Empowering Community Health through The Fresh Roots Café

Green space, park access, and trees

South LA City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Los Angeles faces challenges in providing opportunities for communities, especially in underserved areas like South LA, to connect with nature and access fresh, locally grown food. This contributes to environmental injustices, food insecurity, and poor health outcomes, as residents often miss the benefits of fresh, nutritious meals. The lack of inclusive, community-focused initiatives further deepens disparities, leaving neighborhoods without spaces that foster health, collaboration, and connection.
Our goal is to spark excitement and awareness about food by giving people the chance to experience it in its raw form and as part of a delicious, nutritious meal. By creating opportunities to reconnect with food and the environment, we aim to strengthen community bonds and promote healthier lifestyles. Through creative, engaging programs, we empower residents to take pride in what they eat while fostering long-term sustainability and resilience for their communities.

This grant will support The Fresh Roots Café Initiative, a community-driven project led by Fathers and Mothers Who Care that transforms repurposed shipping containers into dynamic cafés featuring meals prepared with locally grown produce. The initiative incorporates an on-site community garden where residents collaboratively grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs to directly supply the café. The space will also serve as a hub for learning, offering workshops on sustainable gardening practices, nutrition, and environmental stewardship. By fostering hands-on engagement, the project will inspire families to reconnect with the food they eat and cultivate a deeper awareness of its journey from soil to table.
Targeting under-resourced neighborhoods, the Fresh Roots Café Initiative is designed to strengthen physical, social, and economic health while addressing urgent issues such as food insecurity and environmental inequities. By prioritizing community involvement and education, the project aims to create a replicable model for sustainable solutions in urban spaces.

If our work succeeds, Los Angeles County will become more equitable and resilient, with underserved communities gaining access to the resources needed to thrive. The Fresh Roots Café Initiative will deliver affordable, nutritious meals, locally grown produce, and community-led programs focused on sustainability, food literacy, and health. By engaging with cafés, gardens, and workshops, residents will foster stronger social bonds, develop deeper connections to their environment, and build pride in shared spaces.
This initiative will transform neighborhoods burdened by food insecurity and environmental inequities, equipping them with tools to support healthier lifestyles and increased economic opportunity. Beyond improving physical and social wellbeing, the project will provide a scalable model for creating sustainable, community-centered solutions across Los Angeles County and beyond.