Beloved community, 

How we care for and work with Mother Earth reflects our relationship with freedom, justice, and equity. I think about this frequently, as the Growing Hope Urban Farm facilitates daily connections to the land for teen participants, children from Parkridge Summer Camp, volunteers from across the region, staff, community members, and neighbors. 

We are stewards of sacred space. 

These thoughts swirl through my mind as I interact with the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace, our many neighbors, and the community partners who use it as a resource. While this space drastically differs from the farm, it is nonetheless sacred. The YFMP continues to be the central hub of the Ypsilanti Farmers Markets and Growing Hope Incubator Kitchen. As one of the largest parcels in downtown Ypsilanti, many mission-oriented organizations use this resource to feed the hungry, care for the sick, educate, celebrate, and mourn. 

Over the past month, I have had numerous conversations with community members, neighbors, business owners, elected officials, and community leaders centering on housing, policing, and poverty. This sacred space has become a safe space for many who have nowhere else to turn, if even for a moment.

So, what are we “doing about it?”

We’re learning people’s names and their stories. We’re partnering with the city, mental health workers, and those with the capacity to provide meaningful support. We’re building generational health. For several months, we’ve been working with FedUp to support a community fridge, much like the produce cart at the farm. This regularly monitored pantry will provide a safe and accessible entry point to accessing fresh, healthy, culturally relevant food for anyone in need.

We are steadfast in our conviction that our spaces be safe for all. We do not condone violence or threat in any form. We de-escalate. We welcome. We work diligently and collaboratively to create meaningful, systemic change that brings our entire community forward. 

This is the revolutionary work of stewarding the space, resources, and land afforded us. I just want to be a good neighbor. Imagine our community if we cultivated blocks full of good neighbors. Imagine if we stewarded the land in ways that shared our excess so that none would go to waste and provide access to fresh, seasonal produce for anyone and everyone. 

Our vision for these spaces is safe, vibrant, and plentiful. It magnifies our local food system and imagines it rebuilt with a foundation of justice and equity. This vision is grand, but we can make it a reality with your partnership. We appreciate your thoughts, suggestions, time, and investment in this journey.

Thank you for stewarding this sacred Earth with us.

In Solidarity,

Julius