Led by Community Education staff, the Raíces Youth Program is offered three times a year and engages youth ages 14-22 in farm-based and community garden production, as well as cooking, health, nutrition, and food systems education.  

All classes and activities are rooted in traditional foodways, agroecological practices, cultural wisdom, and culinary traditions. We connect youth with community leaders and elders who are local farmers, gardeners , artists, storytellers, and culinary experts. Youth also engage in seed-to-table activities while developing leadership and entrepreneurial skills to address complex food injustices experienced in our communities. Through this program, we are uplifting the next generation of food system advocates. Youth participants receive a stipend upon completing the program.  

In an effort to expand our program reach across the Paso del Norte region, we are currently working with El Calvario United Methodist Church in Las Cruces, NM and Planty for the People in El Paso, TX hosting winter and spring programs. The fall program is hosted at La Semilla Community Farm.  

Interested youth must complete an application process, follow-up interview, and make a commitment to attend each and every session for the program duration. Upon successful completion of the Raíces program, youth are eligible to apply for our Food & Farm Apprenticeships. Youth selected for Raíces are provided an educational stipend to compensate them for their time, as well as to demonstrate the inherent value of good food–something we’ve come to grossly undervalue!