1845 N. Farwell Ave., Ste 100, Milwaukee, WI 53202

www.victorygardeninitiative.org

501(C)3 NONPROFIT

EIN: 45-5035466

2017 YEP! Youth Education Program Proposal

Contact Information

Name of Organization: Victory Garden Initiative

Name of Contact: Beverly Tyree

Title: Program and Operations Director

Email: Beverly@victorygardeninitiative.org

Phone: (414) 431-0888

Summary

If you were to stroll through Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood before 2010, you would make an appalling discovery on

Concordia Avenue. Many empty lots dot the city of Milwaukee, but this one was downtrodden, polluted, fruitless, and even

dangerous. Rusty metal and shattered glass hid beneath mounds of weeds, waiting to cut deep into a playing child’s foot.

Abandoned tires, bottles, and barrels had been tossed into the lot as if it were a public recycling bin. Altogether, the lot

seemed hopelessly destined to remain neglected.

But in 2010, Victory Garden Initiative (VGI) saw this meager lot as an opportunity. With a long haul, a steadfast resolve, and a

treasured volunteer team, we transformed that threatening eyesore into a 1.5-acre gardening oasis. It was an unthinkable

accomplishment. A beautiful garden, constructed and hidden away in the middle of a densely urban environment.

The Farm was put to use immediately, with gardeners from

the surrounding neighborhoods seizing the opportunity to

finally grow healthy fruits and vegetables close to home. As

the community came together to establish this brand new

food system, youth from nearby, at-risk communities began

to help out alongside the adults. These young gardeners

were the beginning of our Youth Education Program

(YEP!).

YEP! has matured in the seven years since. It has evolved to

feature educational activities, fun-filled games, Scout

programs, and internship opportunities. Today, the YEP! Program works to educate and empower youth in the greater

Milwaukee area to make positive changes in their communities and home food systems, and we hope to keep doing so in

the future.

Through the introduction of gardening, food system management, and community involvement, YEP! continues to provide

youth with more than just soil and spades. We hope to provide the lifelong tools they need to improve the world around

them, such as:

Increased knowledge of fruits, vegetables, nutrition, gardening, community, and the connections between these

concepts

Sharpened teamwork, community organization, and leadership skills

Improved ability to work effectively in a group and act as mentors to others.

With involvement in YEP! programs, youth take these tools home, where they will strengthen and spark development in

their often at-risk communities and neighborhoods.

We strive every day to continue developing our ever-changing program, and to give participants an inspired experience. To

further expand and strengthen these efforts for the youth of Milwaukee, Victory Garden Initiative is seeking $4,500 in

support for the YEP! Program.

Mission and History

Victory Garden Initiative builds communities that grow their own food, creating a community-based, socially just,

environmentally sustainable, nutritious food system for all.

VGI was established in 2009 when community members recognized the negative environmental, social, economic, and

health implications of our dominant food system. The solution was building communities that grow their own food. Since

its inception, VGI has rallied to install over 3,500 gardens, launched our 1.5-acre urban farm, planted 23 orchards in at-risk,

low-income neighborhoods, taught thousands of adults and children how to grow food, and trained 68 community Food

Leaders. Our annual event, The Great Milwaukee Victory Garden BLITZ, has gained so much momentum that it has

expanded to conducting BLITZ trainings in other communities like Green Bay, Wisconsin and Berea, Kentucky.

Our slogan is: “This is a grassroots movement. Move

grass. Grow food.”, and we take action through a variety

of programs.

Youth Education Program (YEP!)

Victory Garden Urban Farm (The Farm)

Great Milwaukee Victory Garden BLITZ

Food Leader Certificate Program

The Fruity Nutty Five Orchard Contest

Through these efforts, VGI is able to bring often at-risk

communities together to teach them how to grow food,

and to supply them with the means to create their own

sustainable community.

When fruit trees fill our parks and nut trees are harvested by our neighbors, when food pantries house vegetable gardens

and school children participate in growing their lunches, we will have a secure, sovereign, socially just and sustainable food

system.

Program Description

In 2017, the Victory Garden Youth Education Program hopes to expand its focus as a hands-on learning site for youth by

highlighting food system equality and practical solutions for growing one’s own food. Through these programs we will be

promoting teamwork, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills.

The Victory Garden Urban farm, our 1.5 acre gardening oasis, is the ideal outdoor classroom for teaching youth practical

gardening skills, composting, and nutrition, while giving them the tools to construct their very own local food system.

Located in the heart of the Harambee neighborhood, and just 15-30 minutes from all WaterStone Bank branch locations,

The Farm is an open invitation for the youth of Milwaukee to come together, make new friends, get outdoors, and learn

something new.

With YEP! Programs, we benefit Milwaukee’s youth through education and community involvement. In 2017, we hope

bring the following programs to at least 150 youth and 15 youth interns, with the goal of 50% retention from year to year.

Day at the Farm

These all-day workshops encourage youth to connect with a local food source, and to learn about growing food while

enjoying activities that highlight nutrition and outdoor play. Youth learn the benefits of soil health and environmental

stewardship, practice growing their own food, and learn the benefits of nutritious, fresh, locally grown food rather than

processed food with high sugar and calorie content. Youth can also attend on- site cooking demonstrations and learn how

to make meals from the food they grow. In 2017, we anticipate at least 150 youth participants, and are always hoping to

expand our outreach.

Scout Days

These Day at the Farm events are customized for Boy and Girl scouts. The experience encourages scouts to participate in

garden-based games, veggie tasting, and more, all while learning and experiencing everything that the original Day at the

Farm event offers. Furthermore, Boy Scouts will meet requirements to earn badges such as gardening, citizenship in the

community, and sustainability, while Girl Scouts will meet requirements for merits such as the love, save, and share water

awards. We take pride in working together with the Boy Scouts to give youth a rewarding experience they will never forget.

FarmStand Initiative

Established in 2014, the FarmStand Initiative allows youth to enjoy the entire

growing season, all while being outside and having fun. FarmStand extends the

garden experience to ages 8-14, and gives youth from the neighborhood an

opportunity to learn entrepreneurial skills by planting, harvesting, and selling

garden produce. In 2017, this will also include participation at local farmers

markets, which will provide the opportunity for children to learn customer

service, business, marketing, and leadership skills in a positive, healthy setting.

Youth will also work with local food pantries to deliver remaining produce for

their clients, ensuring a continuum of healthy, locally grown food for neighbors

in need. This summer, we hope to accept at least 15 youth interns to

participate in the program, and are always looking to raise this number.

Youth Stipends

In 2017, we will implement youth stipends to the FarmStand Initiative program

to provide youth with the added benefit of learning while earning for their

future. Our goal is to use the stipend program to introduce financial

responsibility and literacy to our youth interns, who will doubtlessly put this newfound financial advantage to the test at

home, in their communities, and in all of their future endeavors. The stipends are a new effort by VGI to help participants in

at-risk communities, which is a cause that we are deeply devoted to.

Victory Garden Urban Farm and YEP! Overall Steps and Timeline

After submitting their applications in April and May, youth will experience a summer scheduled according to their

enjoyment and interests. The timeline for YEP! is separated into quarters with specific plans that keep our programming

and youth interns on task each year. These quarters, listed below with the steps planned for them, are reflected in our

reports and evaluations.

June-November 2017

Full farm growing production - youth participate in preparation, growth, harvesting, and sales of crops at The Farm.

June-August 2017

Summer program - full-day weekly youth education programs, including sample learning such as food system realities,

nutrition, growing your own food, soil rehabilitation, cook what you grow, team activities, and more.

August-September 2017

End of Summer celebration - youth highlight what they have done, and celebrate their efforts and experiences at our

FarmRaiser party at The Farm.

September - October 2017

Summer Conclusion - Conducting the Project Evaluation, Analysis, and Reporting, and planning the 2018 budget.

Reporting Results /Evaluation Process

Evaluating the program's success is multi-faceted. Student, leader, and volunteer questionnaires will evaluate specific

details about the program, including each student’s learning, behaviors, skills, effectiveness, and impact. Our evaluation

process covers several different areas.

Attendance

VGI will track who spends time, who joins in on community efforts, and who is present at events. In 2017, we hope to host

at least 150 youth participants and 15 youth interns. With increased effort, we are dedicated to increasing these numbers

in the future.

Repeated participation

VGI will highlight who returns each year to participate in YEP! Programs, which will be influenced by increasing the quality

and value of our programming. In 2017, we will aim for a 50% retention rate, with the hope of increasing this number even

further in 2018.

Parental Surveys

VGI will provide surveys to families and gather their

feedback regarding the youth’s participation. In 2018, we

can apply this information to the YEP!

program and improve how children take home and use the

tools we give them to shape their communities.

Community Impact Surveys

VGI will determine who is already aware of the YEP!

program and The Farm, and who has received produce from

the youth. We will reach out to those who have not, with

surveys asking questions such as: “What kind of food would

you be interested in growing?” and “What would you like to

see improved in the neighborhood?” We hope to use this

information to attract new participants in the future.

These results are reported to our generous funding sources

through a post-program report submission. The impact and

success of YEP! is highlighted in the annual report,

FarmRaiser celebration event, our website, our social media

accounts, and other outreach avenues.

WaterStone Bank’s Benefits and Recognition

VGI strives to provide ample opportunities for grantor and donor recognition, in an effort to thank contributors for their

generous financial support and commitment to the future of Milwaukee’s youth. Primarily, grantors or donors will be listed

by name and logo as sponsors in our newsletters, reports, event materials, publications, and online platforms. There are

many avenues in which sponsors are recognized at VGI.

The VGI annual report

Our annual FarmRaiser celebration event

The VGI website

Our social media accounts Outreach

materials

Youth education materials The

VGI newsletter

Through these areas and more, we aim to recognize sponsors in materials that reach our largest audiences. Our efforts

include the VGI monthly newsletter, which alone reaches over 10,000 subscribers. With over 800 volunteers and over 20

college interns, sponsors can expect recognition from a vast network of participants. Waterstone Bank will also benefit from

being the first financial institution to sponsor VGI.

Furthermore, we hope to contribute to the success of our grantors and donors through the benefits participants receive

through our programs. VGI will assist residents of the greater Milwaukee area who may also be current and future clients of

WaterStone Bank. With new foundations in the economy of growing food, Waterstone Bank clients will find their financial

situations and literacy improved. These benefits will result in financial savings for clients, which will subsequently benefit

Waterstone Bank.

VGI is also registered as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit. Although donations do not qualify for the CRA, all donations are

fully tax deductible.

WaterStone Bank Volunteer Opportunities

We recognize volunteers as an integral part of accomplishing our mission. Groups of any size are welcome. We invite our

partners, their colleagues, and their associates to participate in our mission through many avenues.

Working at The Farm

There is much to do at Victory Garden Urban Farm, and we can use all the help we can get. Participants can expect to work on

various gardening-related tasks, such as planting, digging, harvesting, and more.

Volunteering for The Great Milwaukee Blitz

The Great Milwaukee Blitz is our biggest event of the year. In 2016, over 400 volunteers constructed over 500 gardens in the

Milwaukee area. Volunteers help build and install gardens, filling them with fresh, organic soil. Drivers are also needed for

moving supplies between households.

Becoming a program participant

Volunteers can become trained to be food leaders certified in the development of their own community food system

projects. VGI also offers training for garden mentors, who are equipped to teach Milwaukee residents how to garden

effectively.

Volunteering will give individuals a new perspective on food systems, and an opportunity to connect directly with nature. We

hope to provide a unique, rewarding, and educational experience.