Dubois Institute For Entrepreneurship

TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BUILD EDUCATION OUTREACH AND MOMENTUM ABOUT THE IMPORTANT BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH COMMUNITY FOOD AND COMMUNITY GARDENING IN THE WIREGRASS REGION.

2017RMEPP

TO HOST FOUR ONE DAY (7-HOUR) OUTREACH IN PERSON WORKSHOPS AND HANDS-ONFIELD DAY TECHNICAL SUPPORT SESSIONS TO HELP SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED,LIMITED RESOURCE, WOMEN, URBAN FARMERS, VETERANS AND BEGINNING FARMERSAND RANCHER IN THE WIREGRASS REGION OF ALABAMA TO INCREASE PARTICIPATIONIN NRCS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

PROMOTE AWARENESS OF

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OUR MISSION: THE DUBOIS INSTITUTE IS A SOCIALLY DRIVEN FOOD ENTERPRISE SERVING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING GARDEN-BASED LEARNING IN A MARKETPLACE THAT PROMOTES COMMUNITY WELLNESS IN THE WIREGRASS AREA. THIS PROJECT TURNS THE GARDEN INTO AN ECOSYSTEM THAT DEMONSTRATES HOW URBAN AGRICULTURE CAN BE A JOB OASIS, A PIPELINE THAT TEACHES YOUTH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REAL FOOD, AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO BECOME MORE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM AND EMPLOYMENT. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE HEALTHY FUTURES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMMING AREAS. THE VISTA PROJECT WILL SEEK TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD, PROMOTE WELLNESS AND BOOST ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL. THE PROJECT WILL BENEFIT OVER 500 CHILDREN AND ADULTS. OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD WE PLAN TO ENGAGE 5 VISTA MEMBERS (4 STANDARD, 1COST-SHARE) TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES: 1. DIRECT COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM TO GROW PARTICIPATION IN OUR FOODLIFE CENTER AND STRENGTHEN THE RECRUITMENT OF VOLUNTEERS. 2. SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM. 3. SUPPORT GRANTS/PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND FUNDRAISING PROCESS 4. SUPPORT ON SITE OPERATIONS AND LEARNING CENTER