Our mission is to cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders to grow a greener and more equitable Somerville.Groundwork Somerville, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, has been “changing places and changing lives” in Somerville, Massachusetts since 2000. Through youth empowerment, urban farming, equitable food access, and community engagement, Groundwork sows the seeds of a healthy community. Our work is grounded in the understanding that environmental conditions are inextricably linked to economic, social, and racial injustice. We recognize that it is impossible to build a truly sustainable community without holistically addressing these issues. As a result, we make an explicit effort to employ and empower youth of color and youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Our high-school programming highlights the nuances of racism, sexism, and environmental injustice, and arms program participants with tools to address these inequities. We also work to ensure that every student in Somerville Public Schools has access to a school garden and hands-on learning outside of the classroom. By empowering young people to cultivate a positive relationship with food and land, we help them grow into adults that are ready and able to build strong communities.