Urban Growers Collective (UGC) operates a network of community gardens and farms across Chicago’s South Side, focusing on transforming disinvested spaces and vacant lots into vibrant, productive urban agriculture sites. By converting neglected areas into thriving green spaces, UGC fosters community engagement, food security, and environmental stewardship. These gardens and farms serve as hubs for education and empowerment, offering programs on sustainable farming, nutrition, and economic development.
UGC’s initiatives address food deserts by providing fresh, locally grown produce to underserved neighborhoods, thereby improving access to healthy food options. The organization also emphasizes social equity, working to create opportunities for marginalized communities through job training, youth development programs, and partnerships with local organizations. At UGC’s South Farm, the organization hosts seasonal farmers’ markets, community potlucks, wellness workshops, and environmental education events that strengthen community bonds. Special events such as harvest festivals and cooking demonstrations further engage residents and showcase the benefits of urban agriculture.
By creating these green spaces, UGC advances their mission to build a just and sustainable food system, promote economic vitality, and support community-led initiatives.
UGC’s founder and CEO, Erika Allen, is a commissioned artist in the ReSOURCE exhibition. As part of ReSOURCE, UGC’s South Chicago Farm is hosting workshops on “The Power of Our Ancestors and Re(membrance), in which participants share stories and ritual and co-create individual and community ancestral vessels from found and natural materials.