Executive Director
CurrentGrowGood, Inc. is a nonprofit employment social enterprise that uses urban agriculture as a vehicle for social change.GrowGood operates at 1.5 acre regenerative farm in Bell, CA, adjacent to The Salvation Army Bell Shelter, one of the largest homeless shelters in the United States.Our core programs include:(1) Food Distribution: On a weekly basis we donate produce to the neighboring Bell Shelter Kitchen, as well as weekly produce bags for Permanent Supportive Housing Residents. We also sell produce to our mission-aligned partners including markets who accept SNAP/EBT and restaurants who support our work through awareness campaigns. (2) Workforce Development: Our 300-hour Urban Agriculture Training Program is for individuals with multiple barriers to employment including homelessness/housing instability, justice-involvement, co-occurring disorders, and age. Through the program, individuals are able to select a career pathway, and gain more specialized skills and experience in specific areas such as: enterprise/sales, general operations, greenhouse, landscaping/gardening. (3) Wellness Programming: We have created a comprehensive wellness program, Food for Life, that uses the farm as a facilitator in healing. The nature-based mindfulness classes help individuals heal from the impacts of trauma, and reduce depression, anxiety, and anger. GrowGood has been recognized as one of L.A.’s most promising and innovative organizations affecting social change.