Our primary Urban Agriculture activity, Sankofa Community Garden, has its roots in the growing urban farming and agriculture movement. This 8-week community-focused gardening program exposes 6-15 year old youth to all aspects of organic gardening and urban agriculture while providing education and an opportunity for physical activity. The garden provides an environment for hands-on, interactive, guided instruction to participating youth while also making garden plots available to community residents. Resident plots may be use for planting crops or as a commemorative flower garden. Sankofa Community Garden is used in conjunction with our Food Champions and Health and Nutrition program series. Sankofa Community Garden grew out of the urban farming and agriculture movement. It is an 8-week “teaching and learning” program which exposes youth 6-15 years to all aspects of organic gardening and urban agriculture while also providing an opportunity for physical activity.

Pillars

Health and Wellness

The goal of Health and Wellness Promotion is to produce healthier communities, provide accurate health related information, encourage preventative health screenings, and reduce health disparities. Health and Wellness Promotion programs targets children, youth and adults with an emphasis on the benefits of food produced without the utilization of pesticides, understanding nutritional information on food label, and caloric intake.

Urban Agriculture

Our primary Urban Agriculture activity, Sankofa Community Garden, has its roots in the growing urban farming and agriculture movement. This 8-week community-focused gardening program exposes 6-15 year old youth to all aspects of organic gardening and urban agriculture while providing education and an opportunity for physical activity. The garden provides an environment for hands-on, interactive, guided instruction to participating youth while also making garden plots available to community residents. Resident plots may be use for planting crops or as a commemorative flower garden.

Culture Promotion

Cultural Enrichment programs are offered throughout the year to highlight contemporary and traditional cultural events which celebrate individual and historical contributions. Programs are designed to increase exposure to culture while increasing consciousness relevant to the significance of culture and tolerance among diverse ethnic groups. They include Celebration of Kwanzaa, Juneteenth, and a series of Black History Month programs and activities.

Historical Preservation

Historical pillar include several long-range projects, which include acquiring a historical site designation for a school building located in Royal Oak Charter Township and a free-standing historical library archival library. Our preservation efforts include community engagement, presentations, and activities to acquire and archive historical materials that depict the 1833 founding of the community. It has taken ten years to launch the historical pillar, a long-range initiative, which has been contingent on the acquisition and availability of funding.

Advocacy

FOROT has been actively engaged in the community for over 10 years advocating for culturally conscious, healthier, self-committed communities. Our partners serve a predominantly African American constituency including large numbers of low-income families. We would like to thank all of our volunteers and supporters for their ongoing support.