Overlooked by South Mountain in southern Phoenix, bountiful rows of kale, okra, radishes and citrus trees bloom on a 19-acre community farm.

Known as Spaces of Opportunity, the plush urban farmstead is a vital resource for a community located in the middle of a food desert.

In Arizona, one in eight people face hunger. Feeding America estimates that half of these are children who don’t have reliable access to healthy, nutritious foods. Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbate the impact that food insecurity has on these already vulnerable communities.

Compelled to address these inequities, a consortium of Arizona’s community-based organizations have joined forces to create a sustainable food system, providing educational opportunities for the community, an economic engine for small farmers and a place for individual gardeners to hone their own skills.

Unlimited Potential is one of five original founders behind Spaces, along with the Orchard Community Learning Center, TigerMountain Foundation, Roosevelt School District No. 66 and Desert Botanical Garden. Over the past seven years, Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation and Valley Leadership have also joined the partnership, bolstering their mission and bringing in additional funding sources.

Read the full article about community-based spaces by Monée Fields-White at Shareable.