Grow Dat Youth Farm

Grow Dat Youth Farm is an education-centered nonprofit that cultivates the leadership potential of New Orleans area young adults, ages 15-24, through five different leadership programs. Our organization's mission is to nurture a diverse group of young leaders through the meaningful work of growing food. Through our educational initiatives, sustainable farming practices, and inclusive organizational culture, we contribute to a more equitable New Orleans.

Grow Dat is a youth leadership organization that annually employs 70+ young adults. We create meaningful employment opportunities for New Orleans youth while using food production, critical analysis, and relationship building as a tool to bolster self-awareness and nurture self-confidence. We value and practice open communication skills and collaborative learning across difference. A first job experience for many, our Core Leadership Program participants spend half their time engaged in agricultural tasks (e.g., planting and harvesting), and the other half in workshops focused on social, emotional, and ecological intelligence. Graduates can then advance to our other programs: the Advanced Leadership Program, Seed Project, Crew Leader Fellowship, or Farm Fellowship, which all offer deeper opportunities to analyze food systems, practice sustainable agriculture, and foster collective action. In 2023, our organization launched our new Grow Dat on the Geaux project, which promotes food justice in Central City in two primary ways: affordable and culturally-relevant food retail and collaborative planning sessions with neighborhood residents facilitated by Grow Dat program alumni.

Testimonials

Hear from some of our young leaders and alumni:

"I used to be shy, not able to do anything outside, and afraid to do things. Grow Dat showed me I can do it all, I can do things, to show up myself, to be who I am, find what I like to do and what I like about me." - Grow Dat Seed Member

"No matter what, I know that there are things that I can do that are helpful to the community and the earth, and I have Grow Dat to thank for that." - Grow Dat Crew Member