Advertise with Googlier.com Acta Non Verba https://anvfarm.org Youth Urban Farm Project’s Thu, 06 Aug 2026 02:31:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://anvfarm.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Acta Non Verba https://anvfarm.org 32 32 248110480 Welcoming ANV’s New Executive Director Leisel Whitlock Petersen! https://anvfarm.org/welcoming-anvs-new-executive-director/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:38:30 +0000 https://anvfarm.org/?p=3466 .nectar-blocks-image{transition:all .25s ease}.nectar-blocks-image__inner{position:relative;transition:all .25s ease;width:100%}.nectar-blocks-image .nectar-blocks-image__inner{border-radius:inherit}.nectar-blocks-image img{border-radius:inherit;display:block;max-width:100%;transition:all .25s ease}.nectar-blocks-image img.nectar-aspect-ratio{object-fit:cover}

Dear Members of the ANV Community

We write to follow up on the announcement shared by Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project’s (ANV) founding Executive Director, Kelly Carlisle, regarding her decision to step aside after years of visionary leadership. Kelly concluded her tenure in January 2026, and the Board of Directors and staff remain profoundly grateful for her unwavering dedication in establishing ANV as a resilient, mission-driven organization.

Today, the Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Leisel Whitlock Petersen has been appointed as our next Executive Director, effective March 2026.

Leisel joins ANV with more than two decades of mission-driven nonprofit leadership experience in fundraising, organizational development, and youth-focused work. Her collaborative, community-centered leadership style deeply aligns with ANV’s commitment to youth voice, food justice, and cultivating spaces where young people can lead.

As we move through this important post-founder transition, the Board is honored to carry forward Kelly’s legacy. Under Leisel’s leadership, ANV will continue strengthening core operations, investing in staff and youth leadership, and advancing our “Future Paradise” vision.

ANV’s central mission remains steadfast and immutable. Our commitment to the communities we serve is absolute, driven by the core values and strategic objectives that have consistently defined us. We invite our partners, funders, alumni, and neighbors to join us in welcoming Leisel to ANV as we shape this next chapter together.

Thank you for your continued support and your belief in the young people who make this work possible.

Respectfully,

The ANV Board of Directors and Executive Staff



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Kelly Carlisle steps away as Executive Director https://anvfarm.org/kelly-carlisle-steps-aside-as-executive-director/ Sat, 24 Jan 2026 20:40:40 +0000 https://anvfarm.org/?p=2913

Dear ANV Family, Friends, and Beloved Community,

Fifteen years ago, I made a promise — that the children of Oakland, especially those too often unseen or underestimated, would have a place to grow. A place where sunlight, safety, and sovereignty could coexist. A place where love itself could be a form of resistance. That promise became Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project — a seed of hope planted in East Oakland’s soil in 2010, tended by the steady hands of our community, and nourished by faith in what our youth could become.

What began as a single plot of land has become an ecosystem of purpose — farms, programs, and people all rooted in one shared truth: our children deserve joy, growth, and power. Through Camp ANV, the No Limit Leadership Program, and our community farms at Tassafaronga Village and West Oakland Farm Park, we have built more than gardens. We’ve built futures. We’ve watched hundreds of youth turn curiosity into confidence, hardship into leadership, and farm soil into fertile ground for their dreams.

Over these fifteen years, we have seen miracles bloom. We created the Future Fund, empowering youth to save for college and imagine financial independence. We re-launched the BeetBox CSA to bring locally grown produce to families, especially during times of crisis. And we did it all in the face of challenges that could have ended us — thefts, pandemics, funding cuts, and more. Yet through it all, ANV thrived, because the roots of this work were always deeper than circumstance.

Through every harvest and heartbreak, I’ve learned that this work is not just about food or farming — it’s about freedom. It’s about children learning that they can transform the world around them with their own hands. It’s about communities refusing to be defined by scarcity. And it’s about love — radical, unyielding love — expressed through deeds, not words.

It is from that same place of love that I share the second most difficult news I’ve ever written: in 2026, I will be stepping aside as Executive Director of Acta Non Verba. This decision comes after much reflection, conversations with friends, family and mentors, and faith in the power of renewal. I am heartbroken to leave this role — to release something that has been both my calling and my compass. But I also know that growth requires change. New leadership, new vision, and new voices must carry this mission forward into its next season.

To our donors, supporters, and funders — thank you. You have believed in this organization from its earliest days, when our dreams were bigger than our resources, and our “office” was me running around with a printer, laptop and the gift of gab. You have stood beside us as we grew from a small East Oakland garden into an internationally recognized model for youth empowerment, environmental justice, and community transformation. Every dollar, every email, every word of encouragement has kept us, ME going. You have made this possible.

And to the children, young-stars and families we serve: you are the reason. You are the proof that love can grow anywhere — even in broken soil. You are the future paradise we’ve all been building toward.

Please know that although I am stepping away from leadership, I am not stepping away from the work. My fight for our children — for their right to safety, imagination, and joy — continues. I am righteously angry at the state of this world, but that anger has always been sacred fuel. I will carry it forward to build new, gorgeous worlds — new Future Paradises — where young people can learn, lead, and thrive.

Acta Non Verba is strong. The Staff, Board, and Community that now sustain this work are ready to lead it into its next chapter. I leave with profound faith in them — and in you — to protect and nurture the seeds we planted together. Because this work was never about one person. It has always been about the collective power of community to reimagine what’s possible.

Thank you for fifteen years of faith, laughter, partnership, and perseverance. Together, we have proven that paradise is not a dream — it’s a practice. And though my role is changing, my heart remains rooted here, in this soil we built together, where every harvest whispers the same truth:

Love like this never ends. It only transforms.

With eternal gratitude, courage, and hope,

Kelly D. Carlisle

Founder & Executive Director

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project



FAQ 

What is the timeline of the transition?

  • We’ve engaged a professional recruiter, Vamos Consulting to help ensure a thoughtful and inclusive search process. This will allow us to identify candidates who not only bring strong experience and vision but who also share our values and commitment to the mission.

Who will be leading the organization in the interim?

  • Our Executive team will continue to help steer the organization and maintain the strategic direction of Acta Non Verba, in partnership with the ANV Board and greater staff.

Are other key leaders leaving the organization?

  • No, the rest of ANV’s executive leadership is staying on as well as returning board members.

Will the mission, vision, or values of the organization remain the same?

  • The mission, vision, and values of Acta Non Verba will remain the same through this transition.

Will current programs and initiatives continue without disruption?

  • During this transition period, our priority is to maintain stability, transparency, and continuity in all that we do. The leadership team will work closely with the recruiter and our board to manage each step of the process, and we’ll keep you informed as we move forward.

Will this transition affect ANV’s financial stability, funding, or the timeline of the capital campaign?

  • We are committed to securing ongoing funding for our programs that serve the Oakland Community by creating safe spaces where everyone can thrive.

Will my contributions still be used as intended?

  • Financial contributions will continue to be used in full alignment with their intended purpose, supporting the ongoing programs and commitments that reflect our shared mission.

How can I support the organization during this transition?

  • Thank you for your ongoing support. Here is a link to donate to ANV’s Future Paradise Fund.
  • Join us at our next Event: First Annual Farm Fest!

You are also welcome to fill out our Volunteer Interest Form to join us on the farm.

The post Kelly Carlisle steps away as Executive Director first appeared on Acta Non Verba.

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Living Our Values: Deeds. Not Words. A Letter from the Executive Director https://anvfarm.org/living-our-values-deeds-not-words-a-letter-from-the-executive-director/ Thu, 28 Nov 2024 16:24:00 +0000 https://anvfarm.org/?p=1015

Dear Friends,

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend about wisdom, intelligence, and the value of “lived experience.” I started reflecting on what this society prioritizes—how we pay lip service to saving children, feeding children, and believing children are the future, yet so often, adults are the very ones creating barriers to those ideals.

At Acta Non Verba (ANV), we live our mission. We create spaces where young people know their worth from a young age. My 6th grade teacher, Mrs. J., the only Black teacher in Albany when I arrived in middle school. Her task was monumental: she spoke five “languages” fluently—engaging with my parents, the other parents, school administrators, my peers, and most importantly, me. She was my first example of what it means to meet people where they are while inspiring them to go further.

At ANV, we embrace this same polyglot spirit. We look beyond the moment, beyond the immediate challenges, and are inspired to dream of the new worlds we want to create. We imagine a Future Paradise—a world where every child has access to a safe, healthy, and educational childhood; where the health, education, and existence of each person is inherently valued.

2024 has been a deeply challenging year. From the theft of our teen program’s coffee cart to the forced downsizing of our dynamic team due to governmental shortcomings, we’ve faced adversity head-on. I want to assure you: ANV will continue to do this work.

We do this because we believe, as Frederick Douglass said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” We adapt, overcome, and push boundaries for the joy, comfort, and community farming provides.

We tap into the same spirit of excellence that has driven us for over a decade. ANV will continue to challenge oppressive systems and create opportunities for Oakland’s youth to thrive. For us, it has never been about the quantity of farms we manage or calculating the ROI on childhood. Instead, our mission has always been to utilize the joy, comfort, and healing power of farming to cultivate the next generation of activists, advocates, and leaders.

Visionary heroes just like you have heard our rallying cry and already donated close to $18,000 to help us build a Future Paradise for Oakland’s youth. Together, we can go even further. We can continue to elevate the lives of children and families, providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to flourish—because it IS hard out here and because the future is counting on what we as a community prioritize today.

I think of former Camp ANV counselor and Youth Board Member Brian Zamora-Diaz, who once held an impromptu “shoe-tying” workshop for campers. Brian understood what we live by at ANV: we must meet YOUNG people where they are and inspire them to go further.

We’re calling on you as a hero to join us in this work. We’ve set an ambitious goal: to raise $250,000 by December 31 to ensure ANV continues to serve Oakland’s youth and their families. These funds will help us grow our programs, support our team, and build the Future Paradise our community deserves.

With so much potential in the world right now, the opportunity to show our collective priorities have never been greater. Together, we can show—through our deeds, not just our words—that we are ready to build a better tomorrow.

Your generous contribution will help us:

  • Provide sliding-scale access to programs like Camp ANV (Audio Testimonial from camp parent, J. Vigo) through the Time to Thrive Initiative, empowering families to invest their time and gain equitable access to ANV’s services.
  • Expand the rebranded Backyard Gardens Program (BYG) to Sankofa Seedlings and Soil, supplying gardeners with the tools to foster food sovereignty and resilience while creating a sustainable revenue stream for ANV.
  • Re-Launch Résoluté Café & Commercial Kitchen, as a brick-and-mortar hub for job training, culinary education, and community connection.

Architectural Drawing by Lowney Arch

Are you ready to be a hero? Join us in building a better tomorrow. Donate today to support ANV’s mission. Let’s show through our deeds—not just words—what we believe in, who we serve, and what we’re capable of achieving together.

With boundless gratitude and hope,

Kelly D. Carlisle

Founder & Executive DirectorActa Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project

P.S. Make your impact today and help us reach our goal of $250,000 by December 31. Every contribution moves us closer to a Future Paradise! Donate now.

The post Living Our Values: Deeds. Not Words. A Letter from the Executive Director first appeared on Acta Non Verba.

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ANV Deputy Director, Aaron De La Cerda Steps Away… https://anvfarm.org/anv-deputy-director-aaron-de-la-cerda-steps-away/ Thu, 28 Nov 2024 14:35:00 +0000 https://anvfarm.org/?p=1005

Dear ANV Community,

With a full heart and deep gratitude, I am writing to share the news that I will be stepping down from my role as Deputy Director at ANV. My journey with this incredible organization began in 2016 as Farm Manager, and over the past eight years, it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to grow alongside this vibrant and loving community.

This decision is bittersweet but rooted in love—I will be relocating to Fresno, my hometown, to be closer to my family. This next chapter gives me the opportunity to reconnect with the community that raised me, bringing with me the invaluable lessons I’ve learned here in Oakland. My heart is full knowing that the seeds of knowledge and connection I’ve planted here will continue to thrive, just as I hope to plant new seeds of growth and opportunity in Fresno.

Reflecting on my time at ANV, I am most proud of the beautiful green spaces we have cultivated together. Watching young people engage with the soil and plants, many for the first time, has been a source of endless joy. There is nothing more powerful than seeing a child take a bite of produce they’ve helped to grow—it is a simple yet profound reminder of the importance of this work.

This community has given me so much more than I could ever give back. You’ve taught me what it means to truly hold space for others, how to do so inclusively and mindfully, and how to envision and build a more just and resilient food system. These lessons will stay with me always, shaping not only my career but the way I move through the world.

To all the volunteers, supporters, and neighbors who have shared your time, energy, and passion: Thank You. To Kelly, our Executive Director: your vision, mentorship, and friendship have been a gift that words cannot fully express. Your leadership has been a constant source of inspiration, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked by your side.

As I prepare to leave, I am working closely with our team to ensure a smooth and seamless transition for ANV’s programming and operations. This community is in such capable hands, and I have no doubt that ANV will continue to cultivate beauty and resilience, planting new ideas and nurturing them into a thriving future.

While I may be stepping away from my role, I am not stepping away from this community. ANV and Oakland will always hold a special place in my heart, and I look forward to staying connected and cheering on the incredible work that lies ahead.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for allowing me to grow with you, dream with you, and build with you. I will carry the love and lessons of this community with me always.

With deepest gratitude and love,

Farmer A.A.Ron

The post ANV Deputy Director, Aaron De La Cerda Steps Away… first appeared on Acta Non Verba.

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What Affirms YOU? The Nature of “The Work” & What WE Do! https://anvfarm.org/what-affirms-you-the-nature-of-the-work-what-we-do%f0%9f%92%9c/ Thu, 07 Dec 2023 16:34:00 +0000 https://anvfarm.org/?p=1050

Dear Loved Ones,

As an advocate for the well-being of ALL children, I invite you to join us in making a meaningful impact in the lives of young people across Oakland and beyond through your support of Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project.

Our motto, “Acta Non Verba,” translates to “Deeds, Not Words.” It embodies the spirit of our commitment to affirmative actions, justice, and equity for children in our community. We are reaching out to you, who share our passion for affirming the potential and future of every child.

Acta Non Verba is not just a farm; it’s a sanctuary where children are affirmed, cherished, and empowered. We believe in cultivating more than just vegetables; we cultivate hope, resilience, and a sense of belonging among our young participants.

This year, we launched our fundraising campaign, “THIS is an AFFIRMATIVE Action” and “Affirm This.” Our goal is to raise $100,000 by December 31st to continue uplifting the quality of life for young people in East and West Oakland and beyond. The funds will be instrumental in sustaining our programs, expanding our reach, and providing invaluable experiences for the children we serve.

Why Your Support Matters:

This year has been a challenging one for everyone at Acta Non Verba… Myself included.

It has been through our love and affirmation for each other and community, that I truly believe that we have been able to survive and THRIVE at Acta Non Verba.

Something that you may not know about me is that I am an Auntie to three *unofficial* nephews, I-, N-, and  C-, all under the age of 5. One day recently, I- threw a ball and it went far afield; disappointed that the ball didn’t go where he wanted it to go, the younger brother says to the older brother: “That Happens Sometimes.” …and I was MOVED!  In acknowledging the challenges our children face, ANV believes in actively doing our part to create positive change in Oakland and beyond –regardless of internal missteps and outside factors. 

This spring, ANV absorped the legendary City Slicker Farm, its staff, programs and land. Although this was an enormous challenge, the very work we are doing in Oakland has reaffirmed my faith in community. Please acknowledge with me, each member of our Staff and Board of Directors who listened, held my hand, fed my heart, soul (and stomach) through it all.

Staff made me laugh with stories of team-members attending the gym together or identifying UNIDENTIFIED Flying Objects or tales of our young-leaders learning, experiencing and accomplishing things that they never thought they’d even TRY…

I want to shout out our CSA and Camp Families! The stories of what you all are doing with the incredible BEETBOX CSA produce are inspiring and a lot of times, HILARIOUS! Tales of campers driving their adults to DISTRACTION by siging the camps songs over and over… YEAR-ROUND

Or, being at the checkout counter at a pet store rocking some of ANV’s DOPE Swag and having the clerk exclaim: Acta Non Verba!! My niece goes there!! Or being at an airport in a different state (NOT rocking ANV swag) and having a TSA agent say: “Hi Ms Kelly! We miss Camp ANV!” AFFIRMS this work for me!!

My nephews also keep exclaiming to each other the sentiment to, “Do Your Work!” (which I needed broken down… because they’re BABIES, so what is “work”?? It turns out that this is a Montessori term that the boys have learned and we love it!) and we invite you to join us in doing the necessary work of affirming children, childhood, justice, and equity in Oakland and throughout the world.

Donate to Acta Non Verba Today! https://bit.ly/ANVKids2023

This summer, we had Taco Tuesday at camp, and our Camp Chef, in cahoots with the cooking class did the MOST!! Everything was PERFECT, smelled incredible, looked restaurant quality and I… Was powerless to stop myself. I… Got a few tacos… and as I was attempting to make a silent getaway with my savory prizes, I was waylaid by a camper I call: “Best Fren’” he just wanted to let me know that lunch that day was really great and that we should have tacos more often… and my stomach was rumbling and the wind was trying to blow the napkin off of my taco PLATTER, and I’m smiling and happy that he’s happy… Then the wind gives one final gust –and my secret was out. “Best Fren’” caught a glimpse of my taco smorgasbord and his eyes went round and he says:

“OH! You ALREADY KNOW! You got THREE TACOS! LOLOLOLOLOL!!” I have never felt more SEEN!!

I tell this story to illustrate the abundance and joy that Acta Non Verba fosters in the community. The affirmation that we are all people, there is more than enough to go around – (and tacos are GOOD)! The fact that we hire trained professionals, grow and purchase the highest quality ingredients for our meals, and put deep intention into planning every minute of each day that a young person is in the presence of ANV AFFIRMS our commitment to children in Oakland.

Those are ANV’s Deeds. This is how WE affirm that Black, Brown, Indigenous — ALL children world-wide deserve a safe, beautiful, abundant, delicious, nutritious childhood. Let’s do our work.   

How YOU can Affirm This:

Your generosity, affirmation, and hope make a significant difference in the lives of the children we serve across the city of Oakland and beyond. Together, let’s affirm a brighter future for the youth of East and West Oakland.

Thank you for your continued support of Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project and for your commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of young people and their families in Oakland.

With gratitude and affirmation,

Kelly D. Carlisle Founder/ Executive Director

Donate to Acta Non Verba Today! https://bit.ly/ANVKids2023 

The post What Affirms YOU? The Nature of “The Work” & What WE Do! first appeared on Acta Non Verba.

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Affirm This: Helping Children THRIVE by Sparking Joy through Nature! https://anvfarm.org/affirm-this-helping-children-thrive-by-sparking-joy-through-nature%f0%9f%92%9a/ Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:50:00 +0000 https://anvfarm.org/?p=1079

Dear Friends,

As I prepare to welcome my first child into the world this month, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what children need to grow & THRIVE. They need a community of supportive adults and peers; they need access to healthy foods, fresh air, and green space; they need a safe place to be kids; they need JOY and AFFIRMATIONS of their JOYOUS EXISTENCE. They need — the programs and opportunities that Acta Non Verba provides, with YOUR help!

One of my favorite memories occurred during Summer Camp ANV 2021. One of the campers ran up to me and said, “Ms. Sydney, Ms. Sydney! I just tried a blueberry for the first time!!” Echoing his excitement, I responded, “Oh my gosh, how exciting! Did you like it?” And he said, “YES! I think I’m going to go get another one!” The look of pure joy on this boy’s face as he tried something new, while in a safe and supportive environment like Camp ANV, will forever stick

Another favorite from my 3+ years at ANV happened during our 2022 Camp ANV Family Camping Trip. At the end of the summer camp season, we headed up to Mt. Diablo State Park with 50 kids and their family members. On our first night, we watched the sunset over the valley, and the kids all waved goodbye to the sun. As the sun disappeared below the horizon, one young camper exclaimed, “I just saw the sun go down, it was so cool!! It was my first time seeing that!”
It’s these little moments of joy that children (and adults!) will remember for the rest of their lives. It’s these moments of connection that spark young leaders to care about nature, about food justice, about each other.

Donate to Acta Non Verba Today! https://bit.ly/ANVKids2023

EVERY child deserves access to experiences in nature, healthy foods to nourish their growing bodies, and safe and supportive spaces to just be kids. This is what I wish for my daughter, as she enters the world; this is what I wish for ALL kids. Help ANV provide this access across Oakland:

🍅

 $200 sends one child to a week of After School Program

👩‍🌾

 $750 sends one child to a week of Camp ANV

🌟

 $4,500 sends one child to an entire SUMMER of Camp ANV, where the only limit is IMAGINATION!!

Donate to Acta Non Verba Today! https://bit.ly/ANVKids2023

Together, we can affirm and grow the next generation of farmers, environmental stewards, and changemakers.

Thank you for your affirmation of JOY and Discovery in the world!

In Joy and Hope,

Donate to Acta Non Verba Today!
https://bit.ly/ANVKids2023 

The post Affirm This: Helping Children THRIVE by Sparking Joy through Nature! first appeared on Acta Non Verba.

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Affirm This: Strengthening Food Sovereignty & the Local Food System by Elevating BIPOC Small Farmers! https://anvfarm.org/affirm-this-strengthening-food-sovereignty-the-local-food-system-by-elevating-bipoc-small-farmers/ Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:05:00 +0000 https://anvfarm.org/?p=1105

Dear Friends,

As we enter an abundant harvest and come to the end of yet another beautiful growing season we celebrate the strides we’ve taken in building food sovereignty within our community. We thank the land for providing for us, as well as our team, our volunteers, and supporters like you that have affirmed and allow Acta Non Verba’s teams to continue our critical work.

2023 presented yet another year of challenge, opportunity, growth and celebration; in this we were able to welcome another four young farmers and 1.4 acres in West Oakland into the ANV family, partner with three new family owned and operated Farms, and distribute over 30 tons of organically grown produce to East Bay communities. 

Donate to Acta Non Verba Today!
https://bit.ly/ANVKids2023

Working with Acta Non Verba and our vibrant community has taught me a variety of ways that we can impact change within the larger food system starting right here in Oakland. Coming from Fresno, California where large scale agriculture reins supreme, I never imagined it was in East Oakland that I would come to learn so much about farming and what is needed to build food sovereignty.

To us, food sovereignty looks like the community’s deepening connection to fellow farmers like Maria Morales and Juan Silva of J&M Farm.

Maria began farming organically 15 years ago and has come to steward 15 acres in Gilroy, California with her family. Through building Acta Non Verba’s BeetBox CSA program in relationship with farmers like Maria we are able to ensure there is a reliable means of getting healthy foods to our community.

When farmers faced hardship due to flooding rains earlier this year we were able to lean on our combined networks to ensure her family had the supplies they needed while continuing to ensure their farm had income. ANV and its supporters rallied to provide necessary supplies which we personally delivered to their home. Because of you we were able to be a support to the very people who grow our food, who protect our land, and share their knowledge with the next generation. 

Donate to Acta Non Verba Today!https://bit.ly/ANVKids2023

In the 2020 pandemic we learned just how fragile our food system really is; that allowing large scale agriculture which fosters no human connection is not reliable or sustainable. The farm to consumer pipeline fell apart and so many people were without access to essential foods. Our work facilitates a direct connection between local farmers and families in the East Bay. We are building a replicable model of food sovereignty and we need your support. 

Maria and Friend at J&M Farm

We are able to accomplish such things due to the deep affirmation and contributions of supporters like you and we look forward to deepening the impact of our work in the coming year; to do this we need your help to raise 250k. This will allow Acta Non Verba’s Farm and Food teams to continue their work of educating, organizing, and taking action to strengthen our communities resilience through food sovereignty.

Thank you for your continued support and affirmation of good in the world.

Forever In Community, 

Donate to Acta Non Verba Today!https://bit.ly/ANVKids2023

The post Affirm This: Strengthening Food Sovereignty & the Local Food System by Elevating BIPOC Small Farmers! first appeared on Acta Non Verba.

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Meet the ANV Community https://anvfarm.org/meet-the-anv-community/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 17:09:00 +0000 https://anvfarm.org/?p=1116

Our community is diverse, resilient, creative, and powerful! Together, we are working hard to create a better world for Oakland youth where they can learn valuable skills, engage with nature, and live healthier! 

Check out this wonderful short video produced by Youth Beat, a non profit that offers free media training to Oakland youth through after school and in school programming. Every year their beginning film making students head out into the world to create short promo/news pieces on Oakland organizations such as Acta Non Verba.  They then edit it together into a short business profile video. This project is the second unit within the youth’s training and it is always a pivotal moment for them.  They get to go out into the world and produce a short film while also learning about all the amazing work being done in Oakland.  

Thank you for the feature, Youth Beat!

The post Meet the ANV Community first appeared on Acta Non Verba.

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ANV Is Now the Steward of The West Oakland Farm Park, City Slicker Farms https://anvfarm.org/the-west-oakland-farm-park-city-slicker-farms/ Thu, 01 Jun 2023 17:15:00 +0000 https://anvfarm.org/?p=1121 Photos By Aliya Benudiz. All Rights Reserved.

AActa Non Verba and City Slicker Farms are excited to announce a collaborative, organizational merger! This partnership will expand on years of efforts to bring healthy, accessible, and culturally relevant food to urban communities struggling with systematically created food insecurity. Not only that, but it will also provide a fun new location for Camp ANV and other Youth Programming: The West Oakland Farm Park!

The Acta Non Verba Team are now the proud stewards to a new farm site: The West Oakland Farm Park. 

The West Oakland Urban Farm Park (WOFP) is 1.4 acre working urban farm, educational space, and outdoor recreation site located at 2847 Peralta St. in Oakland, CA. It was created and conceived by and for the 3,000 community members in the surrounding neighborhoods, and intended to be a focal point of community pride and activity for residents of West Oakland. It is a safe space for recreation and connects neighbors over the growing, preparing and sharing of food; promotes environmental conservation, serves as an example of how we can reclaim the ecological integrity of the land; and expand access to healthy foods for low income families in Oakland.

The Farm Park includes a number of features to increase environmental sustainability: drip irrigation, rainwater catchment, recycled and reused construction materials, native plants, organic cultivation methods, habitat for pollinators, growing food locally, environmental education programs, recycling and composting receptacles, a fruit orchard, chicken coop, and even a playground, outdoor classroom, lawn, and children’s garden! There is also an outdoor Demonstration Kitchen, where cooking classes, herbal remedy making, and other workshops are held. 

The site is a lush and productive farm with rows and rows of organic vegetable and fruit beds, as well as a dedicated herb garden where culinary and medicinal herbs are grown for utilization in workshops or for the Town Fridge. 

It is also a host site for The Town Fridge Collective, a group that was started to help support food insecure families in Oakland during the pandemic. The collective actions is rooted in the tradition of mutual aid, which emphasizes people helping people without hierarchy or shame. Mutual aid projects have proliferated in the wake of COVID-19 as the need for community members caring for each other has grown.

At the WOFP, thousands of pounds of food are grown each year in order to increase healthy food access to the community. They are able to stock the fridge with fresh produce we’ve grown, as well as contribute space and electricity for the fridge at the Farm Park. As always, first priority goes to unhoused, low- and fixed-income and BIPOC community members, as well as members of our Garden Program. However, any community members may drop off food and any community members may pick up food. Just outside the farm gates, you can find the 24hr Free Fridge, where neighbors can come pick up free produce that is grown on the farm. In 2021 alone, over 4,000 pounds of produce was grown and distributed for free via the Town Fridge program. 

In addition, the WOFP has a section dedicated to the Community Garden,which consists of 28 irrigated plots. This section was designed with West Oakland residents who do not have a space to grow food in mind. Gardeners can take advantage of the all the supplies and support at the Farm Park, including free soil, starts, trainings and workshops.

Acta Non Verba is excited to support the ongoing development of this wonderful urban oasis. We are excited to work with the City Slicker Farms team to create an active and exciting farm space where our youth participants can reconnect with their food and the land with excitement, which in turn, will empower them to make healthier and more sustainable choices in their diet and beyond!

Together, we will continue to serve the Oakland community through a lens of public health, knowing that food accessibility is the first building block to healthy and thriving families. By continuing existing programming as well as developing new ones, this collaboration will maintain the common mission of providing a stable stream of accessible food to populations who need it most, as well as ensuring that safe urban green spaces are accessible to all. 

By combining the collective visions of ANV and CSF, we will create more opportunities for youth development, increase access to urban green space, and raise awareness of the powerful role of urban agriculture in our communities. With our collective resources, we will also be able to maintain long term, sustainable stewardship of the land that the West Oakland Farm Park occupies so that it may continue to serve the residents of West Oakland for years to come.

Photos By Aliya Benudiz. All Rights Reserved.

The post ANV Is Now the Steward of The West Oakland Farm Park, City Slicker Farms first appeared on Acta Non Verba.

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ANV Welcomes Four New Board Members! https://anvfarm.org/anv-welcomes-four-new-board-members/ Fri, 12 May 2023 17:19:00 +0000 https://anvfarm.org/?p=1147

ANV is excited to have the support of these four impressive women! We look forward to working with them and growing our organization with the help of their unique perspectives. Thank you so much for joining our mission!

The post ANV Welcomes Four New Board Members! first appeared on Acta Non Verba.

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