The Youth Engagement Project (YEP) is developing a key project with the goal of building skills for youth to expand their work into small economic development projects. Recently, this includes plans for a farm project, which will incorporate installation of community gardens, construction of garden boxes, and expansion of participation from sales at farmers markets of farm produce to include sales in restaurants and participation in the Agricultura Network, which manages CSA food distribution in the South Valley. Planining includes exploration into video and audio production as a small business, with exploration into management by an employee owned program. Discussion are ongoing.
Youth Engagement Project Mission Statement:
The Youth Engagement Project develops innovative projects and programs in the school and community with a focus on the the arts, hip-hop, audio/video production, agricultural development, and adventure and experiential learning. The YEP approach is that every young person carries the history, the potential, and ability to understand their lived experience, which can inspire learning. The projects above are platforms for engaging young people to participate in mentoring, leadership development, self-development and skills development. Through mentoring and positive relationships, project facilitators identify youth who develop as Peer Educators. These youth engage others, and build leadership capacity in the local community.
2001 N. Centro Familiar, SW