History
The Advocacy & Justice Program at Wasatch Community Gardens was born from a collective call for greater equity, inclusivity, and social justice in our community work. Developed in response to staff and community feedback, the program formally launched in 2024 to address these priorities through focused advocacy and action.
2020 - Commitment to Antiracism
- WCG committed to being an antiracist organization after staff participated in a virtual antiracism training.
2021 - First Steps Towards Change
- Individual programs worked toward more equitable and accessible programming in their teams.
- WCG Board of Directors followed equitable hiring practices in Executive Director search.
2022 - Advocacy & Justice Program Idea Born
- Internally hosted staff discussions around antiracism, food justice, and how intersectional WCG’s work is; Advocacy & Justice Program idea was born from these conversations.
- Established internal policy and process for communicating about READI-related events internally and externally.
- Staff developed WCG’s Land Acknowledgement Statement.
- Implemented equitable hiring process and policy org-wide.
2023 - READI Committee Established
- READI Committee established: The READI (Race, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion) committee was created by our Executive Director, Georgina Griffith-Yates. Our Wasatch Community Gardens staff began carving out intentional space for discussions about approaches and actions to take moving forward to change the culture at WCG.
- Five staff participated in “Breaking Barriers: A Cultural Accessibility Project” through Art Access and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums. This training provides disability accessibility training and mentorship to our state’s cultural institutions at no cost. Workshop content focuses on accessibility needs for people with the following disabilities:
- Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing/Deaf-Blind
- Blind and Low Vision
- Physical and Mobility
- Neurodiverse and Sensory
- Developmental
- Learning
- Staff discussed ongoing concerns internally and externally regarding microaggressions, creating safe spaces for community members, being supported and protected as staff and approaches to advocacy and justice in order to inform the program’s development.
- Ayanna Allen a Black, Indigenous and queer Sociologist, Artist, Musician, Healer, Teacher and Data Analyst joined the Advocacy & Justice Program as a Consultant.
2024 - Advocacy & Justice Program Off and Running
- Supported WCG READI Staff Committee: Specific READI subcommittees were mindfully woven to support the needs of the Wasatch Community Gardens team and communities. READI subcommittees meet regularly to advance strategic planning goals around the following topics:
- Organization-wide READI Audit
- Trainings
- Internal Resources Development
- Accessibility - Staff participated in “Breaking Barriers” training again and consulted with Art Access staff. Accessibility web page (link)
- Advocacy & Public Policy
- Participated in annual Utah Nonprofits Association’s Non-Profit Day on the Hill.
- Assisted in recruitment for the Wasatch Community Gardens Board with intention to include more members who represent the communities we work with.
- Connected with the Nature Center at Pia Okwai: We are grateful to be a part of moves to create culturally relevant and celebratory experiences at the Nature Center space such as the umu earth oven, JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Board, Indigenous experiences, and building momentum together.
- Participated in the Community Food Systems Mentorship Program: ‘Aikona was matched with the brilliant Kukui Maunakea Forth, the Executive Director of Ma’o Organic Farms in Wai’anae, Hawai’i. Maunakea Forth continues to guide and inspire the AJP program beyond the mentorship program’s timeframe.
- Supported Utah Food Coalition’s listening tour: The coalition’s first public discussion was held at Wasatch Community Gardens in Salt Lake City and ‘Aikona participated as a member of the Board. There was a diverse audience of community members, stakeholders, farmers, academics, and children who were in attendance. They are planning to have similar discussions in Southern and Northern Utah.
- Supported new access to the WCG Spring Plant Sale: ‘Aikona experienced her first Spring Plant Sale and newly added Community Night Plant Sale. Inspired by Community Leader, Ashley Finley, the Community Night offered community members greater physical and financial access to our certified organic seedlings than ever before.
- Presented and welcomed to be a part of the 2024 bell hooks symposium, Holding Each Other in Love, at Berea College, Kentucky.