Executive Director Jametta Raspberry

ROOTS uses salads as an “appetizer” to a new world of opportunities for youth.

Jametta Raspberry is a Chef and small business owner with 18 years of combined work experience in the food and beverage industry. She has received many accolades including the 2019 Charlie Awards Rising Star. Jametta has a longstanding relationship with Roots as a Chef mentor and coach.

She is committed to igniting change in the community by carving out alternative pathways to success through the lens of equity and inclusion. She is eagerly aligned with the Roots mission and excited to take Roots to the next level by walking alongside the youth participants through their journey.

Youth Advisory Council

Alfredo Alvarado, Carl Childs, Kajia Lee, Zarea Mobley and Michael Vang.

Board of Directors

ROOTS 2024 Leadership Team

Johnathan Johnson

Founder
The Home Grown Company

Sina War

Engagement and Inclusion Director
Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association

Lachelle Cunningham

Chair
Founder & CEO, Healthy Roots Institute
Executive Directo, Frogtown Farms

Vanessa Gill

Family & Community Engagement Coordinator
Osseo Area Schools

Dave Horsman

VP Ballpark Operations
Minnesota Twins

Randy Larson

Founder
Shinebox

Megan Wolle

Sr. Director of Stewardship
CHS Inc.

Our Vision

A community where every young person is able to see and create the future they want.

Seeding Youth Success

Roots for the Home Team works with youth participating in community garden programs to cultivate personal and professional growth.

Through the Finding Your Roots Curriculum and the SaladUP! Concession Cart, Roots youth discover and stretch their abilities through real-world work experience. Roots participants build on their own strengths to create the future they want for themselves.

We believe young people come strong and courage creates opportunity.

How ROOTS Works

Eat greens. Inspire teens. Everyone wins.

Roots for the Home Team is the next step for youth already participating in community gardens. Using the produce they have grown, teens create gourmet salads with local chefs, gain work experience selling those salads at Target Field, and take university-level courses to discover their strengths to help them become who they want to be as adults.

Roots for the Home Team works in 2 ways:

1.

SALADUP!CONCESSION CART

Real-world work experience:

  • Salad Creation with
    Celebrity Chefs
  • Running the SaladUP!
    Concession Cart
  • Youth Advisory Council

2.

FINDING YOUR ROOTSCURRICULUM

Discovering strengths through:

  • Leadership Development
  • Entrepreneurial Knowledge
  • Future and Career Planning

Get Involved with Roots

Step up to the plate and become a ROOTS Youth, Supporter or Mentor.

Become a Roots Food Partner or Program Sponsor

Are you an Urban Farm or food supplier? Are you a retail business interested in selling ROOTS salads? Would you like to serve Roots salads at your next event?

Let's Talk

Volunteer as a Youth Mentor or Chef Coach

Would you join one of our workshops to discuss your professional career experience and pathway? Are you a chef who would share your talent by guiding ROOTS youth as they create their salad recipes?

Volunteer

Donate

Simply put, money makes many experiences more attainable. Roots for the Home Team does everything in its power to clear pathways to success for our youth. Will you join our team to make these bright futures all the easier to reach?

Donate Now

Become a ROOTS Youth

All Roots for the Home Team participants connect with our organization through Minneapolis and St. Paul urban farms. Are you a teen interested in joining Roots for the Home Team? Check out our youth Garden Program partners.

Community Garden Partners