“Planting Seeds for the Future” is an entrepreneurial/garden project based at Border Star Elementary School in Kansas City, Missouri. Working with students in grades 4-6 “Planting Seeds” weaves together themes of financial literacy, small business development, creative writing, and critical thinking all centered on the student run and maintained urban garden. Upper Elementary students will have the opportunity to create their own businesses, with unique marketing, logos and sales ideas generated by the students’ research and production in raised garden beds. Students will maintain journals, create visual art and creative writing projects, conduct research, explore issues of health and wellness, organic gardening, sustainability as well as social and environmental issues centered on food. Planting Seeds seeks to implement steps designed to engage students in positive creative actions, analytical and critical thinking aimed at ending poverty and creating socially & environmentally conscious citizens. Planting Seeds for the Future is made possible by a generous grant from the United Services Community Action Agency and is sponsored through the University of Missouri-Kansas City Division of Diversity, Access & Equity.



Saturday, March 5, 2011

Budget Cuts and Possible Program Cancellation


The Border Star students have been hard at work this past month with focused attention to issues centered on food, food production and issues of fast food, America's diet and related health concerns.

Recently, the Division of Diversity, Access and Equity was informed that funding for The Pipeline Program is in jeopardy due to the President’s proposed budget cuts. As you know, our programs serve hundreds of children in the Kansas City, Missouri School District, as well as provide job opportunities for many UMKC Students.

The students have gained so much from the Planting Seeds Program including a deeper understanding of finance, business and of course gardening.  But perhaps more importantly the students have gained a powerful sense of control, optimism and self-confidence that will serve them throughout their lives.  It is hard to imagine that these gains could be cut so swiftly leaving the students to suffer.

Today, we ask for your voice. Please contact Senators McCaskill and Blunt and Congressman Cleaver asking them to reinstate full funding for Community Service Block Grants and Community Action Agencies Operational Funds.

Claire McCaskill
(202)224-6154
(816)421-1639
http://mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=contact


Roy Blunt
(202)224-5721
(816)471-7141
http://blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact


Rep. Cleaver
(202)225-4535
(816)842-4545
http://www.house.gov/cleaver/IMA/issue.htm

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