Pocket Change
Since 2018 SWBID has partnered with the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (SWNA) to host Pocket Change––a $1000 micro-grant competition to highlight and fund remarkable ideas to invest in the Southwest community. From starting book clubs to disrupting violence, Pocket Change is a crowdfunded micro-grant that aims to better our community with ideas from Southwest for Southwest.
2022 Winner! Eat Your Greens: SW Gardens CSA & Nutrition Workshops
Southwest Garden’s mission is to create a space where neighbors can connect in a hands-on, peaceful, and respectful environment around the activity of growing produce. In the process of tending to vegetables, fruits, and other plants, the Southwest Community Garden group seeks to educate community members about gardening and the nutritional value of fresh produce and strengthen bonds among community members through inclusive community activities.
This year's pocket change pitch specifically revolved around Community-supported agriculture (CSA) & cooking demos.
The goal was to provide public housing residents with access to healthy food and cooking resources by expanding CSA to 10 households, hiring 3 farmhands from Greenleaf to help prepare produce & make deliveries once a week seasonally. This plan also includes 3 cooking demos for Greenleaf Seniors
Last year's Pocket Change winners Nate and Neko organized Southwest Sports on a Truck to bring fellow teens in the neighborhood together for fun, COVID-safe sporting events like bike rides, basketball games, and more. Other finalist ideas included:
