Mayor Michael S. Rawlings Brings Urban Youth Farm to West Dallas
Project will provide job training, increase access to fresh produce in food-deserted area
WHAT:Join Mayor Michael S. Rawlings, The U.S. Conference of Mayors, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and its national partners* for the dedication of the La Bajada Urban Youth Farm in Dallas. The La Bajada Urban Youth Farm will serve as a community green space and gathering place for the West Dallas neighborhood. Area youth will be employed as paid interns, giving them work experience in a team and environmental stewardship setting.
WHY: The La Bajada Youth Farm in Dallas is a part of GRO1000, which aims to improve our cities and communities through the development of 1,000 community gardens and green spaces throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe by 2018.
WHEN:Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Dedication program begins at 2 p.m.
WHO:Mayor Michael S. Rawlings, City of Dallas
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Monica Alonzo, City of Dallas
Don Gatzke, Chairman, La Bajada Urban Youth Farm
Jeff Peterson, Vice President, ScottsMiracle-Gro
Joan Crigger, U.S. Conference of Mayors
WHERE: La Bajada Urban Youth Farm, 3232 Bataan Street, Dallas, Texas 75212
VISUALS:
▪More than 50 area youth and residents working together with volunteers and representatives of local and national partner organizations to learn gardening and greening techniques under the direction of Bill Dawson for the award-winning Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, Ohio, and Julia Parker-Dickerson from the National Gardening Association.
▪Presentation of the ScottsMiracle-Gro “Give Back To Gro” Youth Gardener Award to students from the University of Texas at Arlington, School of Architecture, who helped plan and develop the design for the La Bajada Urban Youth Farm.
▪Grant check presentation by ScottsMiracle-Gro and U.S. Conference of Mayors.
The Dallas GRO1000 event is one of several 2015 public installation events being held in the U.S., Canada and Europe between April and June.
*The U.S. Conference of Mayors, Garden Writers Association, Plant A Row for the Hungry (a community-based program started in 1995 that assists with hunger relief), National Gardening Association, and Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
All inquiries:Sana Syed, City of Dallas, 214-670-3322,
Su Lok, ScottsMiracle-Gro, 937-578-5169 (office), 937-309-5616 (mobile),
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