Local Harvest website added Atwood Community Gardens to their roster of over 700+ farms and gardens across the U.S.  Local Harvest believes that the best organic food is what’s grown closest to you. Visitors can use their website to find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in their area, where they can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.

We encourage you to support this great web site by shopping in their catalog for things you can’t find locally!

Atwood Community Gardens & Urban Farm – LocalHarvest.

Training Sessions (ages 10-17): Download Flyer
Monthly (Jan-May; Sep-Dec)
Every 1st & 2nd Saturday, 10:30a-12N
Fee: $10 per class

Summer Camp*
May 25 – Aug 3 Mon-Fri, 9:00a-6:30p
Fee: $45/week
*7am Early Arrivals @ Harland Boys & Girls Club, 434 Peeples St, Atlanta, GA 30310.  One time additional fee of $35.

S.T.E.M.-Based Activities  Include:

• Training sessions in fishing, hiking, rock climbing, geo-caching, exploring the Chattahoochee & Bush Mountains, soil conservation.
• Applications in Industrial Design, Design/Build, Environmental Engineering, Architecture, Landscaping (terrace & raised gardens beds, water recapturing and drainage systems, aquaponics & hydroponics)
• Service learning through special event management and coordination of community service  and volunteer activities at local urban garden sites and Sadie G. Mays Rehabilitation Center (arts & crafts, cooking demonstrations, community clean-ups, etc.)
• Business development training in operations management of Atwood Community Gardens , Atwood Farms and our new Farmer’s Market.

The specific development projects will take place at Atwood Community Gardens to introduce youth to the following S.T.E.M. career pathways and social entrepreneur ventures:

• A water recapturing system to divert contaminated street water (run-off) away from our main farming area
• Installation of two terrace garden beds to act as a natural filtration system from run-off water, to prevent soil erosion and to help beautify our sloping landscapes
• Installation of vertical compost bins to quicken the composting cycle to return rich, nutrient-filled growing soil back to the land
• Design and plant edible landscapes and beautiful horticultural schemes to re-introduce native plants to a balanced habitat

Classes are limited so register as early as possible.  NOTE: Still seeking donation of a passenger van to assist with student pick-ups.  For more information, contact NEXT Steps at 678.570.0398.  Email power@nextstepsyep.org or visit our website at www.nextstepsyep.org.

During his visit to Atlanta, Dr. James Griffin of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine invited Dana Jewel Harris, Executive Director of The NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program to meet with Jarid Manos, author of GHETTO PLAINSMAN.  GHETTO PLAINSMAN is a “tough, beautifully written and deeply spiritual story of redemption and healing through America’s underbelly and soul, from a rural childhood to the inner city streets to the even more violent outback of the American West.

Because of our unique position in Atlanta’s growing urban agriculture trend, the significance of our meeting with Mr. Manos was to understand the Twelve Components of Ecological Health.

Mr. Manos defines the twelve components of ecological health as “the interdependent health of humans, animals and ecosystems”.  By sharing his life’s story, we were able to identify synergies that exist between the mission of his organization – the Great Plains Restoration Council – Atwood Community Gardens (as our local urban agriculture model), and the NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program’s social entrepreneur curriculum.  We left the meeting with the understanding of how The Twelve Components of Ecological Health clearly define our roles and responsibilities as youth development instructors and environmental stewards (to):

• Create Safe Places for people and wildlife
• Protect, teach and serve children
• Understand consequences of actions
• Strive to cause less pain to others
• Embrace vitality
• Embrace earned confidence and humility
• Live like a watershed
• Embrace physical work
• Fight environmental injustice
• Seek peace and health-based solutions
• Give thanks
• Seek silence, wisdom, deeper thought and personal growth

Over the next year, NEXT Steps will incorporate the Twelve Components of Ecological Health into our social entrepreneur curriculum at Atwood Community Gardens to help address the socio-economic conditions that are negatively impacting the communities within the West End.

Friends of Atwood | Atwood Community Gardens.

Jan 16.  Hands On Atlanta/NEXT Steps MLK Day of Service.   Talk about special!  We managed to pull off a wonderful volunteer experience for the NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program, the Sadie G. Mays Rehabilitation Center, the Jack & Jill Atlanta Chapter and Morehouse University College Students.  We had 19 college students and 14 third graders interview elders at the Sadie G. Mays Rehabilitation Center. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous getting three generations together to do arts and crafts but it worked out beautifully.

Each mentor and mentee group first worked together to design their own scrapbook page as an ice-breaker for them to discuss their hobbies, interests and future aspirations.  Then, after our elders finished breakfast, our youth mentor/mentee groups began their interviews.  We learned about some of the most exciting past careers and groundbreaking activities that made them who they are.  Students interviewed elders that played football and went to school with Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, and Dr. Benjamin Mays.  They also interviewed a senior that was the first Black female (and first Black anything for that matter) to break  color barriers in the corporate workplace during the Civil Rights Movement. Our other elders were professional dancers, artists, librarians and cooks and many were born and raised right here in Atlanta, Ga.

Jan 18.  The New 5/3rd Bank (West End Branch) Makes A Donation To NEXT Steps  As if this week couldn’t get any better, NEXT Steps is recognized by the new 5/3rd Bank during its grand opening ceremony at the Kroger Citi-Center in West End Atlanta.  NEXT Steps Mentors John & Pat Perdew were the recipients of a $500 donation that will go towards taking care of some of the immediate expenses of the 28 children they current provide supplemental care for.  In January 2011, The Perdews moved into the Westview Community to be closer to the city of Atlanta.  The neighborhood’s charming homes and historical importance coupled with the proximity to the Atlanta University Center, interstates, the downtown business district was inviting.  However, it was unknown at the time, that Westview was a USDA, nationally recognized food desert and a home to poverty, crime, blight and many at-risk children. Even though the Perdews endured thefts of their home twice before they moved in, it was the plight of these children that touched their hearts.  They immediately founded the Youth of Westview as an extension of the NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program at Atwood Community Gardens.  As a recipient of their kindness and mentorship, the Perdews have talked and trained many NEXT Steps Program alumni and has extended the invitation to become a “child of the Perdew family.”

Jan 21. ALFI/Georgia Organics Tree Sale/Boys & Girls Club Keystone Leadership Club  Today was a very rainy day full of thunderstorms and volunteer activity.   First, NEXT Steps volunteered to  help out at the 2nd Annual Fruit Tree Sale.  It was hosted by the Atlanta Local Food Initiative and Georgia Organics at the Atlanta Community Food Bank . Last year, more than 2,000 fruit trees, vines and berries were planted as a result of the sale. The goal of the tree sale is to spread edible landscapes throughout the city and state. All proceeds benefit the Atlanta Local Food Initiative to further its work to build healthy, local food communities.  NEXT Steps purchased four fruit trees to plant at the Atwood-White Street Triangle we adopted last year as part of the Adopt-A-Park Initiative of the Atlanta Beltline.  We’ll be planting our fruit trees next weekend with students from our Outdoor Nation Atlanta Campus Club.

     I left the tree sale and immediately went over to the American Intercontinental University Dunwoody Campus to volunteer as a guest speaker for the 2012 Boys & Girls Club Keystone Conference.  The theme of the conference was “Take A Stand”.   They labeled my lecture series as “Who Wants To Be A Millionare” — where entrepreneurs will learn how to start their own business with a community service lens.  I thought that was pretty cool!  But, of course, after waking up at 6:00am on a rainy, lazy Saturday morning and spending the majority of the morning doing Zumba, interactive dance then yoga, a cooking class, going swimming, playing a 3 on 3 basketball tournament and three point shoot out, and filming a short promotional video, imagine the level of energy the kids had by the time they came to “talk” to me.  I try to keep things exciting in my class but after learning what the kids’ day entailed, I kept it simple.  The half that could hang with me, we had excellent conversation.  As for the other half, I just let them get in a much needed power nap. 

Jan 22.  CIGS To The Rescue!  This kind of consultation activity is what I live for.  I was invited to meet with some local specialists in Atlanta’s urban agriculture movement to help them develop their strategic plan for their new consulting and management venture.  Of course, I used our signature Community Involvement Growth Strategy (C.I.G.S.) Organizational Management Model to set them on the right track to success.  Within 30 minutes, I was able to help them realize the feasibility of their dream and document a plan that clearly mapped out their development and growth strategy. We definitely had a breakthrough moment and fantastically productive learning experience.  Pat on the back for another small CIGS success.

Jan 8.  Georgia Organics Urban Agriculture Training Program Begins.  NEXT Steps was selected to participate in the Georgia Organics’ Urban Agriculture Training Program .  Georgia Organics is committed to cultivating urban farmers and gardeners to build healthy, vibrant local food communities.    Applicants should possess at least one of the two motivations in participating in this program:  1) to grow/raise food as a business, for supplemental income or as training for future employment; and 2) to increase access of fruits and vegetables in underserved communities.  The training program runs from February thru November with an orientation meeting in January.  Participants spend time working hands-on at a diversity of urban agriculture projects in Metro Atlanta and to gather once each month for in-depth workshops and fellowship.

Jan 10.  Points of Light Civic Accelerator Program.  NEXT Steps was interviewed by, none other than, Jay Cranman, VP with Civic Incubator at Points of Light as a potential candidate for their brand new Civic Accelorator Program.  Through the Civic Accelerator, Points of Light is launching one of the nation’s first startup accelerator programs focused on social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. The program will include peer support, mentoring, entrepreneur education, networking, funding and other initiatives.  Wish us luck!

Jan 12.  Guest Site Tours @ Atwood Community Gardens.  NEXT Steps had the distinct pleasure of sharing our vision for Atwood Community Gardens with Mr. Fred Huff, former  Director for the Georgia Tourism Foundation.  Our hope is to broaden our reach as we try to tap into the budding agri-tourism industry of West End Atlanta.

Jan 13.  Grady High School School Store Grand Opening.  NEXT Steps was invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the Grady High School Business & Entrepreneur Academy’s Grand Opening event for their new school store.  NEXT Steps will be working with the students over the next few months to help integrate the student’s entrepreneurial interests with real world business opportunities that identify and address socio-economic conditions that impact their neighborhoods as well as the global community.

ALFI Urban Ag Work Group/ALFI Policy Work Group.  NEXT Steps was included with a small group of growers as we convened with the Turner Environmental Law Clinic to discuss issues, opportunities, and develop draft recommendations for urban agriculture policy for the City of Atlanta.

Now THAT’s what I call a very successful week!

Thanks to everyone.

“PrimeRevenue’s involvement with community service projects also includes its participation in the Next Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program, one of the most successful business development educational programs which targets at risk and low income youth. By taking part in community gardening activities at Atwood Community Garden, PrimeRevenue’s employees served the larger scope of the program and provided children with opportunities to discover innovative solutions and apply them to career options, social issues, and family life.”

About PrimeRevenue:  For Global 2000 organizations who view their supply chains as a strategic asset and are seeking to increase supply chain efficiency, PrimeRevenue is the leading provider of multi-bank Supply Chain Finance (SCF) technology and services. Our open SCF platform and working capital advisory services provide these organizations with the control and flexibility required to drive superior SCF results, reducing cost, capital and risk throughout their supply chains and forging stronger supplier relationships. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, PrimeRevenue also has offices in Paris, Frankfurt and Prague in Europe, as well as in Melbourne, Australia, and operates some of the largest SCF programs for customers around the globe. For more information, visit http://www.primerevenue.com.

To read the entire press release, click on the link below:

PrimeRevenue’s Helping Hands Reach Out to Those in Need.

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If you have a youth group that is looking to do something different, consider bringing them to Atwood Community Gardens.  The outdoor experience will definitely help them broaden their scope and perspective on the impact they can make in their communities and their lives.

Visitor Information | Atwood Community Gardens.