Board of Directors

Dakarai Howard
Director

Senior Policy Advisor, Illinois Department of Agriculture

Elena Terry
Treasurer

Founder, Wild Bearies

Alex Frantz
Director

Director of Local & Sustainability, Midwest Foods

Megan Wells
Secretary

Adult Education and Workforce Consultant

Dr. Akilah Martin, PhD
Co-President

Interdisciplinary Planner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Fawn Pochel
Director

Co-Founder, First Nations Garden

Rosie Fitz
Co-President

Director of Operations & Culture, HEAL Food Alliance

L Pancho McFarland, PhD
Director

Professor of Sociology | Department of Geography, Sociology, History and African American Studies |
Chicago State University

Alex Pate
Director

Land Stewardship Specialist - NeighborSpace | Agricultural Finance Consultant - Cornell University & Chicago Food Policy Action Council

Grower Programs

Learn about our programs.

At our core, we are dedicated to fostering a sustainable and thriving agricultural community in Chicago. Our initiatives support growers through comprehensive programs that enhance soil health, provide essential water access, and offer invaluable mentorship. By empowering farmers with capacity building grants and resources, we aim to create a resilient, productive, and environmentally-friendly urban farming ecosystem.

Explore Programs
Explore Programs

[Image: Dr. Israel and Dr. Martin with AUA at the African Heritage Garden]