On Saturday, October 29, 2016 CommunityGrows hosted the second Bay Area Youth Summit for organizations working on issues of environmental justice at City Slicker Farms. Groups included Literacy for Environmental Justice and Nature’s Voices, as well as the CommunityGrows BEETS (Band of Environmentally Educated and Employable Teens). After the great rain the few days before, the farm was blooming and green. 
The morning started off with an opening circle, introductions and an icebreaker. Rodney Spencer, Executive Director of City Slicker Farms led a tour around the farm and there was lots to see.
The youth got to sample what was cooking in the garden that day, which was braised chard and bean soup, and sauteed chard in miso garlic sauce.
Brandi Mack, of the Black Permaculture network lead a discussion and exploration about the sacredness of the earth and how we need to protect it for future generations. Here is Brandi with her daughter Isis.
Youth participants talked about what they are committed to and how they hope to make a difference in the world.
A great lunch prepared by CommunityGrows Cooking Coordinator, Crystal Jones, included hummus wraps and homemade pasta, as well as apple slices. 
In the afternoon the youth attended different workshops. One led by Susan Silber of Nature’s Voices had youth documenting their views on how they would like to help and encourage environmental justice. 
Some students drew maps while others told stories and took photos and videos. 
Another workshop led by Rodney Spencer of City Slicker Farms taught youth how to design and construct planter beds, 
while another workshop led by Ryan Tachibana, Restoration Technician and Community Programs Coordinator at Literacy for Environmental Justice, worked on propagation of starts.
At the closing circle everyone got to express their appreciations from the day. Thank you for all the great partners that participated and for allowing us to experience City Slicker Farms in West Oakland. For more photos from the day, check out our Flickr Photostream here.
Our mission is to cultivate healthy youth through growing gardens in low-income, diverse communities.
Our mission is to cultivate healthy youth through growing gardens in low-income, diverse communities.