Vision:
A healthy and equitable community where people and places thrive.
Mission:
Youth transforming their communities through food, farming and the land.
Core Values:
ENERGY: We are bold and inspired by our community.
ROOTS: We are grounded and purposeful, connected with people and dedicated to sustainably addressing community needs.
DISCOVERY: We embrace the joy of learning by doing.
CULTIVATION: We bring great care to our work and relationships; we nourish growth in our community, and in turn, are nourished ourselves.
ABUNDANCE: We leverage our community’s diverse assets to achieve personal and social change.
JUSTICE: We pursue fairness and equity.
Visión:
Una comunidad saludable y equitativa donde la gente y los sitios prosperan
Misión:
La juventud transformando sus comunidades a través de la comida, la agricultura, y la tierra.
Valores:
ENERGÍA: Somos valientes e inspirados por nuestra comunidad.
RAÍCES: Somos sólidos e intencionados, conectados con la gente y
dedicados a cumplir con los nececidades de la comunidad en una manera
sostenible.
DESCUBRIMIENTO: Abrazamos el gozo de aprender a través de hacer.
CULTIVO: Traemos mucho cuidado a nuestro trabajo y a nuestras
relaciones; nutrimos al crecimiento de nuestra comunidad y en cambio somos nutridos nosotros mismos.
ABUNDANCIA: Hacemos uso de los recursos diversos de nuestra comunidad para lograr el cambio personal y social.
JUSTICIA: Seguimos a la justicia y a la equidad.
The Food Literacy Project honors the intrinsic value of individuals and the intersectionality of their identities (race, gender, sexuality, religion, etc.), and we work to uplift their communities’ strengths. Our workplace fosters a culture of continuous learning and embraces diverse perspectives, prioritizing people over capital.
We are committed to anti-racism and strive to integrate anti-racist values into youth development and food systems work. We recognize youth as powerful agents of change and actively amplify their voices, especially those impacted by inequities in racialized food systems.
The Food Literacy Project acknowledges the historical oppression and ongoing injustices tied to food, farming, and land in the U.S. The land we farm in Louisville is the ancestral home of Indigenous peoples, and we recognize the painful histories of land theft, genocide, and slavery. Our agricultural system continues to be exploitative, with land ownership concentrated among a few, and systemic barriers limiting access to resources for people of color. We commit to being a good guest on this land.
We are committed to decolonizing our curriculum, honoring Indigenous and Afro-Indigenous food systems, and engaging youth in movements toward food sovereignty and justice. Operating from a Social Justice Youth Development framework, we recognize the power of young people in shaping solutions to systemic inequities. Youth are not problems to be fixed but assets, leaders, and agents of social change.
Our values are reflected in our work:
- Facilitating reflection and critical conversation among youth, staff, board, and community partners.
- Taking a holistic approach to youth development, food justice, and healthy living.
- Paying youth equitably for their work at the urban farm and supporting their long-term growth.
- Providing educational opportunities for youth and families to explore food systems, sustainability, and justice.
- Practicing mutual aid with community partners and urban farmers.
- Engaging volunteers, donors, and stakeholders who share our commitment to equity.
- Actively seeking input from youth and community members in decision-making and program development.
- Confronting racism, historical trauma, and systemic inequities in our work.
We are committed to developing the knowledge and skills necessary to show up effectively and in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, and New-American communities. Our liberation is collective and bound together. This statement is not static; it will evolve as we grow and deepen our understanding of these issues. Building food sovereignty requires ongoing collaboration, and we hold ourselves accountable to these relationships.