NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program

NEXT Steps introduces youth to career pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (S.T.E.M.) by teaching them how to apply the transferable farm and market management skills used at Atwood Community Gardens & Urban Farm -- a 3.5 acre training center and outdoor event facility – which include strategic planning and business development strategies, special event management, investigative research and discovery activities, community service and environmental stewardship.

Our Story Today
Coming upon our 5th anniversary, The NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program has evolved from a basic youth education program to a driving force behind Atlanta’s young urban agriculture movement. Through our signature Community Involvement Growth Strategy (CIGS) Organizational Management Model, we have successfully executed training and development activities in urban agriculture strategic planning & management, youth and business development.

Atwood Community Gardens is located at 779 Atwood Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30310. It lies in the heart of West End Atlanta (near the Atlanta University Center, Morehouse & Spelman Colleges). Atwood was established to create a healthy, direct-market, food retail outlet that would increase healthy food access to the four food desert communities in Southwest Atlanta.

Over the past fourteen months, NEXT Steps has been able to secure basic infrastructure equipment and tools at Atwood Community Gardens for our youth farmers market and social ventures. In a partnership with SWOOM Atlanta, NEXT Steps launched our online pure foods farmers market in June 2012 at www.herbnfarmatl.locallygrown.net. Between our grower network of local community gardens and farms, natural foods producers, and a growing collection of youth advocates (i.e., 2012 Youth Culinary Tour), we offer whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, fresh flowers, seeds and nutrient-dense foods and beverages. According to the U.S. Food Desert Locator, Atwood will serve 5,982 low access residents within our four food desert communities. The SWOOM Pure Foods Market Project would help us secure mentors, technical assistance providers and networking tools designed to increase access and the sale of healthier, locally grown foods and to support our integrated, youth-based educational and training programs. In addition, SWOOM serves as an economic revitalization source that provides supplemental income for local growers, summer and part-time jobs for at-risk youth, and community service/volunteer opportunities.

Our current youth training programs include:
• Outdoor Nation – environmental stewardship, extreme outdoor activities
• Herb & Farm Summer Internship Program –environmental stewardship, social entrepreneurism and urban agritourism.
• NEXT Steps Business Training –strategic planning and business development skills through special event management.
• CSI Unit: Community, Science & Innovation Teams (CSI) – investigative research, discovery and invention/trending activities; socio-economics