In 2020, Fresno Metro Ministries opened the Yo’Ville Community Garden and Farm in Southwest Fresno. The Garden is home to 7.5-acres of land that includes 96 organic garden plots, a farm incubator program and a children's summer camp. Yo'Ville Facebook photo

Leadership Fresno is a flagship program of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.  It was conceived in response to the observed need for cultivating diverse leaders throughout Fresno County. Since 1984, Leadership Fresno has consistently nurtured the growth of leaders and equipped them with the skills and motivation necessary to navigate the challenges of the evolving decades. The program has yielded notable alumni including Councilmember Tyler Maxwell; Richard Caglia, owner of Caglia Environmental; and former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. Leadership Fresno consistently receives accolades from past participants who fondly proclaim their class was the “best class ever!”

Each leadership class is tasked with executing a project that will significantly benefit the greater community. In 2020, Fresno Metro Ministries opened the Yo’Ville Community Garden and Farm, which addresses local food disparities by providing tools, knowledge and land access to residents while fostering a sense of community and empowerment. Located in Southwest Fresno, the Yo’Ville Community Garden and Farm serves as a beacon of hope.

 

The Garden is home to 7.5-acres of land that includes 96 organic garden plots, a farm incubator program and a children’s summer camp. Despite its bountiful offerings, the garden is strategically located several miles from essential services, further underscoring the importance of creating a safe and accessible space for the community.

Leadership Fresno Class 38 aims to assist the Yo’Ville Community Garden and Farm and enhance its impact by spearheading efforts to create a much-needed outdoor community meeting space. This space, consisting of a permeable ground cover, benches, fruit trees and shade structures, will serve as a central hub for residents to meet and provide a venue for gatherings, learning sessions and community improvement initiatives. Leadership Fresno Class 38 is actively fundraising to support the creation of the outdoor meeting space at the Yo’Ville Community Garden and Farm.

This synergistic collaboration between Leadership Fresno Class 38 and the Yo’Ville Community Garden and Farm exemplifies how the power of community-driven initiatives and leadership development programs can come together to create a positive change. By enhancing the outdoor meeting space, we aim to fortify the sense of community, foster learning opportunities, and contribute to the overarching goal of creating a just and local food system for the residents of Southwest Fresno.

To contribute to the Yo’Ville Community Garden project, visit the Leadership Fresno website.

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Anya Goosev is a project manager with Providence Strategic Consulting, Inc.

 

Bridgette DePond is a grants officer with Marjaree Mason Center, Inc.