Last week found all of us from Pure Strategies bent over radishes, tomato plants, and kale as we weeded, picked and trimmed our way down harvest-ready rows.  As we gathered vegetables, I thought a bit about what makes an organization sustainable and how The Food Project’s bold mission might inspire any organization to describe and act on a grand vision of its own.

Over 20 years ago, a white farmer from the suburbs and a black minister from the city joined forces to bring diverse young people together to build a sustainable food system that would connect people to the land, to each other, and to their own potential. Ward Cheney was farming in the Boston suburb of Weston and writing about his vision for a project that would bridge the urban/suburban divide and teach young people to grow healthy food and share it with those in need. Allen Callahan was ministering to an inner-city church and overseeing the distribution of low-quality food through his church pantry. Both men envisioned a better way. After reading Cheney’s writings, Callahan picked up the phone and an ambitious partnership was born.

Successful organizations are built on vision

Today, The Food Project’s ten Boston-area farms produce over 250,000 pounds of nutritious, chemical pesticide-free food annually for charitable donation, subsidized sale at farmers’ markets, and CSA shares. The 150 young people hired each year come from diverse backgrounds to learn the rigorous work of farming while having the opportunity to take risks and develop leadership skills. Importantly, The Food Project (TFP) also serves as mentor and resource center for others inspired by their youth empowerment approach.

“I think that one of the things that's made TFP so sustainable, so enduring, is that our mission is so easily understood both inside and outside the organization,” says Board Member Marcos Luna. “When I explain to people what TFP is about - the intersection of food, community and youth - they get it almost instantly. The mission itself is inspiring. The other thing about TFP that's important, from a sustainability perspective, is that we're both present- and future-oriented. We are committed to addressing present needs in our community and for our youth.  And our youth focus is fundamentally about the future. We're helping to cultivate leaders who are socially and environmentally conscious because they're going to be making decisions for their communities and for society.”

Bringing the inspiration home

You may think this doesn’t apply to your organization. You may make, say, T-shirts, and you’re focused on reducing your environmental impact and creating a healthy workplace. That’s a great start. But sometimes I look at corporate sustainability programs and wonder why they can’t be a bit more ambitious. Why not strive to pioneer the best dyeing techniques and make them available to the industry? Or create a revolution of clothes recycling and donation? Or transform cotton sourcing? Why not aim high?

On the social side, there are many great examples of corporate giving programs that seek to make a lasting difference for a cause, but there are at least as many examples of those that don’t. I’m not knocking corporate support for the local Little League Team. But there is a big difference between helping the Crusaders win and working with local leaders to increase sporting opportunities in a way that tackles childhood obesity and high school dropout rates.

The Food Project started with a vision. All organizations should have one.