Veggielution

TO CONNECT PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS THROUGH FOOD AND FARMING.

VEGGIELUTION'S EASTSIDE GROWN (EG) PROGRAM - STARTED IN 2018 - PROVIDES AN EIGHT MONTHS FOOD ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING FOR COHORTS OF 20 EAST SAN JOS HOME- AND MOBILE-BASED FOOD ENTREPRENEURS TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS. THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF THE S S PUEDE COLLECTIVE'S 'JOBS TO GROW' INITIATIVE, WHICH FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY, NEIGHBORHOOD BELONGING, AND AGENCY FOR COHORTS OF FOOD ENTREPRENEURS (VEGGIELUTION) AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS (GRAIL FAMILY SERVICES). MOST OF THE EG PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE LOW-INCOME LATINO IMMIGRANTS AND REPORT THAT THEIR BIGGEST DIFFICULTY IS SECURING ADEQUATE CAPITAL TO LAUNCH THEIR BUSINESS UPON GRADUATION. BY OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES, THE EASTSIDE GROWN TEAM HAS GROWN TO BETTER ANTICIPATE BARRIERS, STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING PROCESS, PROVIDE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS SOCIAL/TECHNICAL CHALLENGES, ALL WHILE PRIORITIZING EQUITY AND UPWARD ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR FUTURE EAST SAN JOS FOOD ENTREPRENEURS.

SI SE PUEDE COLLECTIVEVEGGIELUTION'S COMMUNITY ROOTS ARE FURTHER EXPANDED BY ITS MEMBERSHIP IN THE SI SE PUEDE COLLECTIVE (SSPC), A GROUP OF FIVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN EMBEDDED IN THE MAYFAIR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR DECADES, BUILDING TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING OF RESIDENTS' DAY-TO-DAY REALITIES AND LIVED EXPERIENCE. MANY OF THE MEMBER AGENCIES ARE FOUNDED OR LED BY WOMEN OF COLOR. THE SSPC HAS BUILT ONGOING PROCESSES TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS, NOT ONLY AS RECIPIENTS OF SERVICES, BUT AS LEADERS WHO CO-CREATE, DEVELOP, AND LEARN PROGRAMS, SERVICES, ORGANIZING, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS.

VEGGIELUTION'S EASTSIDE GROWN (EG) PROGRAM - STARTED IN 2018 - PROVIDES AN EIGHT MONTHS FOOD ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING FOR COHORTS OF 20 EAST SAN JOS HOME- AND MOBILE-BASED FOOD ENTREPRENEURS TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS. THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF THE S S PUEDE COLLECTIVE'S 'JOBS TO GROW' INITIATIVE, WHICH FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY, NEIGHBORHOOD BELONGING, AND AGENCY FOR COHORTS OF FOOD ENTREPRENEURS (VEGGIELUTION) AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS (GRAIL FAMILY SERVICES). MOST OF THE EG PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE LOW-INCOME LATINO IMMIGRANTS AND REPORT THAT THEIR BIGGEST DIFFICULTY IS SECURING ADEQUATE CAPITAL TO LAUNCH THEIR BUSINESS UPON GRADUATION. BY OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES, THE EASTSIDE GROWN TEAM HAS GROWN TO BETTER ANTICIPATE BARRIERS, STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING PROCESS, PROVIDE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS SOCIAL/TECHNICAL CHALLENGES, ALL WHILE PRIORITIZING EQUITY AND UPWARD ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR FUTURE EAST SAN JOS FOOD ENTREPRENEURS.

SI SE PUEDE COLLECTIVEVEGGIELUTION'S COMMUNITY ROOTS ARE FURTHER EXPANDED BY ITS MEMBERSHIP IN THE SI SE PUEDE COLLECTIVE (SSPC), A GROUP OF FIVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN EMBEDDED IN THE MAYFAIR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR DECADES, BUILDING TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING OF RESIDENTS' DAY-TO-DAY REALITIES AND LIVED EXPERIENCE. MANY OF THE MEMBER AGENCIES ARE FOUNDED OR LED BY WOMEN OF COLOR. THE SSPC HAS BUILT ONGOING PROCESSES TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS, NOT ONLY AS RECIPIENTS OF SERVICES, BUT AS LEADERS WHO CO-CREATE, DEVELOP, AND LEARN PROGRAMS, SERVICES, ORGANIZING, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS.

EASTSIDE CONNECT INCLUDES A FARM BOX DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM WHICH IMPROVES FOOD SECURITY FOR EAST SAN JOS'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND A WEEKLY FARM STAND, WHICH PROVIDES FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN, AND AFFORDABLE PRODUCE TO THE COMMUNITY AND ACCEPTS ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT) CARDS FOR CALFRESH. EACH WEEK OVER 300 FARM BOXES ARE DISTRIBUTED TO ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE, MOBILITY CHALLENGED, AND FOOD-INSECURE, MAINLY LATINX, EAST SAN JOS RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACTS LOCATED IN THE 95116, 95122, AND 95127 ZIP CODES.

EASTSIDE CONNECT INCLUDES A FARM BOX DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM WHICH IMPROVES FOOD SECURITY FOR EAST SAN JOS'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND A WEEKLY FARM STAND, WHICH PROVIDES FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN, AND AFFORDABLE PRODUCE TO THE COMMUNITY AND ACCEPTS ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT) CARDS FOR CALFRESH. EACH WEEK OVER 300 FARM BOXES ARE DISTRIBUTED TO ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE, MOBILITY CHALLENGED, AND FOOD-INSECURE, MAINLY LATINX, EAST SAN JOS RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACTS LOCATED IN THE 95116, 95122, AND 95127 ZIP CODES.

THE SCC URBAN GROWERS NETWORK IS A RESPONSE TO THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BETTER ORGANIZE THEMSELVES AROUND SPECIFIC WORK AND SPECIFIC PROJECTS, TO GROW OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT. THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AMONG LOCAL URBAN GROWERS, AS WELL AS OUR CONNECTION TO OTHER SMALL FARMS IN SANTA CLARA VALLEY. PROJECT PARTNERS INCLUDED IN THIS PILOT PHASE INCLUDE: LA MESA VERDE (AT SACRED HEART), THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE GARDEN FOUNDATION, GUADALUPE COYOTE RIVER PARK CONSERVANCY, OUR CITY FOREST, THE FORGE GARDEN (AT SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY), TAYLOR STREET FARM, VALLEY VERDE, AND VEGGIELUTION. IN THE 2022-2023 FISCAL YEAR, VEGGIELUTION ENGAGED A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT TO GUIDE US IN ESTABLISHING A PROJECT CHARTER FOR THE GROUP, BASED IN SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND A RACIAL-HEALTH EQUITY FRAMEWORK.

THE SCC URBAN GROWERS NETWORK IS A RESPONSE TO THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BETTER ORGANIZE THEMSELVES AROUND SPECIFIC WORK AND SPECIFIC PROJECTS, TO GROW OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT. THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AMONG LOCAL URBAN GROWERS, AS WELL AS OUR CONNECTION TO OTHER SMALL FARMS IN SANTA CLARA VALLEY. PROJECT PARTNERS INCLUDED IN THIS PILOT PHASE INCLUDE: LA MESA VERDE (AT SACRED HEART), THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE GARDEN FOUNDATION, GUADALUPE COYOTE RIVER PARK CONSERVANCY, OUR CITY FOREST, THE FORGE GARDEN (AT SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY), TAYLOR STREET FARM, VALLEY VERDE, AND VEGGIELUTION. IN THE 2022-2023 FISCAL YEAR, VEGGIELUTION ENGAGED A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT TO GUIDE US IN ESTABLISHING A PROJECT CHARTER FOR THE GROUP, BASED IN SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND A RACIAL-HEALTH EQUITY FRAMEWORK.