Urban Agriculture as a Public Health Tool | Stephen Ritz | TEDxLakeheadU

Canada's Strengths and Vision

• Canada is considered an amazing place due to its multiculturalism, history, indigenous people, culture, reverence for nature, healing, and reconciliation, with a notable mention of Wayne Roberts, a brilliant food policy person who believed that food was everything and that happiness was a political act 10s.
• The country has a high quality of life, with healthcare costs being less than half of those in the US, and it is also known for its food innovation, tradition, and fertile land, with 20% of the world's fresh water being within walking distance 2m6s.
• Canada has a strong economy, with the ninth largest economy in the world despite having only 5% of the US population, and it is a country that values people, planet, and prosperity, with a focus on community development and sustainability 4m30s.

Education and Community Development

• The importance of teaching children to save the world and building communities around schools is emphasized, with a call to action to imagine, believe, and act, and to prioritize people, planet, and prosperity, as well as purpose and prowess 6m20s.
• A new model is introduced, which involves community ownership, increasing biodiversity, and growing food in a civic greenhouse, with the goal of creating a home for all and promoting a global renaissance, opportunity, wealth creation, and transformation 8m40s.

Personal Background and Urban Agriculture

• The speaker shares their personal background, being known as the "captain of the chickens" and coming from a neighborhood in the Bronx with high levels of poverty, crime, and lack of opportunities, where they have worked to create positive change through urban agriculture and education 10m50s.

Children's Health and Food Crisis

• The current state of children's health is alarming, with increasing rates of obesity, sickness, and learning disabilities, which can be attributed to poor prenatal nutrition, unhealthy food, and high stress levels, as well as exposure to unhealthy food options on a daily basis 10s.
• Children are often surrounded by unhealthy food choices, with many of their daily options being mass-manufactured, edible, synthetic substances that are high in calories and processed, leading to overwhelming choices for this generation 1m20s.

Innovative Food Education in Schools

• In response to these issues, a radical and revolutionary approach has been taken, which involves growing food with kids in school indoors using 90% less water, and incorporating this into the curriculum as a vehicle for learning, including farmers markets, cooking, and selling the produce 4m30s.
• This approach has led to significant improvements in attendance, graduation rates, and state testing scores, with a 93% attendance rate, 100% graduation rate, and a 45% increase in state testing scores, demonstrating the positive impact of using food as a tool for education 6m20s.
• The importance of food in education cannot be overstated, as it is the most essential school supply, and when children have access to healthy, fresh food, they are more likely to succeed, and this approach has been successful in a community with limited means and access to fresh food 8m10s.

Impact of Food Programs on Communities

• The program has also had a broader impact on the community, with 375,000 pounds of vegetables grown, and a focus on growing something greater, including graduates who are part of the middle class, and a shift towards healthy eating and understanding of food 10m40s.
• Food justice is closely tied to racial justice, and access to healthy food is a critical issue, with the goal of making food justice a reality, and putting the culture back into agriculture, particularly in communities like the South Bronx 13m10s.
• The approach has been successful in engaging children and the community, with grandparents participating in the program, and a focus on building value for all, through the growth and consumption of healthy, fresh food 15m20s.

Food Justice and Racial Equity

• The issue of food access and health is not limited to one community, but is a broader issue that affects many areas, including Thunder Bay, where the speaker is presenting, and the goal is to acknowledge and address these issues, rather than simply pointing fingers 17m40s.

Global Food Access and Health Challenges

• Unemployment, inflation, food insecurity, addiction, crime, and violence are prevalent issues around the world, and education is a key factor in addressing these problems, as it can help build value for all and create positive change 10s.
• Growing food, making it accessible and affordable, and enjoying the process can have amazing effects, especially when it is made available to people who traditionally do not have access to it, and this model can be replicated in various settings, including abandoned buildings 2m6s.

Replication and Scalability of Food Models

• The "cultivate, propagate, replicate" model is a simple yet effective approach to creating positive change, and it has been successfully implemented in different contexts, including schools and communities 2m6s.
• Personal transformation is possible, as evidenced by the story of a 55-year-old who weighed 350 pounds, had a heart attack, and then lost 160 pounds in six months by eating only the food grown by kids in school, demonstrating the power of healthy food and lifestyle changes 4m30s.
• The idea of teaching kids to grow food and taking care of the environment can have a profound impact, even in affluent communities, where it can help create a cycle of endless possibility and reduce conspicuous consumption 8m30s.
• The "greening of the deserts" concept, which involves teaching kids around the world to grow food, has been successfully implemented, including in Dubai, where a net-positive city was built, and it has become a model for the world 10m30s.

Education and Environmental Awareness

• Education and teaching kids about the importance of nature and the environment at a young age can change the dynamic of the world, as food is a symbol of love and care, and one voice can become incredibly powerful in creating positive change 12m40s.
• The importance of finding one's purpose is emphasized, and the purpose mentioned is growing food in high-performing schools, which is considered a flame that keeps people living 10s.

Urban Agriculture and Economic Empowerment

• A wheelchair-accessible farming training kitchen was debuted in the South Bronx, and it has led to the growth of a $2 million a year business that produces high-quality food with more nutrition, providing living wages for the individuals involved 42s.
• In Appalachia, a greenhouse was built for kids who were written off, and it became a place where they could acquire skills and grow food, with the average wage in the area being around $3.60 at the time 2m6s.
• The kids involved in the program were able to turn their lives around, but they needed a higher level of support, which led to the construction of 10 tiny homes for them to live in after graduating from the program 2m6s.
• The program has been successful, with 2,200 students employed, and the food produced is being sold in 11 supermarkets across the country, making it a model for others to follow 4m30s.

Youth Development and Culinary Skills

• The goal is to provide kids with culinary skills, rather than having them work in fast food or other low-skilled jobs, and to give them opportunities to grow and develop 6m10s.
• The work being done is focused on creating opportunities for kids who are born in difficult circumstances, and it is centered around growing food and providing education and support 8m20s.
• The ultimate aim is to provide kids with a better life, where they can have access to basic necessities like food and a place to sleep, and to help them overcome the challenges they face 10m30s.

Collective Action and Social Change

• The dynamic can be changed by imagining, believing, and acting, and by doing one thing that has never been done before, because collective efforts can lead to stronger outcomes 10s.
• A simple model of agency, research, engagement, achievement, and leadership can be effective, and the Green Bronx Machine curriculum has been successful in engaging kids and teaching them to grow food, with data showing 100% engagement over 5 years 1m30s.

Healthy Eating and Youth Engagement

• Changing eating habits is easier when children are young, and programs that are replicable and scalable can be effective in promoting healthy eating, with kids excited to grow and sell their own food, such as kale 2m30s.
• The goal is to empower children to be their own heroes, to grow up and understand that they can save their lives and make their lives better by feeding themselves, rather than striving to be like someone else 3m30s.

Youth-Led Success and Replication

• A program started by a kid named Kevin, who was inspired by the Green Bronx Machine, has taken off and been recognized by the mayor, with Kevin being named New York City's hospitality hero, and his program has been replicated in other schools 5m0s.
• The use of technology, such as QR codes, has been effective in promoting healthy eating and culturally sensitive menus, and has been supported by companies like Chobani 6m30s.

Food Education and Economic Opportunity

• Food education is important and should be prioritized in schools, as it can lead to kids cooking local meals and promoting healthy eating, and can also provide opportunities for kids to work and earn a living wage 8m0s.
• The idea that "culture is our medicine" and "food is our freedom" is emphasized, and the importance of considering the impact of food on the environment, animals, and employees is highlighted, with the suggestion that making a difference can start with looking at the tip of your fork 10m0s.

Urban Agriculture as Public Health Solution

• The concept of urban agriculture is being promoted as a means to address public health issues, with a focus on collective action and community involvement, and the importance of implementing ideas rather than just discussing them 10s.
• The power of collective action and the importance of working together to create positive change is emphasized, with the goal of building value for everyone and creating a better future, and this can be achieved by following the principles of imagine, believe, and act 42s.

Intergenerational and Community Housing

• A project is being developed to build the first intergenerational housing project in New York City, which will incorporate features such as windows that face the sun, terraces, and open spaces for people to congregate and grow food, and this project is based on the Green Bronx Machine model 2m6s.
• The Green Bronx Machine model is being used to create jobs and stimulate economic growth, with examples such as a $4 million facility in St. Louis that hired 17 people and generates $2 million in revenue per year, demonstrating the potential for urban agriculture to have a positive impact on local communities 4m30s.

Hope and Collective Responsibility

• The importance of taking action and being hopeful in the face of challenges is emphasized, with the idea that being hopeful is not foolish or romantic, but rather a moral obligation, and that collective action can lead to positive change and a better future 6m40s.
• The concept of leaving a positive legacy and making a difference in the world is discussed, with the idea that individuals have the power to shape the future and create a better world, and that this can be achieved by working together and taking collective action 8m50s.

Food as a Foundation for Sustainable Cities

• The importance of food and urban agriculture in creating a sustainable and healthy community is highlighted, with the idea that food is life and that everyone deserves access to healthy and nutritious food, and that urban agriculture can play a key role in achieving this goal 10m40s.
• The vision for the future involves creating living, breathing, feeding cities with integrated cooking, and this vision is huge and has the potential to change the world 10s.
• The importance of food is emphasized, as it is something that everyone needs, and it has the power to change everything, and the goal is for everyone to eat well and live well 1m42s.

Global Expansion and Curriculum Sharing

• A program was started in Canada with the "good food machine" many years ago, and it has been successful, with data to support its effectiveness, and now curriculum is being brought to Canada 2m6s.
• The new way forward starts with kids, and it is essential to provide them with experience, not fake scenarios, and to teach them how to think, not what to memorize, and every single child matters 2m6s.
• The curriculum is being shared and brought to Canada, and it is thrilling to have the opportunity to make a difference, and the goal is to enable kids to grow and thrive 2m6s.

Empowering the Next Generation

• Children need help now more than ever, and it is essential to provide them with opportunities and expose them to new experiences, and this is what the program is all about 4m30s.
• The program has been successful, with 140 million meals being served indoors in the desert every year, and it has been recognized globally, with students being featured on TV 6m10s.

Transformative Vision and Global Impact

• The past does not have to equal the future, and it is possible to create change and make a difference, and everyone has the power to do so, and when adults come together, they are unstoppable 7m20s.
• The business started with an empty desk and an empty classroom but has now gone global, and the goal is to continue making a difference and creating positive change 8m40s.
• The importance of coming together and working as a team is emphasized, and it is essential to remember that everyone has the power to make a difference, and when people work together, they are strong 10m0s.