Rooted in Justice 2024-2025

The Cedar Tree Foundation's "Rooted in Justice" grantmaking program aims to amplify youth voices and actions within the environmental and food justice movements. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission by supporting community-based organizations that operate established, youth-led urban greening programs. The core of "Rooted in Justice" is to empower young people to develop a personal relationship with the environment, whether through food cultivation, nature engagement, community green space creation, or environmental stewardship. It deeply recognizes the power of youth collectively working as change-makers in their communities, reflecting a strategic priority to foster new leadership and solutions for pressing environmental and social issues. The program targets organizations, groups, collectives, and programs that engage young individuals aged 12 to 20 in youth-led initiatives. These beneficiaries are drawn from communities or cultures that have historically or currently faced a lack of access to land or nature, agricultural oppression or neglect, food apartheid, or other injustices based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, and disability. The impact goals are centered on fostering equitable outcomes for these communities by sharing and redistributing power and resources, amplifying voices and leadership, and tackling root problems through ongoing engagement and collaboration, ultimately creating mechanisms for change. "Rooted in Justice" prioritizes programs that embody four key elements: social justice, urban greening, youth-led initiatives, and cohort-based youth work. Social justice-based programs are those dedicated to equitable outcomes, involving power redistribution, leadership amplification, and critical analysis with youth. Urban greening encompasses activities that create mutually beneficial relationships between city dwellers and their environments, including urban farms, community gardens, and restoration efforts. Youth-led programs emphasize the development of youth leadership skills, allowing young people to participate in planning, decision-making, and even budget management. Finally, cohort-based youth work focuses on building community among youth through intentional, recurring programming, supporting significant group and individual learning and leadership opportunities. The expected outcomes include strengthened youth leadership, increased community engagement in environmental and food justice, and sustainable urban greening projects. Measurable results are derived from the program's structure, which encourages youth to manage a portion of grant funds, participate in program feedback, and engage in personal and professional growth opportunities. The foundation's theory of change posits that by empowering youth in these specific areas, it can contribute to dismantling preconceived notions of injustice and foster a new generation of environmental and food justice advocates. This is further supported by funding for professional development for grantees and facilitated online gatherings for staff and youth, ensuring ongoing learning and networking.