M:STL- Green STL Machine Community Builder VISTA

Green St. Louis Machine is dedicated to fostering sustainable empowerment around healthy food in underserved communities in St. Louis. We achieve this through our youth-centered initiative, which focuses on food justice, STEAM education, and urban agriculture. Our primary approach involves providing and supporting year-round, cutting-edge aeroponic gardening programs, within schools and youth organizations, with the goal of promoting sustainable empowerment around healthy food. During the 2022-23 school year, we were able to serve over 450 teachers, students, and young people across nine inner city schools, Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis (which serves as home base for our initiative), and R.I.S.E. Youth Center in Spanish Lake, St. Louis County. It is worth noting that all these locations are situated within food deserts - areas lacking consistent access to fresh and nutritious food options.