Community Outreach Program

Growing Hope's Community Outreach touches thousands each year across Washtenaw County and Michigan through our participation at numerous community events and fairs; through leadership in the Ypsilanti Pride Day, Ypsilanti Health Coalition, the MI School & Community Garden Network, statewide School Garden Nutrition committee, and others. Other local outreach efforts include organizing community input on urban agriculture, advocating for urban chickens, and promoting planning/zoning for urban food production. Our Volunteer Program connects people from diverse backgrounds with meaningful service opportunities where they get a taste of urban agriculture hands-on. Our annual garden & food system Tour de Fresh showcases the positive changes occurring in our community as a result of Growing Hope and many community members' efforts.

Volunteer Programs: Volunteers support every angle of GH's work, from one-time infusions of large groups to ongoing professional volunteerism on our site planning team.

Ypsi Urban Farmers: Through a monthly breakfast and networking opportunities for people of all backgrounds interested in urban agriculture and producing food in the city, the Ypsi Urban Farmers are a loose gathering of community members.

Networks/Coalitions: Growing Hope participates in and takes leadership roles in a variety of local and statewide groups working to share information and advance mutual causes in gardening & nutrition, public health, and other areas.

Tour de Fresh: Our annual garden and food system tour features the work done by community groups and individuals to make the Ypsilanti-area greener, healthier, and more sustainable.

Community Potlucks: Each month we host a Community Potluck at a rotating venue space in Ypsi to cultivate a local community surrounding food and gardening.

Growing Hope Center Tour: An ongoing monthly opportuity tour of the Growing Hope Center and its hoophouse given by Executive Director, Amanda Edmonds.

Growing Hope also participates in numerous local fairs and events, presenting at conferences, working with college student projects, and maintaining a strong overall presence in the community. These general outreach opportunities help us spread the word about our mission.