Wai'anae Community Re-Development Corporation
Pathways to Sustainable Futures
Grant amount: $25,000
“Many times, all it takes is the right resources and a little community support for young people to find their own pathway to success,” said Kukui Maunakea-Forth, executive director of MA‘O Organic Farms and their parent non-profit Wai‘anae Community Re-Development Corporation. “This is what we want to bring to our Wai‘anae youth here at MA‘O.”
That, in a nutshell, is the inspiration behind the farm’s Ke Ala Ho‘olu ‘Ai
“agri-cultural” education pathway that employs a seamless farm-to-school curriculum. It is designed to help young people, especially those of Hawaiian ancestry, connect with traditional cultural values, and prepare them to take leadership roles in developing productive and sustainable food systems for the Wai‘anae community — from growing and harvesting to marketing and distributing their organically grown crops.
Already, the fresh fruits of their labor — including the popular “Sassy” signature greens; wonderful varieties of arugula, baby Asian greens, lettuce, chard, kale, and herbs; and citrus, like limes, Meyer lemons, and tangerine oranges — are finding their way to island kitchens through outlets like Whole Foods, Down to Earth, Kokua Market and ‘Umeke Market. MA‘O is also a regular at the very popular Kapi‘olani Community College farmers market, which draws about 5,000 people every Saturday.
An important aspect of the program is its focus on encouraging students to successfully complete their education, and then pursue a two-year MA‘O Youth Leadership Training internship at Leeward Community College. At the end of the internship, students earn an Associate of Arts degree specializing in Community Food Systems. This, it is hoped, will provide a bridge for them to pursue a four-year baccalaureate degree at the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa or at UH West O‘ahu.
Maunakea-Forth is proud of the MA‘O Youth Leadership Training internship program, whose first full complement of five students will graduate in fall 2009. Meanwhile, a second cohort of 20 students is now enrolled, with recruitment underway for a third group.
“The Campbell Family Foundation’s $25,000 grant is providing very critical support for our Youth Leadership Training internship program,” said Maunakea-Forth. “It gives our young people the chance to go to school full time while they work at the farm learning how to grow and harvest organic crops.”
“This internship is a crucial pathway that can help our Wai‘anae youth to be successful and entrepreneurial in the professional world, and become leaders in our community,” she said.
Pathways to Sustainable Futures
Grant amount: $25,000
“Many times, all it takes is the right resources and a little community support for young people to find their own pathway to success,” said Kukui Maunakea-Forth, executive director of MA‘O Organic Farms and their parent non-profit Wai‘anae Community Re-Development Corporation. “This is what we want to bring to our Wai‘anae youth here at MA‘O.”
That, in a nutshell, is the inspiration behind the farm’s Ke Ala Ho‘olu ‘Ai
“agri-cultural” education pathway that employs a seamless farm-to-school curriculum. It is designed to help young people, especially those of Hawaiian ancestry, connect with traditional cultural values, and prepare them to take leadership roles in developing productive and sustainable food systems for the Wai‘anae community — from growing and harvesting to marketing and distributing their organically grown crops.
Already, the fresh fruits of their labor — including the popular “Sassy” signature greens; wonderful varieties of arugula, baby Asian greens, lettuce, chard, kale, and herbs; and citrus, like limes, Meyer lemons, and tangerine oranges — are finding their way to island kitchens through outlets like Whole Foods, Down to Earth, Kokua Market and ‘Umeke Market. MA‘O is also a regular at the very popular Kapi‘olani Community College farmers market, which draws about 5,000 people every Saturday.
An important aspect of the program is its focus on encouraging students to successfully complete their education, and then pursue a two-year MA‘O Youth Leadership Training internship at Leeward Community College. At the end of the internship, students earn an Associate of Arts degree specializing in Community Food Systems. This, it is hoped, will provide a bridge for them to pursue a four-year baccalaureate degree at the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa or at UH West O‘ahu.
Maunakea-Forth is proud of the MA‘O Youth Leadership Training internship program, whose first full complement of five students will graduate in fall 2009. Meanwhile, a second cohort of 20 students is now enrolled, with recruitment underway for a third group.
“The Campbell Family Foundation’s $25,000 grant is providing very critical support for our Youth Leadership Training internship program,” said Maunakea-Forth. “It gives our young people the chance to go to school full time while they work at the farm learning how to grow and harvest organic crops.”
“This internship is a crucial pathway that can help our Wai‘anae youth to be successful and entrepreneurial in the professional world, and become leaders in our community,” she said.