true.

[rhstenor]

recruit a diverse team? Theyre all black. maybe their personality is different. Who knows.

[cookingupastory]

The program is set up for a geographical area of the city, rhstenor. Only young folks from that area can apply. The area is very diverse in economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, but they can only pick from those who apply. This might have an effect on the outcome.

[rhstenor]

ahh. i see.

well, good luck with the program.

we have nothing in my town.

[Alderade19]

gee, finally i have some ideas of what yankees do with soil works, anyway,thx 4 sharing. i love the mother ground so much, i lived in countryside when i was very young, so i do have spcial feelings to farmland.

[dsofmars]

in4seasons........find the latest celebrity news,pictures,wallpapers music,games,and videos.

[Urgelt]

My fondest desire is for President-elect Obama to see this video. He wants to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and do so in a way which benefits communities. This program does all of those things.

[miniminman]

we need more people like you in the world

wish there was a youtube just for inspiring and factual stories, so hard to sort through the fake trash entertainment these days

[cookingupastory]

There are so many inspirational stories out there, miniminman, I just wish more people would focus on them, too. Thanks for your encouragement!

[fromruinstudio]

SO nice to see someone(a group) empowering our youth.

[dmccoig]

Rebecca,

Wow, this is fantastic! I really like the story.

It is very inspiring, and such a relevant topic in todays age!

Congrats!

Dan

[edgar6190]

im going to thin aplee trees lol

[powderburnz08]

This is great for everyone involved....I been growing, raising, and hunting my food most of my adult life...I do not get sick, I have no health issues, and feel good everyday. Best wishes.

[cookingupastory]

It is a win/win for everyone! The folks (I met) in their community are also very proud of the work their young folks are doing.

[Georgia4God]

Inspiring! I hope to start something a lot like this on the Indian Reservation near me, and make it a part of educational system, as well. Keep up the good work! :)

[louiseiiid]

What a heart-warming story and great initiative.

Congratulations!

[krayzgerman]

Cool, more people should do this.

[musa23]

thats really kool i like dat wheni go back where i m from i might try doing something like dat to employ people

[6454ooooo]

wonderful job with wonderful people!!!!!!!

[cookingupastory]

You got that right, the young people were awesome, and the folks who put the program together were great too. =)

[1doi3]

good job

[aniphyo]

this is awesome! wish I'd known about it while I was in PDX. now in LA. is there a similar program here in LA? keep up the inspiration.

[cookingupastory]

I'm sorry, aniphyo, I really don't know. I would think so, for I know there are many groups doing some great things around food in that area. If you find one, or, if anyone else knows of a similar program in the LA area, please let us know. Thanks!

[Octahoney]

I cannot say enough about your channel. It is just awesome and inspiring to see the positive things people are doing. Thanks again for sharing. :)

[cookingupastory]

Thank you, Octahoney, for always watching, sharing, and commenting. I believe we can all learn from each other, and that is one of the benefits of sharing these stories here.

[theproducegarden]

great stuff!!!

[nod8d]

good job!

[bluzy25]

great idea!