Our story
Soul Food Project (originally Temple Gardens) was founded in 2017 to increase food access in the neighborhood of our founder, Danielle Guerin. Since our founding, we have taught youth and adults how to grow food while establishing a system of urban farms throughout the city. Built on this foundation, our work and team have grown in many ways. Our overarching goal is to create a sustainable food system in our community by improving food security and nurturing biodynamic local agriculture while striving to improve the socio-economic status of the residents we serve.
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As an organization, SFP is rooted in service. We intentionally choose equitable pathways to food justice through growing, distributing, cooking, and eating with the hopes of advancing food sovereignty. We place the needs of our residents at the forefront of our work. We serve our neighborhoods by working to create stronger communities, more engaged citizens, and happier neighborhoods by focusing on leadership, partnership, and development.
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Mission and Goals
Our mission is to create a thoughtful and productive community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system. We do this through the various programs that we offer. Our programs are designed to serve the vibrant, diverse, and unique communities in which we are present and active, and those communities suffer from food apartheid. Our farms serve as production, education, and demonstration sites for our neighbors. Our farms also serve as a space for gathering and celebration. Our Veggie Box program offers a way for our neighbors to consistently access fresh produce throughout the year at an affordable cost. Our boxes also educate on the seasonality of food and offer recipes. Our workforce development programs, Youth Grow Indy and Farm Fellow Apprenticeship offer opportunities for all to learn how to grow and distribute their food. These year-round programs cultivate leadership in our participants and educate and train them in various roles. Our community programs help us to build positive relationships with food, peers, families, communities, and ourselves.
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Our goals are dynamic because our neighborhoods are dynamic. To learn more about what our organization values, check out this document.
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Our goal is to instill leadership.
Our goal is to create neighborhood connections and community opportunities for contributions.
Our goal is to develop and nurture cooperative relationships.
Our goal is to promote food justice and food sovereignty.
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Soul Food Project is a 501c3 nonprofit organization incorporated in Indiana.
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