Working with the youth in her community, Lisa engages her partners fully by engaging them in the process of growing their own vegetables, marketing and selling them, and writing grants to extend their capabilities. Truly an example of what an untapped resource our youth are for moving us forward.

Lisa Barker has loved working in and contributing to her hometown of Rochester, NY for her entire adult life. She graduated from RIT with a degree in photojournalism in 2008. Her time at RIT also introduced her to meaningful work in community development, and led her to develop a passion for urban agriculture as a tool for youth engagement. She has worked with youth in farming and gardening programs at the Greater Rochester Urban Bounty (GRUB), the Southwest Area Neighborhood Association (SWAN), and currently leads youth programming at The Seedfolk Store. She is also an active participant in Rochester’s art community through initiatives including The Yards Collaborative Arts Space and Wall\Therapy.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx