2024 Volunteer of the Year

December 6, 2024

Beloved Community,

We’re thrilled to honor Francesca Williamson as our Volunteer of the Year! Francesca’s passion and tireless work have inspired our team and community. Her leadership in the compost program and commitment to sustainable practices have been invaluable. Francesca has given countless hours, never hesitating to dive in with a smile and lend a hand wherever needed. Her dedication reminds us of the power of individual contributions in making our vision for a resilient food system a reality. Here’s a note straight from Franchesca:

“It has been a joy to volunteer with Growing Hope this year. My family is from African American communities that migrated north from the rural south, so food and caring for the land are core parts of my culture and upbringing. As a child, I remember pulling weeds in my grandmother’s tomato rows and watching her preserve vegetables. My family regularly cooked and shared food with others — for church events, during community service programs, and when visiting elders and the ‘sick and shut-in’ (a catch-all term for people experiencing illness and living with disabilities). So, when I learned about Growing Hope, I was immediately drawn to the food justice mission and values. I started volunteering with the compositing team and learned a lot about bees, food waste-to-compost cycles, and local food system issues. As a newcomer to the area, joining the compost team has also been a way to connect with people, the community, and the land. Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the impactful work Growing Hope is doing. I look forward to staying involved because Growing Hope feels like home.”

Our deep connection to the intersecting communities we serve and collaborate with drives everything we do. Through programs like youth leadership, food access initiatives, and partnerships with local organizations, we co-create pathways to address the interconnected challenges of food insecurity, educational inequities, climate change, and land access. This work is not about replicating old models but reimagining what’s possible—embracing innovation rooted in optimism and our shared humanity. As we reflect on the past year and look toward the future, we remain steadfast in pursuing systemic change, working toward a regenerative, inclusive food system for Ypsilanti and beyond.

Thank you for being part of the collaborative spirit and care that define Growing Hope!

In Gratitude,

Julius Buzzard

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By Julius Buzzard • February 3, 2025

Sweet Greetings Community, As we enter into Black History Month, I invite you to lean in as we reflect on the stories of makers—artists, bakers, herbalists, and creators—we honor the ingenuity that blooms from soil and spirit alike. Sean, Bupé, Nashia, and Eric are carrying forward a legacy of resilience and resistance through their craft. They remind us that making is more than production; it is storytelling, ancestral memory, and an act of defiance in a world that seeks to homogenize and commodify. Investing in our local food system means investing in the people who shape it. From the farmers who steward the land to the artisans who transform raw ingredients into nourishment, we are weaving a web of interdependence that can withstand the storms of uncertainty. At this moment, when federal funding hangs in precarious balance, and communities are left to navigate the shifting tides of policy and politics, we must deepen our commitments to one another on our journey to realize self-determination. We see the cracks in the system, and we also see the light that pours through. The growing movement for reparations and land return is gaining momentum. Across the country, Black food businesses and land stewards are reclaiming space and sovereignty—from cooperatively owned grocery stores to community-run urban farms. Here in Washtenaw County, Black entrepreneurs are creating thriving food businesses despite systemic barriers. The Growing Hope Incubator Kitchen provides a space where small businesses (many of whom are Black-owned) can thrive and where each owner can freely pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Meanwhile, the Reparations Council is laying the groundwork for justice, ensuring Black food businesses and land stewards have the resources to thrive. We work diligently to meet our community's growing need for this support. These are not isolated efforts; they are part of a collective reckoning, a return-to-right relationship with land, food, and people. I invite you to lean in, whether it is through listening, learning, advocating, donating, or any other means. Because it is about food. It is about land. It is about representation, justice, and sovereignty. It is about us—standing in the fullness of our power and ensuring that everyone has the right to grow, create, and be nourished. In solidarity and abundance, Julius Buzzard P.S. Sign up today to join the conversation with each of these makers.

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