Author: Christopher Crowell

Our mission at Aspire Youth & Family is to assist young people in overcoming behavioral, emotional, or substance abuse obstacles, so they may realize their full potential. We provide counseling, life skills development, and education through experience, in a supportive environment that emphasizes the strengths of each individual.

KIDS AT WORK PROGRAM:

An after-school program led by a chef and a Interpersonal / Vocational Coach, designed to help kids (ages 12-17) learn the technical skills of cooking while building better methods of communication.

It is a hands-on, exciting and unique way for them to learn and apply academic and social concepts. Additionally, the kids learn about nutrition and how a healthy diet contributes to greater well-being.

The Kids at Work! Program utilizes the model program, Say it Straight to improve assertive communication and conflict resolution skills. This after-school program is also a great way for teens to gain the skills they need, when they are ready, to get hired for a job.

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North Carolina native, Samantha Foxx, is a world famous farmher, homesteader, beekeeper, professional speaker and educator and the owner and operator of Mother’s Finest Urban Family Farms in Winston Salem, NC. Of over 500 registered farms in Forsyth County , Mother’s Finest is one of just FIVE that are Black owned. Accolade after accolade… most recently starring in a podcast with Reading Rainbow legend LeVar Burton, played a starring character of a published children’s book in the UK, and releasing a new beverage line alongside her mead partner Stardust Cellars… Samantha is continuously growing her brand, products, and mission, all while managing her farm year-round.

Known as “The Queen Bee of North Carolina Honey”, Samantha specializes in infused honey and tonics, rare chickens, herbal products, mead, natural art and more while advocating for food justice and diversity and teaching youth and family the many benefits of urban farming. We are thrilled and honored to have Samantha and Mother’s Finest Urban Family Farm back to EDJ!

About Mother’s Finest…
Our family farm consist of 2.5 acre of growing space in an Urban Environment and leasing 5 more Acres in the other city limits to expand our farming production. We grow for our value-added products and our CSA Box subscription members. Through the leadership of Mother/ Certified Beekeeper and Master Gardener Samantha “Foxx” Winship we learn new ways to innovate our farming practices, product development and operations.

On our farm land we have Bee, Chickens, Worms, Mushrooms, Specialty Items, Various produce and more, We trained our children to handle basic farm operations, beekeeping, vermiculture, poultry care, growing food and processing value-added products.

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Horizons Unlimited is a science center operated under the Rowan-Salisbury School System that provides hands-on field trips that drive student engagement and professional development to support innovative science instruction from the field to the classroom.

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Crown Town Compost’s mission is to empower anyone to improve the beauty and health of their home, their community, and the planet.
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Founded in 2014, Crown Town Compost was born when Kris, David, and Marcus met at a social entrepreneurship workshop and discovered they shared a common passion for environmental conservation. They collaborated to create a business plan for their idea, which focused on collecting food waste from local businesses and homes and transforming it into nutrient-rich compost for gardens and farms.

In those early days, the team (mostly David) rode around Charlotte on bike and in a vintage truck to pick up Charlotte’s food scraps. Crown Town Compost has grown a lot over the last 10 years–now serving hundreds of homes and businesses throughout Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and we’re eager to continue serving the Queen City.

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