Roots for the Future

Region

Minneapolis and St. Paul

Timeline

October 2021 - present

Audience

Twin Cities residents ages 14-18

Contact

Tonya Draughn Email Tonya

Roots for the Future, formerly Northside Safety NET (Neighborhoods Empowering Teens), is designed to equip youth from historically underrepresented communities with the education, skills, and connections needed to pursue careers in environmental fields. Targeted towards African American, Indigenous, and other BIPOC youth aged 14-18, Roots for the Future promotes personal development while advancing environmental justice.

We aim to address the barriers that youth of color face in accessing opportunities in environmental fields, empowering them to grow as future leaders. Program objectives include:

Increasing environmental knowledge through workshops and field trips that educate on environmental issues.
Enhancing workforce skills through internships, job shadowing, and training for job readiness.
Fostering advocacy and leadership by training youth in community organizing and environmental advocacy.
Promoting hands-on stewardship by engaging in projects addressing local environmental issues.

photo of two young men working together in a wood shop

Innovative Programming

Roots for the Future drives both personal growth and community progress toward a more sustainable future. Program highlights:

Environmental education workshops.
Workforce development and career exploration.
Project design and management.
Mentorship programs.
Advocacy and public policy training.
Field trips and site visits.
Networking events.
Leadership development.
Technology and innovation.

A Northside Safety NET intern walking in the woods with data about the program overlaid on the image.

Support Roots for the Future

We invite you to support our youth programming with your generous financial contributions. Contact Sacha Seymour-Anderson with questions or to learn more.