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Urban Delights is an innovative project that combines personal development, business skills and first hand experience growing and selling fresh produce. The project gives 14-21 year olds from the inner-city a chance to learn what it takes to run a small business while promoting good citizenship and positive environmental practices. In the process youth gain job-readiness education and are linked with personal support services.
Before opening the farm stands, participants get hands-on training in entrepreneurship, team building, leadership and other key life skills. They also gain an understanding of the importance of local food systems and sustainable growing practices. Throughout the summer, participants get their hands in the soil, cultivating and harvesting herbs and vegetables at community gardens and organic farms. They also meet with small-business owners, visit local food processors and lend a hand with community-service activities.
Urban Delights has been a collaborative effort of several community-based, non-profit organizations with an interest in community economic development and youth development. These groups originally came together under the auspices of the City Neighborhood Network.
Youth Development
- Providing a learning and work experience that uses entrepreneurism as a means to help youth gain key like skills and job-readiness skills.
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- Providing, or assist participants in accessing, case management support where necessary.
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Community Economic Development
- Introducing entrepreneurship as a viable means to earn income.
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- Promoting the importance of locally-owned business
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- Developing and maintaining vegetables gardens on previously vacant, urban lots.
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- Encouraging civic participation, including facilitating meaningful food-related community service experiences.
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Food Security
- Extending inner-city residents access to fresh produce.
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- Introducing career path opportunities within the food system.
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- Promoting an understanding of the importance of local food systems, sustainable growing practices and healthy eating.
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Providing over 100 youth with meaningful work experience.
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- Ensuring youth assume major roles in running project.
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- Instilling the knowledge, skills and mindset to create one’s own job.
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- Increasing access to fresh, local produce for thousands of urban residents.
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- Promoting knowledge of good nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
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Coalition of Concerned Community Partners,
Genesis Health Project, Grace Episcopal Church, Peace Inc.
Family Resource Center, Syracuse Hunger Project,
Syracuse Housing Authority, Syracuse University
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Central New York Community Foundation, City of Syracuse:
Community Development Block Grant, CNY Works,
Dinosaur Bar-B-Q, Hunger Action Network of New York State,
Marjorie Kienzle Foundation, M&T Bank,
New York State Office of Child and Family Services
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