As the communications and engagement intern, I supported the outreach and engagement efforts between Grassroots Gardens and its network of local gardeners and community members. Over thirteen weeks, my responsibilities included conducting gardener interviews, creating content, and performing archival research on the gardens. Additionally, the role involved assisting the Development Director and program staff with program planning, event setup and facilitation. This internship provided hands-on experience in the promotion of the local food system while applying urban planning techniques in engagement and public outreach efforts.
How has Grassroots Gardens WNY supported the local food system over the years?
Originally known as the Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo in 1995, the organization served as a leading facilitator for 30 volunteer-led gardens established on city-owned vacant land throughout Buffalo. Over time, the collective efforts of gardeners and residents helped establish the organization into an independent non-profit land trust. In 2022, the organization partnered with several organizations to advance the public policy framework ‘Public Land for Public Benefit’, calling on the City of Buffalo to adopt a comprehensive and equitable vacant lot disposition policy.
Gardens Forever Campaign
The Gardens Forever capital campaign seeks to address one of the significant challenges faced by local gardeners and urban farmers within the Grassroots Gardens network: secure access to abandoned lots to make cultivable neighborhood gardens.
Building on its newest identity as a land trust and the previous land purchase campaign 'Garden for all times', the organization continues to preserve urban farms and community gardens through purchase of the following property from the City of Buffalo for the next few months. By gaining ownership of these lots, GGWNY seeks to permanently protect the garden spaces from urban development, thus improving their quality in the long run through continued investment from sponsors, neighborhood organizations, and residents at all scales.
One of my primary contributions during the internship involved conducting site research and preparing public outreach materials for the campaign which not only tell the story of the seven gardens, but showcase the scale at which their existence has made a mark on their respective communities. The organization relies on volunteer garden workdays and community-building events, including committee meetings, potlucks, and educational workshops to address long-term needs of the gardens while fostering lasting connections with the gardeners.
As they prepare to support the gardens through direct policy initiatives, such as the land purchase campaign, my role became essential in communicating these values through narrative and visual materials that resonate with gardeners, volunteers, and residents. The following design samples were created using Canva, the organization’s primary design tool, with adaptable templates that can be easily modified and repurposed for future marketing, outreach, and communication efforts.
This internship was supported by the Career Design Center's Internship Equity Fund award and supervised by Justin Baumgardner (site) and Dr. Camden Miller (faculty).