Roots & Wings is part of the Urban Initiative of Angelic Organics Learning Center, and consists of a network of community-based organizations committed to youth leadership and community development through urban agriculture in Rockford, Illinois. Roots & Wings gardens are located in low-income neighborhoods and tended to by at-risk youth. In west and southeast Rockford, Roots & Wings youth gardens are growing organic vegetables and motivating, educating, and inspiring youth and adults to be leaders and role models in their communities. Since our first garden broke ground in 2002, Roots & Wings has sprouted five gardens with neighborhood community organizations.

We work together to plan, plant, tend, harvest, cook, and sell from their gardens. Vegetables from the gardens are used in cooking projects from homemade ranch dressing to chocolate beet cake. We learn how our food choices can help care for the earth, ourselves, and our community. In the garden, we practice teamwork and learn to solve problems peacefully. Through art projects and community celebrations, we welcome others to the gardens and share what we are learning.

Several times a year, the youth visit Angelic Organics Learning Center, located in Caledonia, Illinois. We work hard and learn about healthy food, but also play and grow together. Youth, and our adult helpers, work in the fields, milk goats, collect eggs from the chickens, explore natural areas, and learn about organic farming through hands-on experience.

Roots & Wings gives us the tools and experience we need to become leaders. Older youth teach their younger gardeners about agriculture and food. Youth leaders market their produce throughout the summer, earning money, job skills, and public speaking experience. Youth also develop and implement plans for micro-enterprises, including selling worms castings and making and selling lip balm.

Youth work together to pass on the gifts that they have received.

Youth Leaders participate in community-wide projects, like the new Pools of Hope Project, which will help community members grow food in yards with poor or contaminated soil, and the creation and distribution of small worm composting bins to others in the community.

Youth also give tours and presentations to the broader community.

Experienced youth leaders have attended national and regional youth leadership and urban agriculture events.

Angelic Organics Learning Center has partnered with communities groups to help create gardens at Blackhawk Courts, Concord Commons, Camaraderie Arts/Fairgrounds Valley, Friends House, Northwest Community Center, and the Salvation Army Kilburn Community Center. The existing Roots & Wings network includes Angelic Organics Learning Center and five partner organizations/groups with urban gardens and youth leadership programming. Each partner group has created a vision for their urban food project, and works collaboratively in implementing their plans. AOLC provides technical assistance to these groups, as well as assistance with planning and evaluation. Current Roots & Wings Partners include Blackhawk Buddy House, Concord "College," Comprehensive Community Solutions, Roots & Wings Youth Leaders, and Salvation Army Kilburn Community Center.

Constance McCarthy