There\u2019s a good chance that anyone who\u2019s lived on Milwaukee\u2019s south side has heard of Pete\u2019s Fruit Market. Lately, this neighborhood staple has been engaging in initiatives to provide nutritious foods and promote healthy lifestyles to the surrounding community. One of MIAD\u2019s Service Learning students had a role to play in one of their most current projects \u2013 an urban farm down the block from the main store, with fruits, vegetables, chickens, and honeybees.<\/p>\n
Service Learning is a course required of all MIAD students. It includes a mandatory community service component at a location of the student\u2019s choice. When Adam Carter began the Service Learning course \u201cPlant Yourself,\u201d which focuses on sustainable food, during the Summer 2014 semester, he had a background in\u00a0landscaping and was majoring in Industrial Design. As Adam looked over his options, he was informed of an opportunity being made available to MIAD service learners through CORE\/El Centro, and it seemed like a perfect fit.<\/p>\n
CORE\/El Centro is a non-profit in Walker\u2019s Point that provides natural therapies to the community on a sliding scale. It offers a Garden and Nutrition Program, run by Program Coordinator Stephanie Calloway, which aims to increase access to locally-grown produce and to develop the community\u2019s knowledge and skills to make healthy eating choices. The program provides educational workshops at their on-site rooftop garden, cooking classes, and a Children\u2019s Wellness program, among many others.<\/p>\n
In 2012, CORE\/El Centro, as part of the Southside EAT (Empowerment, Access, Transformation) Coalition – a group of organizations working to improve health through food – worked with Pete\u2019s Fruit Market to implement a Healthy Grocery Store campaign. When Pete\u2019s later showed interest in creating an urban farm near their store on the south side, CORE\/El Centro was one of the first organizations recommended to them. The idea took root.<\/p>\n
In Spring 2014 the project was initiated. After some discussion with MIAD, CORE decided it would be beneficial to take on a MIAD Service Learning student to assist with the design of the farm. Adam was one of the first students interested. He contacted Stephanie, and soon enough, the collaboration began.<\/p>\n\n\t\t