>> ... Next Generation ... F ood Justice Do It for Detroit finalists earn micro-grants for their efforts to alleviate hunger. LEAH MACK AND ERIN PIASECKI I REPAIR THE WORLD DETROIT FELLOWS Representatives of Brightmoor Representatives of Eden Gardens Farm Artisans Community Kitchen 0 n May 27, nearly 100 people mixed and mingled with community partners Yad Ezra, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's NEXTGen Detroit and Repair the World in the Berkley warehouse of Yad Ezra. They were there to hear pitches from the three finalists of the "Do It for Detroit: Food Justice" competition. Do It for Detroit (Di4D): Food Justice is an annual event dedicated to supporting and raising awareness about local efforts to alleviate hunger and promote food justice in Detroit. The winner gets a $3,000 grant and runners-up receive $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. Unique to this funding opportunity, each initiative must use its award to actively engage the general community in meaningful volunteer service. Originally a project of NEXTGen Detroit, funding generously donated by the William and Audrey Farber Family Foundation has enabled the program to grow into a partnership with Yad Ezra and Repair the World. Recruitment started early. By the application deadline of April 15, eight applications were received from a diverse group of small organizations in Detroit, all working to make a big difference in their communities. Each application was reviewed by representatives from the sponsoring organizations; and three candidates were chosen on the basis of their mission, goals for the grant money and how they planned to meaningfully engage volunteers in their efforts toward an equitable food system. And The Winners Are ... Brightmoor Artisans Community Kitchen, Eden Gardens Block Club and Neighborhood Building Urban Gardens (BUG) made the cut as Di4D's three finalists. After a spirited round of presentations, the audience voted. Neighborhood BUG won by the slim margin of one vote, taking home $3,000. Coming in close second, Eden Gardens Farm received $2,000 and Brightmoor Artisans Community Kitchen received $1,000. "The social capital among and across the food justice organizations in Detroit far exceeds the modest financial investment that we were able to make in the movement," said Ben Falik of Repair the World: Detroit. Each initiative is part of a greater movement throughout 38 June 25 • 2015 Representatives of About 100 people came to Yad Sarah Snider of NEXTGen Neighborhood Building Urban Gardens Ezra's warehouse for the Do It with the voting box for Detroit Event. the city and serves as an entry point to learn more about what's happening in Detroit. Brightmoor Artisans Community Kitchen is a project of Neighbors Building Brightmoor, a 5-year-old neighborhood collective focused on youth gardening. Its $1,000 will renovate its commercial kitchen space on Fenkel to become a "Food Hub" for "fresh food, entrepreneurship and education." Neighbors Building Brightmoor is "dedicated to mobilizing, equipping and helping each other to create a beautiful, healthy and sustainable community for ourselves and our children." As its name suggests, the organization is powered by members of the neighborhood in an effort to transform where they live. The actualization of their efforts is displayed through their youth garden programming, beautiful play spaces and overall creative use of space. To learn about Neighbors Building Brightmoor or to volunteer, visit neighborsbuildingbrightmoor.org . Eden Gardens Farm, a partnership of the Eden Gardens Block Club and the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (IADS), the last standing synagogue in Detroit proper, will use the $2,000 to refit a shipping container for tool storage. As an organization dedicated to social justice, spirituality and respect for the natural world, it puts a huge emphasis on the value of community members working together to collectively make positive, healthy change. It also effectively "creates a space that invites the Jewish community to come outside of IADS's four walls to deeply engage with an eastside neighborhood in hopes of developing a stronger, more unified Southeast Michigan." The $2,000 grant will help make Eden Gardens more accessible to community members by creating easy access to gardening tools for individuals to use in the garden whenever they want. To learn more about Eden Gardens and join in the effort, visit the IADS webpage: downtownsynagogue.org . Check out the "Do More" tab for volunteer opportunities. Finally, the winning contestant, Neighborhood Building Urban Gardens (BUG), will use the $3,000 grant to purchase and fit hydroponic growing supplies to its grow house, located on the west side of Detroit and continue creating a space that "provides Detroit residents with high-quality, organic and local grown produce to promote sustainable healthy living." The indoor and outdoor gardens created by Neighborhood BUG will serve as a job development, community involvement and leadership opportunity center. Several programs have grown out of this initiative, including Farmers Leading Youth (FLY), Mature Observing Their Health (MOTH) and Agriculture Nourishment Team (ANT). The organization began in October 2014 with a focus on "revitalizing neighborhoods where food resources are limited," and with co-founders Orlando Thorpe and Jessica Patton's vision of providing a space that cultivates job skills, resources and community connection. To learn more, visit neighborhoodbug.org . You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ neighborhoodbug. The evening ended on a high note, with many of the finalists and other attendees staying after to talk and connect. "We truly credit this event being so successful to our strong and long-lasting partnerships with Yad Ezra and Repair the World," said NEXTGen Detroit Community Outreach Associate Sarah Snider. "Do It for Detroit is just one of several food justice- focused events that the NEXTGen Volunteers Committee is working on this spring and summer with various community partners," Snider said. "All three organizations invite everyone to join us for our Do It for Detroit: Food Justice follow-up event with micro-grant winner Neighborhood BUG on July 14 from 6-8 p.m. It's a great opportunity to see firsthand how the grant money is helping this organization grow." Lea Luger, executive director of Yad Ezra, said, "Thanks to the William and Audrey Farber family, we are able to continue hosting the Do It for Detroit event. We all take pride in knowing that we are able to offer an opportunity for people to engage in efforts that help benefit those in need." ❑ Follow NextGEN Detroit on Facebook for details on the July 14 event at BUG, 5555 Conner, Suite 1017, Detroit.