In Seattle, a very successful non-profit organization trains people that are facing "temporary homelessness" with skills in the food industry that allow them to get back on track. The program boasts a 90% job-placement record for its trainees. It has contracts with local restaurants to supply their prep-work, catering service, lunches every day and dinners once a week, generating considerable income for theprogram to be self-sustaining.
Dinner on Thursday opens to the public. A Guest Chef from a local restaurant leads the group in creating a seasonal delicacy. Industry leaders and corporate sponsors take turns to serve as waiters for that night, donating all tips to the program. Graduates from the program are acknowledged and some share their stories. Listening to those two minutes will help you understand why this program deserves to be replicated all across the world.
In Havana, urban farming started as a necessity. With the break up of the Soviet Union, Cuba lost 75% of its imports, including oil and its derivatives: fertilizers, agro products. With the Helmut Burns act, Cuba lost 85% of its exports, mainly sugar cane to the US. The lessons learned: Cannot depend on oil for food production, much less if its foreign, and the production must be diverse.
In 1993 people started growing food where they could out of necessity, roofs, terrraces, vacant lots. In 1995 the government realized this was a major force and it was worth channeling it as part of the system. Now, Havana is said to produce up to 60% of its internal production, all within a 5 km radius from the city center.
