Vision
Cultivate Chicago aims to revitalize vacant lots in the city of Chicago with an emphasis on those in underserved communities using business insights, education, and community engagement to inspire and influence positive outcomes for every level of urban grower.
Mission
Our mission is to better equip urban growers, large lot landowners and stakeholders with the fundamentals of business ownership and financing by executing technical assistance programming, mentoring, informational workshops, and data analysis. Doing so will increase the knowledge, skill, and ability of all stakeholders, encouraging successful urban farm businesses and home gardens.
Values
Revitalization of the land and the community
Diversity and inclusion
The collective “win”
Exceeding expectations
Delivering on our promises
Operating with Integrity
Ethics in business process
Commitment to high quality education and resources
People as the source of our strength and success
Areas of Focus
Partnership Formation
Area 1: Develop a cohort-based model to assist high potential farmers establish businesses
Area 2: Prepare more land for farming by addressing the environmental remediation, stormwater management, and water conservation issues
Area 3: Create an Urban Agriculture System that can be replicated by other cities, by formally organizing currently uncoordinated elements and systems
Data Collection & Analysis
Survey urban growers and collect relevant data
Inform targeted educational opportunities, programming, and strategic resources
Support local growers to help them achieve their vision and build businesses
Technical Assistance & Training
Offer mentoring, coaching and workshops
Provide growers with a foundation for understanding the challenges
Equip growers for those challenges
Pursue this outcome: Successful agriculturally based businesses
Large Lots Assessments
Engage resident growers
Activate more vacant lots
Provide assistance with growth plans
Ensure compliance with city regulations
Engage community stakeholders
Triage growers to specific resources