Food System Change

Collective Roots is committed to fostering food system change in underserved communities that lack food access and security. We accomplish this through engaging youth and community stakeholders in a range of programs and initiatives.

East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market

• Collective Roots is taking a lead role in the development of the the EPA Community Farmers’ Market Organizing Committee (Collective Roots is will be the official sponsor of the project).
  
• This market will be community based and youth focused. A Market Manager role will evolve into a youth leadership role as funding becomes available. Stipends will be offered to youth leaders assisting with the management of the market.

Full Service Grocery Store in EPA
East Palo Alto hasn't had a supermarket in over 20 years.

• Advocate for establishment of a full service Grocery Store in East Palo Alto.
  
• Engage youth in becoming advocates for addressing the food access, security and nutrition needs in their community.

Backyard/Community Garden Network

• Support the development of backyard garden network in East Palo Alto, supported by new website with social documentation features, community garden forums, blogs, and other social networking features.
• Support the development of a community garden and land trust.

Participatory Action Research

• Implementation of Community Food Mapping Project (community based action research supported by EPA youth and Stanford University students.

School & Community Nutrition Initiative

• Increasing opportunities for innovative nutrition education on school sites and the proposed EPA Community Farmers’ Market. Development of Collective Roots mobile nutrition exhibit. Modular exhibit will provide information and fun interactions, including bike blender and fun photo opportunities (emailed to participants and posted on our new website).
• Improving school lunches, offering year round salad bar, slow food options, locally grown (farm to table), organic food, etc. Support schools in implementing whole food / organic food options. Support the development of school and community garden sites that can provide additional fresh produce to low income schools and communities.
• Work in partnership with Revolution Foods, a company that wants to bring healthier food to the low income school districts.
• Increase nutrition education components in the establishment of a mobile garden nutrition and demonstration unit.
• Introduce students to fun health promoting activities such as our bicycle blender as well as other creative programs.
• Promote sustainable food production and outdoor food preparation activities on additional school and community.