| Every summer, youth gather in communities across the nation for the Summer of Solutions - a project of the non-profit Grand Aspirations that serves as a training ground for its participants and a launching pad for solutionary visions. With the support of local partnerships and a national network of fellow solutionaries, participants create self-sustaining projects that have a direct impact on their communities and that serve as models for others to build on.
The Summer of Solutions is a grassroots, volunteer-based, people-powered program, and we rely on people just like you for just about everything - from the project expertise, to the local partnerships, to the financial support for the young people dedicating their summer to building solutions.
The Hartford team has chosen to focus on food justice, as we are passionate about the importance of food insecurity and sustainable production issues, see the injustices that have left Hartford hungry, and want to learn more about solutions from the many people and organizations working for change.
From June to mid-August, we will garden, organize community workshops, teach classes, run discussions, volunteer on local farms, work on campaigns, develop entrepreneurial plans, fundraise, and train to become much stronger and more effective leaders. Each of our participants will choose how much of their time they will give to various projects. If some of those goals seem vague, it's because we're leaving room for our participants and community residents to design the details. (Maybe "teach classes" will turn into a cooking cooperative and weekly potluck, run and organized as a partnership between interested community members and participants, where people take turns teaching others their favorite healthy recipes). Our options are limitless, so we're looking to YOU for the inspiration, passion, and commitment to make the most of this summer!
Our Wish List:
Participants and Volunteers:
- We're looking for 10-15 full-time participants and many more volunteers. There are need-based stipends available for participants.
Food and Housing:
- We want to provide food and housing for our full-time team. If you know someone in Hartford who could host a student for the summer or a landlord who would give us reduced rent, please let us know!
- We'll be working hard all day, and want to come home to share bountiful healthy meals together. The less money we spend on food, the more we can use to support low-income participants and provide for the longevity of these projects.
Wisdom and Experience:
- You have it! As part of the leadership training component of our program, we want to host workshops throughout the summer. Know something about the history of Hartford? Compost? Gender and the environment? Urban gardening? Let us know and we'll see how we can best use your wisdom to support our participants.
Money:
- We don't have much of it. Money allows us to pay stipends, equalizing access to our program. It also allows us to eat, which we love!
Resources:
- All things garden related; seeds, tools, compost, wood, gloves, etc. We will find a loving home for anything you give that we don't need this summer.
If you want to be a part of SoS Hartford, you can apply online until April 24th at www.grandaspirations.org/apply2sos, but feel free to call or email us before then with any questions.
If you don't live in Connecticut, and are now wishing you could get involved in Summer of Solutions, don't fear! Here are the other cities we're working in this summer: Ashland, Chicago, Cleveland, Corvallis, Detroit, Eugene, Fayetteville, Iowa City, Oakland, Pioneer Valley, Oakland, Portland, Raleigh, Twin Cities, and a city or more in West Virginia!
For more information on our program, visit grandaspirations.org/hartford.
For more information on the initiative, visit grandaspirations.org/summer-of-solutions/about.
For more info, questions, concerns:
Jennifer Roach
(860) 539-7231
jennifer_roach14@pitzer.edu |
