In 2017, FRESH did three key things that will continue to impact our food justice work in New London.

We built a new garden at McDonald Park and worked with over 100 New London residents to make it happen! Our work on this project really hits the center of the bulls-eye on the FRESH logo. We built strong relationships with neighbors, watched people of all ages grow into their power to make change and developed an edible park that will increase food security in this racially diverse and lower income neighborhood. The 5 leaders that made this project possible are committed and ready for our work in 2018. We now have a lasting investment in this neighborhood AND a new model for how we develop growing sites in New London.

We created a membership program that connects people across all FRESH projects. FRESH has always been connected to people across New London County, through schools, in our community gardens, with our youth program and through local coalitions. This year, we started connecting all those folks to each other through FRESH membership. The Annual Gathering of FRESH members was the first of many ways we envision our collective community coming together. Be on the lookout for all the ways you can meet people from the FRESH family in 2018.

And we started much needed conversations about the impact of racial bias on our work and our relationships. Even unintentional racial biases can prevent us from coming together and can keep us from accomplishing our mission. In 2016, we made a commitment to be a racially just organization and this year we started the hard work of making that happen. 

I learned that it takes more than a desire and commitment towards racial justice to succeed. It takes awkward and hard conversations; it takes a lot of relationship building; and a lot of trust. Our conversations about race within FRESH staff, board and youth are very different than I imagined and more intense. But they are also much more rewarding. We are ending the year with a renewed connection to each other and the mission. As any racial justice advocate will tell us, this is just the beginning and we are ready for more work in 2018.

On top of those things, we did the things we do each year; we grew food, we worked with youth and started unlocking the potential for new food justice leaders to emerge. Despite the intense weather, state budget crisis and general political strife, we were able to accomplish a lot. And mostly because we have such strong support from people like you!

In 2018, we will continue to focus on health, food and land access, environmental stewardship and racial equity. We will keep working towards our vision for how New London eats and lives in health and harmony. That vision includes more fruit trees, more garden plots and free snacks beds - a New London full of healthy, fresh food! And a diverse membership of people who can all contribute skills, experiences and resources to make this a reality. We are so glad you are a part of the work.

Wishing you a happy holiday season with peace and appreciation,

Alicia