Youth Empowerment Program
About YEP
City Farm SLO's 'Youth Empowerment Program' was piloted in April 2021 and 5 Cohorts of students have graduated from the program to date.
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YEP provides exceptional leadership development opportunities to teens of all backgrounds through career/college readiness workshops and technical instruction in regenerative agriculture.
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Workshops are offered bilingually in English and Spanish and cover topics such as SMART Goals, resume writing, interview skills, public speaking, health & nutrition, and agricultural career exploration including DEI in agriculture.
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Students earn $200 for their participation in 8 sessions. Upon graduation, students are eligible to apply for a paid Summer Farming Internship at City Farm SLO.
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Through the Youth Empowerment Program, students develop skills and knowledge necessary for healthy and successful futures.
What We Do
Educational Workshops
Workshops cover these topics:
financial literacy
SMART Goals
Ag career exploration
college knowledge
resumes
STAR interviews
public speaking
health & nutrition
DE&I in Agriculture
Farming Activities
On the 1.25-acre YEP field, students learn regenerative agriculture practices and techniques:
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soil preparation
fertilizing
transplanting
weeding
harvesting
irrigation management
pest management
field & food safety
Hannah V.
Fall '21 Cohort
The thing I enjoyed the most about YEP was being outside. It was all a great learning opportunity, not only learning about farming, but also about life skills. I'll apply that to my life getting jobs and living a healthy life
Emma M.
Spring '21 Cohort
My favorite farming activity was planting because I got to learn how to transplant and how the irrigation system works.
Sophia G.
Fall '21 Cohort
My favorite workshop has been about compartmentalization
because I learned that I can balance my fun, my priorities, and my work all together.
Ava A.
Summer '21 Cohort
My favorite workshop was the public speaking one because it helped me feel more confident in a group
YEP students gather for 8 sessions that are conducted during Summer months, Mondays - Thursdays, 9 AM - 1 PM.
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Ninety minutes of each session is devoted to farming activities and field instruction. Students earn $200 for their work.
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Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to apply for a paid summer farm internship that strengthens their skills and knowledge,
as well as co-facilitate the summer cohort.
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Meet the YEP Team
Isaac Lopez
YEP Facilitator
Lauren Picone
Farm Education Coordinator
Chelsea Nava (summer 2021 cohort) poses with her ice cream that she made during the last session of her program.
Shelby Barrett (summer 2021 cohort) pulls out weeds from tenant farmer, Jerry Mahoney's squash plants.
Pilot Program student, Natalya Tamayo, helps lay down a sprinkler irrigation system.
Chelsea Nava (summer 2021 cohort) poses with her ice cream that she made during the last session of her program.
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Meet our 2021 YEP Graduates!
Pilot Cohort: Adolfo De Dios, Ander Ortiz, Carlos Temiz, Emma Murguia, Emmanuel De Dios, Griffin Lucier, Heriberto Méndez, Jairo Rojas Ortiz, Jose Becerra, Juaquin Hernandez, Lucas Fisher, Mateo Trujillo, Natalya Tamayo, Nathaly Aguilar, Yahir Chavez, Yareli Méndez, Zaidad Castellanos
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Summer Cohort: Ava Afsari, Axyri Perez, Chelsea Nava, Daniel J. Nava Rojas, Eden Blakeney, Ella Bettencourt, Emily White, Kai Tabata, Lindy Salmon, Miguel Nunez, Peter Trigueiro, Rosalva Farias, Shelby Barrett, Ziona Xzyntua
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Fall Cohort: Aaliyah Francesca Corbitt, Alma Tinoco Juarez, Chelsea Johnson, Ella Vowell, Hannah Van Doren, James Gregory, Sophiana Garza
Thanks to our Program Sponsors:
Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, County of San Luis Obispo, Marx City Farm Education Fund, and Private Donors.
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