Roots for the Home Team^® began when entrepreneurial dietitian Sue Moores was inspired by community youth garden programs. They teach young people to appreciate and enjoy food by immersing them in its creation. She decided to take the concept a few steps further into the food chain, and create a field-to-field program where those same youth turn their produce into delicious salads, then work selling those salads to a bigger audience, such as one summer’s favorite events, baseball games. In the process, they grow entrepreneurial skills, gain culinary skills, sales and marketing experience, courage and confidence.

After a few seasons at the ballpark, the youth asked to  learn more to keep their growing going. That led to a partnership with the University of Minnesota and the chance for ROOTS’ young people to get a better understanding of who they are, what they care about and new pathways toward reaching their hopes and dreams.

Systemic inequities greatly limit opportunities for BIPOC youth. Since that initial ask by participants to dig deeper with ROOTS, their voices and perspectives have become the program’s compass on what resources, tools and insights are meaningful and needed to forge forward. Staff work alongside young people to lower barriers and create opportunities that build their capacity to realize the future they want.