COMMUNITY

At The Food Project, we believe powerful change is rooted in community. We build partnerships with community members and organizations to make fresh, local, affordable food available to support the health and well-being of all.

Community Engagement

Since 1998, The Food Project has worked with community members in Boston’s Dudley neighborhood. This partnership led to the establishment of the Dudley Grows food system priorities in 2014. During that time, we have expanded our efforts to improve access to healthy food in Lynn, MA using similar community-engagement models, launching the Lynn Grows initiative in 2018. These initiatives serve as roadmaps for working with residents, community organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to create real food system change.

Improved Access to Food

Youth, staff, and volunteers from The Food Project grow over 200,000 pounds of food each year and work with community partners to support a wide range of food access initiatives, including SNAP/HIP accessible farmers’ markets in Dorchester and Lynn. The Food Project also partners with corner stores, mid-size grocers, and other local food businesses to help make local produce more accessible.

Space to Grow & Learn

The Food Project strives to increase community food production and education. Each year, Dirt Crew builds raised-bed gardens for families, schools, city-run housing complexes, and other organizations through our Build-a-Garden initiative. Over 1,000 third graders learn about growing their own food and healthy eating through the “Salad Days” partnership with Lynn Public Schools. Community gardeners and cooks share their expertise with others in our “Grow Well, Eat Well, Be Well” workshops on cooking and gardening. Neighborhood residents can also access growing spaces and gardening resources through the Dudley Greenhouse.

The Food Project engages across difference to build a stronger food system. We work with community residents and stakeholders to achieve more than improved food access. Through combining sustainable agriculture, youth leadership development, and educational opportunities, we help to remove obstacles for communities to thrive.