EVERETT COMMUNITY GROWERS INC

Programs

1. Everett community growers (ecg) works to build a more just and equitable environment through urban agriculture, youth development, policy advocacy and community engagement. 2025 was a year of great challenges for everett community growers (ecg) and our wider community. Despite these challenges, we have many successes to report, in large part due to the strength and resilience of our members and supporters. From our growers in the community garden, who have not only fed their bodies with freshly grown produce, but also their minds and spirits at community-led healing circles; to our civic engagement & advocacy team members, whose dedication to community-led change has resulted in more opportunities for everett residents to uplift their voices and learn from each other. From our youth crew's efforts to create belonging through food; to everett residents new and old, who have participated in ecg's workshops, farmstands, and celebrations. Their commitment to creating a just and equitable environment in everett is the backbone of ecg.organizational overview: organizational capacity strengthening:provided monthly benefit pay for full time staffcreated employee handbookcreated ecg's…

   $10,331 spent
   4% of program spending

2. Urban agriculturefarm harvest successes and challengesin early 2025, ecg lost our broadway farm due to a city construction project. This was an important space for the community to gather and learn about where food comes from and how it can be grown locally. The farm was also everett's only authorized healthy incentives program (hip) vendor. The majority of the produce that ecg distributed to the community from 2021 - 2024 came from this location. Though it was a sudden loss, this did not stop ecg from its mission to provide everett-grown produce to residents. The seasonal youth crew and core staff continued to grow produce at the northern strand community farm, establishing a free farmstand for donating produce. Additionally, ecg continued to donate to bread of life and to sell to everett high school through whitsons school nutrition, everett public schools' food service management company.in 2025 we harvested approximately 500 pounds of produce at our farm and distributed by:1. Selling 55% to everett public schools/whitsons school nutrition 2. Donating 35% to local families through a free farm stand and other activities3. Donating 10% to local food pantry, bread of lifenew…

   $119,389 spent$2,634 earned by the program
   41% of program spending

3. Youth developmentrooted in community, growing the futurein 2025, ecg's youth crew program empowered 5 young people between the ages 15-20, most from multi-lingual, multicultural families, to grow not only food, but also grow their voices, skills, and connection to place. Through hands-on civic engagement, youth explored how food systems intersect with policy, equity, and community leadership, gaining confidence as active participants in shaping their neighborhoods. Interview and resume preparation equipped them with practical workforce skills, opening pathways to future education and employment. By engaging deeply with local nature and scientific inquiry, participants developed a stronger understanding of urban ecosystems, sustainability, and the science behind what they grow. Together, these experiences cultivated informed, motivated young leaders rooted in community and inspired to build a healthier, more just future.2025 youth crew enrichment activities municipal government 101 workshop interview and resume preparation workshops cooking classes with the greenroots teaching kitchen field trips to museum of science and middlesex fells reservation ecg also partnered with the for…

   $74,618 spent
   25% of program spending

4. Civic and community engagementadvocacy in bloom - turning participation into powerin 2025, ecg's civic engagement and advocacy programming empowered community members to take meaningful action for people and place. Together with partners myrwa and the city tree warden, participants planted 100 trees across gateway park and rivergreen park in everett, strengthening urban green spaces while building a shared sense of stewardship. Accessibility and inclusion were central to this work. With funding support from the massachusetts office of environmental justice and equity, ecg purchased 60 real-time translation devices, which supported engagement across three live languages. On-site translation services from rosetta languages and liaison interpreter program of somerville (lips) ensured more people could participate fully. This commitment to representation translated into action, with four testimonies submitted to decision-makers, including two at the statehouse and two at everett city hall. Through collective advocacy, environmental action, and inclusive civic participation, the ecg community helped shape a greener, more equitable everett.community care in actionecg implemented 2…

   $89,542 spent
   30% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $293,880.