Organizing for New Futures in Denver
After learning about Revision and its programs, professors Educational Psychology & Learning Sciences Professors Susan Jurow and Kevin O’Connor, with doctoral candidate Molly Shea, MBA, were inspired. Together, they created the Learning in the Food Movement project to study how people work together to create better futures for themselves and their communities.
After learning about Revision and its programs, professors Educational Psychology & Learning Sciences Professors Susan Jurow and Kevin O’Connor, with doctoral candidate Molly Shea, MBA, were inspired. Together, they created the Learning in the Food Movement project to study how people work together to create better futures for themselves and their communities.
Growing Local in Denver: Food, Economy and Community
As Eric says, “In Westwood there is a lack of access to food and most people are living below the poverty line and can’t afford to eat healthy.” About six years ago, 40 Somali Bantu families who were farmers in their native land came to this area. When they arrived in Denver, a place with an 120-day growing season, they realized they would not be able to grow food in the same way as in their homeland.
As Eric says, “In Westwood there is a lack of access to food and most people are living below the poverty line and can’t afford to eat healthy.” About six years ago, 40 Somali Bantu families who were farmers in their native land came to this area. When they arrived in Denver, a place with an 120-day growing season, they realized they would not be able to grow food in the same way as in their homeland.
Violence prevention, health promotion coming together: Projects creating healthier neighborhoods
Revision International, a nonprofit organization that focuses on sustainability initiatives in low-income neighborhoods. “We’ve done surveys and community members have responded almost overwhelmingly that they don’t feel safe walking to a local retailer, both because of the built environment and also because of the perception of violence.”
Using urban gardening as a prevention strategy, the pilot project, Semillas de Esperanza, or “seeds of hope,” taught gardening skills to 12- to 17-year-olds who were at risk for joining a gang or were already in a gang.
Revision International, a nonprofit organization that focuses on sustainability initiatives in low-income neighborhoods. “We’ve done surveys and community members have responded almost overwhelmingly that they don’t feel safe walking to a local retailer, both because of the built environment and also because of the perception of violence.”
Using urban gardening as a prevention strategy, the pilot project, Semillas de Esperanza, or “seeds of hope,” taught gardening skills to 12- to 17-year-olds who were at risk for joining a gang or were already in a gang.