Our History
From Seed to Movement
In 1998, two high school students from The Food Project attended the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) conference in Seattle. Though deeply connected to food systems work in Boston, they noticed something missing - a space where youth could speak, organize, and lead. That moment sparked a vision for a national gathering shaped by young people, for young people, rooted in food justice and community power.
In 1999, The Food Project and ACGA co-hosted the first Rooted in Community Youth Summit in Boston. Over 70 youth and adults from across the country came together to learn, build power, and plant the early seeds of a movement that continues to grow today.
Since then, RIC has evolved into a national network:
Hosting over 20 national youth summits
Facilitating regional gatherings and trainings
Mentoring 100+ youth-led grassroots organizations through leadership development and capacity-building
Supporting the creation of the Youth Food Bill of Rights, authored by youth, for youth
From 1999 to 2009, RIC operated entirely through volunteer leadership. In 2010, we formalized our structure, hiring our first part-time Co-Directors and establishing an intergenerational Advisory Council to guide our vision. Today, we continue to amplify youth leadership and advance food, land, and climate justice from the ground up.