Meet Beth Steinberg, Member of the Board of Directors of Collective Roots

Personal Connection to Collective Roots

I learned about Collective Roots through my work with the Junior League of Palo Alto Mid Peninsula. I met Holly Taylor, one of the founders of Collective Roots, and went to the East Palo Alto Charter School to see the garden. I watched the children and their parents work in the garden and the positive reaction it created. I fell in love with the school and the program. That was 2002 and I have been very active ever since.

My connection to learning through garden based education goes back to the mid 90's where I was on the Board of Cabrini Greens. Cabrini Greens was a garden based program in Chicago's now defunct Cabrini Greens Housing Project. When I moved back to the Bay Area, I was delighted to discover the work of Collective Roots. The applications of garden based learning are tremendous. Not only does working in the garden teach young leaders about science and math, but it also teaches responsibility, nurturing and leadership. The programs that Collective Roots provides are tackling major issues including childhood obesity and access to fresh, healthy food. I am honored to be a part of Collective Roots and to have served as past President of the Board of Directors.

I look forward to seeing Collective Roots expand and become more involved with food policy within the next year. One of our biggest initiatives in the next year will be to help establish East Palo Alto's first Farmer's Market. Many people do not know that there is NOT a full service grocery store in East Palo Alto. There are many fast food restaurants, but no store where you are able to buy a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Establishing a place where resident of EPA can buy local, fresh fruit and vegetables can have a tremendous impact on the environment, health, and the reduction of childhood obesity.
Please help us achieve our goals by donating or volunteering. We can all be a part of the solution.