About Us:

CommunityGrows is an environmental education non-profit serving high-needs youth, especially those living in public housing in San Francisco. Through CommunityGrows, youth acquire the necessary skills to live a healthy life through garden education, nutritious cooking and eating, and green jobs training. We are based in the Western Addition and partner with two elementary schools and numerous youth-serving organizations to meet our mission.

About the Event:

On October 15, 2011, CommunityGrows is hosting its 2nd Annual Garden Party to celebrate community and reconnect with friends and neighbors. The Garden Party will be a half-day event (1-4 PM) held in the Koshland Park Community Learning Garden, filled with live music and entertainment and a live auction.   

Benefiting the BEETS:

Imagine growing up in public housing in one of the world's densest cities, with not many opportunities to live a healthy lifestyle, get jobs, or even experience green spaces to play, or room to grow vegetables or plant flowers. In CommunityGrow's innovative BEETS (Band of Environmentally Educated and Employable Teens) program, up to 30 teens are offered these critical opportunities each year.

Research has shown that young people who spend time in nature grow up to be healthier and happier.   Most of the teens who participate in BEETS, recommended by community leaders, teachers, and counselors, show leadership qualities that are ripe for development.

During their 4-12 month internship with BEETS, these teens learn about the natural world, including what it takes to grow a thriving garden. They develop important job-readiness skills to successfully find work in the growing green economy. And most importantly, their self-confidence and leadership skills blossom, as they share new knowledge with peers.

We hope that you'll step forward, and "take a turn with the shovel," helping fund a BEETS program that makes a long-term difference in the lives of these talented young people!  If you can not attend, but would like to make a donation, click here. If you can not attend but would like to send a check, please make it payable to TIDES/CommunityGrows and mail to B. Wenger, 300 Page St, SF, CA 94102.  Thank you!

For more information contact Ilene at events@communitygrows.org, or see our website.  Parking is free at John Muir Schoolyard, 450 Page Street (see map below), and the garden is wheelchair accessible.

To learn more about CommunityGrows, please visit our website at http://www.communitygrows.org/.