Roots & Wings
Angelic Organics Learning Center coordinates Roots & Wings in Rockford, IL. This network of community-based organizations is committed to community and youth development through urban agriculture. The main growing location is located in Blackhawk Courts, a property owned by Rockford Housing Authority.
Roots & Wings grows vegetables using organic and sustainable techniques, while also motivating, educating, and inspiring youth and adults to be leaders and role models. Youth are the leaders of Roots & Wings, with older youth teaching younger kids about farming and food. Youth Leaders sell their produce through the summer through our Roots & Wings CSA, markets, and direct sale to local restaurants and businesses.
Our Youth Leaders Program also provides leadership skills, public speaking experience, and the opportunity to earn real money. Leaders attend national and regional youth leadership and urban agriculture events, such as the Rooted in Community conference.
Tedd Snowden has over 20 years of sales experience, and began working with the Angelic Organics Learning Center as an on-farm educator in 2011, Rockford Market Manager from 2012-2016, and now serves as program director. He has successfully expanded the youth Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program from 5 to over 40 shares, established innovative markets at workplaces of health-minded organizations, and started on-site market stands aty Blackhawk Courts housing complex of the Rockford Housing Authority.
Kenyatte Moore (Yatte) began as an urban farm appretice at the Blackhawk Courts Farm in 2014. He gained competencies in growing practices, farm planning, personnel management, harvest and post-harvest handling, and marketing. In 2016, he stepped into the role of farm manager, overseeing our indoor and outdoor growing spaces, and our CSA businesses and farm stand.
This will be an interesting and informative program about as local success story. Be sure and join us at our Thursday Zoom meeting and invite a guest or prospective member to join us and learn how Rockford Rotary is handling these difficult times.