Sacramento Sustainability Academy (SSA) in 2024
By Lee Thao
SSA Program Specialist
SSA has taught me many skills in gardening and handling power tools. I always wanted to find an outlet to garden and especially give back to the community through growing our own food, so SSA allowed me to take that step towards my interest. I feel comfortable with identifying some plants that you may see in a garden, such as tomatoes, chives, peppers, and many more.
Additionally, I can now say I know how to use a drill and circle and chop saw, which I had no previous experience working with. So if I ever need to do some quick workshopping, I will be able to do it relatively with ease.
“The community created by SSA is amazing and I was able to meet so many great people in this cohort.”
Not only that, the community created by SSA is amazing and I was able to meet so many great people in this cohort. I loved coming to work every day seeing my fellow members and doing meaningful work for our Sacramento communities.
By Atlas Jackmon
SSA Program Fellow
The spring SSA session was full of lessons. In the Urban Agriculture & Food Sovereignty Program, we partnered with organizations throughout the Sacramento community. Through these partnerships, we led a number of projects that presented us with unique challenges and expanded our skillsets exponentially.
“After SSA, my toolbox is much better equipped to help cultivate food sovereignty in Sacramento and beyond.”
At Mirasol Gardens, we learned irrigation design and implemented our own designs. At Three Sister’s Gardens, we learned effective community organizing. Building a chicken coop at Yisrael Farms taught us basic carpentry. We also learned how to make mistakes and pivot when our initial approaches weren’t working.
At every site, we learned perseverance as we attacked the never-ending pile-up of crabgrass — the mortal enemy of any bright-eyed, bushy-tailed gardener. After SSA, my toolbox is much better equipped to help cultivate food sovereignty in Sacramento and beyond.
Editor’s Note: The Sacramento Sustainability Academy is a workforce development program designed to introduce young people to climate action and community resilience work. SSA has operated seasonally thanks to city funding made available through the California Volunteers’ Service Corps. Beyond specific grant funding that allows us to operate programs such as this Academy, SSP’s development of young leaders—and their capacity to build community—is made possible by gifts from donors. If these stories and emerging programs inspire you, consider making a one-time gift or sign up to become a monthly donor.