St. Louis Metro Community News and Information

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Spotlight on St. Louis Area Neighborhood Activities - Updated May 23, 2010

Kingdom House Receives Funding for Youth Programs
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), May 23, 2010 - Gov. Jay Nixon visited a St. Louis community center for at-risk youth, May 20, and announced the award of $195,897 in incentives to the center, which will help fund various programs for area young people, especially in the areas of job training, placement and counseling.

The Governor made the announcement of Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) tax credits at Kingdom House, which provides programming for St. Louis City youth ages 6 to 21 that promotes positive growth and development.

"An investment in Missouri's children is an investment in our future," Gov. Nixon said. "We are pleased to support the work of Kingdom House with these Youth Opportunity Program incentives, which will assist the center's delivery of important programs and resources that meet the needs of the area's at-risk youth, especially by helping them prepare for meaningful, rewarding careers. By assisting quality community centers like Kingdom House as they carry out their crucial mission, we can ensure that more Missouri young people have a pathway to rewarding, successful careers."

Kingdom House is a neighborhood social service center that has been serving residents of the Near Southside of St. Louis since 1902. Related to the United Methodist Church and a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis , Kingdom House offers a variety social service programs, including child day care, after school and summer youth programs, elderly outreach services, a thrift shop and food pantry relief services, and job training and placement for youth and adults , in collaboration with the Near Southside Employment Coalition (NSEC).

Home Farming Movement Creates Community Farm in St. Louis Neighborhood

As a light rain fell on Thursday morning, Urban Farming Founder Taja Sevelle, Triscuit and community leaders were on-site to begin planting vegetables and herbs in a community-based home farm on land donated by Midwest Construction & Development Company.

Urban Farming Founder and Executive Director Taja Sevelle demonstrated how to plant a tomato plant at the new community-based farm.

Home Farming Movement Creates Community Farm in St. Louis Neighborhood
by Bob Moore, SLFP.com
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), May 20, 2010 - Home Farming is about growing herbs and vegetables at home and in communities, no matter where you live.

Earlier this year, Triscuit announced the launch of the Triscuit "Home Farming" movement and its collaboration with Urban Farming, a non-profit organization, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, to create 50 community-based home farms across the country in 2010.

The farms will provide local residents and community groups with the opportunity to volunteer to maintain the farm and enjoy the local produce grown in their neighborhood. Led by Urban Farming Executive Director and Founder Taja Sevelle, these community-based home farms will bring much needed sustenance to deserving communities around the country.

With light rain falling on Thursday morning, Ms. Sevelle joined the Tricuit Brand Team, volunteers and community leaders at 1451 Mullanphy St. in North St. Louis to plant vegetables on land donated by Midwest Construction & Development Company.

In an interview, Sevelle, who began her music career with Prince, explained how she came up with the idea of Urban Farming. "I was recording a cd for Sony Records in Detroit, Michigan and I saw all the unused land in the city," stated Sevelle. "I became acquainted with a lot of people who were suffering from the job losses. So I thought why not plant food on this land and that will feed these people."

"So I started with 3 gardens, a pamphlet and $5,000 in 2005," Sevelle continued enthusiastically. "It was always a global vision. This year we will be planting the equivalant of over 1,000 gardens across the country and abroad."

"Today we are doing a groundbreaking on a wonderful garden at Computer Village in conjunction with the home farming movement by Urban Farming. We've partnered with Triscuit and we are planting 50 community-based home farms in 20 cities across the United States. We are very excited about this project."

Triscuit Brand Marketing Director, Michael Tille, added, "We actually grow the soft white winter wheat right here in the Midwest and we were looking for ways to connect our fans and consumers with our brand. The notion of allowing people to grow their own food seemed to resonate with us. We partnered with Urban Farming and came up with this idea to create 50 home based-community farms around the country and allow people to help and partcipate with us by growing their own food."

To help people on their path to Home Farming, four million packages of Original and Reduced-Fat Triscuit crackers will include cards with basil or dill herb seeds that can be planted directly into the ground. An interactive Web-based community, www.triscuit.com/homefarming, helps to plant the seeds of success with tips from master gardener Paul James and information about how people can start their own home farm or volunteer at an Urban Farming location.

Archived St. Louis Community News and Information:

Arson Can Threaten Health and Vitality of Neighborhoods and Communities

St. Louis Cardinals to Host Green Week

St. Louis City Partners with Boeing for 2010 Open Streets

Walk Run 'n Roll for People of All Abilities

Missouri's Second Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday

It's Not too Late to Fill Out and Turn in Your 2010 Census Form

Walmart Foundation Funds Meals On Wheels

Foreclosure-Relief Business Finally Shut Down

Hibernian Parade Puts Spotlight on St. Louis' Irish American Community

Aldermen to Hold Final Public Hearing for Input on Potential Elimination of Earnings Tax

St. Louis City Announces New Procedure to Protect Unattended Property, Keep Parks Clean

Hardee's 10th Annual Rise and Shine for Heat Raises More Than $85,000

Life Skills Receives $20,000 Grant from Verizon

Gateway to College National Network Expands Programs

41st St. Louis Observation Honors Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

City of St. Louis and County Donors Give Big Boost to Heat-Up St. Louis

Anheuser-Busch Employees Donate $225,000 to Three Local Charities

St. Louis Receives Award for Municipal Excellence from the National League of Cities

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Now Available to Everyone

AmerenUE Launches '$100 for 100' Program in Missouri

"Hope Is Moving In" Program Opens at Clay Elementary School

AmerenUE Helps Police See Crime from a Different Point of View

Carondelet Park Rec Plex Opens with Parade and Ribbon Cutting

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