Picente was joined at the Summer
Youth Employment Program Celebration by Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito, BOCES Superintendent Howard D. Mettelman and Workforce Development Director David Mathis.
Started by the members of one urban community garden in 1992, Nuestras Raíces has grown to a network of community gardens through the city, secured thirty acres of prime farmland along the Connecticut River, organized farmer training and
youth leadership
programs, assisted in the creation of 25 food and agriculture businesses, community - led environmental and food policy councils and provided opportunities for hope,
employment, healthy foods, and cultural
celebrations in this Puerto Rican community.