Youth Leadership Development Through Urban Food Production

Oakland Leaf runs a paid high school internship program at six different East Oakland elementary, middle and high schools through its urban farming program called Love Cultivating Schoolyards (LCS). LCS works with 30 high school students from across town to cultivate the land and distribute food throughout the community. LCS has responded to COVID through developing new food distribution systems to our communities that are most in need. Many neighborhoods in East Oakland do not have adequate access to any fresh produce at all, let alone fresh organic produce. Working on the Castlemont High School one-acre urban farm, LCS staff and interns have been producing food for free distribution as well as developing a grassroots CSA with local families and community members. Come to this workshop to explore topics on urban food production, urban food systems, and pandemic responses from our Youth.