Today's post is provided by Kim Morse, an account manager with ReadyTalk.

Green Leaf Denver is a local organization that engages youth, 14-18 years of age, in urban agriculture. The organization addresses several critical needs within the northeast Denver community. Chief among them is empowering underserved youth to take on responsibility and to learn leadership skills while tackling the lack of access to healthy foods within food desert neighborhoods.  At the same time, Green Leaf Denver is providing employment options for Denver youth.

I was recently introduced to the organization by one of its community leaders.  The more I learn about this organization the more excited I am about the work that they do. Green Leaf is an incredibly powerful program as its work comes full circle within the community in which it operates.  This organizationhas transformed two vacant lots in northeast Denver into productive, urban, organic farms. Green Leaf youth interns are responsible for much of the farm’s operations from planting the crops, to weeding and harvesting the crops, coordinating volunteers, canvasing their community, managing community relations and selling the crops. In fact the youth have been responsible for determining how the harvested crops are allocated (percentages that they earn to share with their family, donate to their community and sell at their farm stand) and the cost of the crops they sell. They also engage the community to educate the neighbors about the farm, healthy eating and to determine what fruits and vegetables are of interest to the community.

ReadyTalk recently made a contribution to Green Leaf Denver. Our contribution will help the organization put youth to work on their farm this summer so that they become leaders and feed their community. For more information on Green Leaf Denver, check out their website http://www.greenleafdenver.org/.