The former Community Greenhouse Partners space will soon house Food Strong and other community partners. Nonprofit leadership hopes the site will become a community gathering space, a hub for fighting food injustice, and a catalyst for growth in the neighborhood.
Food Strong will expand its operations into a new 3-acre farm site, thanks to a gift from Community Greenhouse Partners (CGP). The site is at 6527 Superior Ave., near the intersection of Superior and 67th.
The farm, once operated by CGP, will serve as the new Food Strong headquarters, an urban farm and a community gathering place, the nonprofit said in a press release. The space will serve the community in broad ways by providing volunteer housing, nonprofit office space, vocational training and critical health services for Cleveland residents. Volunteers are actively being recruited to help with cleanup at and around the farm. A major goal of the project is community engagement, and training for the labor and skills needed to restore the farm house, church and greenhouses to their full potential.
Sara Continenza started Food Strong in 2018. The organization has since grown from an office in the basement of her home in South Euclid to the new farm in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood.
Food Strong leaders have developed a five-year plan, focusing on different elements of the farm, housing, and community services to build a fully functioning community hub. This plan allows them to focus on and intentionally maintain these elements.
- Year one of the plan is focused on producing and distributing fresh food in the community, to address food access in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood.
- Year two will be focused on affordable housing and providing for volunteers of local nonprofits that partner with Food Strong.
- Year three will be focused on vocational training and job readiness for community members, to provide people with increased autonomy and skills.
- Year four will be focused on services, such as offering free health screenings, mental health services and addiction services, to further strengthen the community.
- Lastly, year five will be about recreation and bringing people into the farm and enjoying the neighborhood together, while continuing to share resources and listen to community members.
“We’re really excited about the phased out approach. We’re not doing this all at once. Definitely tackling the house first to move our headquarters there, and begin to establish our foundation. Then we will be able to clear out the land and get the farm planned out,” Continenza said.
“Throughout the whole process we will be engaging with the community to be mindful about our approach and ensure that this is something truly reflective of the goals, values and needs of the community members, while also being able to build on existing resources within the community. It is important that we work very closely with community members and partners so that this really does become a part of a village effort that will grow stronger and more sustainable over time. Community voices will be at the forefront and determine key points in the process,” she added.
Continenza speaks confidently and passionately about this new frontier for Food Strong and how it will expand the services and expertise the organization can provide. The intention to empower the neighborhood to feel connected to the space as a shared resource is strong, as is the dedication to providing dynamic solutions to decades-long problems.
“I had been talking about wanting land and property for Food Strong for a long time. Not only for sustainability but for more intentional and long-term placemaking. Renting space can be limiting and doesn’t allow us to have much control to think big within a space. Back in 2022, I met someone who told me about the proposal for the acquisition of the CGP property. I worked hard with my board to develop a plan that was conducive to creating a community hub with this property, fully owning it and doing important work,” Continenza said.
Engagement and placemaking are at the forefront of these plans, and Continenza highlights the importance of making sure that community members are able to lend their voice to the project. Intentional engagement makes space for residents to be fully active participants in a major project in the neighborhood and potentially gain some functional skills in the process, she noted. The intention of this project is to build on what community members and partners have already established while filling in holes to strengthen the community as a whole.
“We find it imperative to incorporate workforce development in this process, since Cleveland has so many old homes, churches and industrial buildings, a restoration project like this can become a catalyst for restoration projects throughout Cleveland,” Continenza said. “Also, we’re maintaining a level of sustainability and collaboration to allow the space to reach its full potential.”
In a press release, Continenza summarizes the big “why” for this project.
“We believe access to fresh, locally grown foods is the foundation for community health, fueling us physically and mentally and unlocking our neighborhoods’ economic and cultural potential,” Continenza said. “Our goal is to create a model for ground-up urban restoration that empowers residents to help establish their own vision for a thriving neighborhood, then work together to bring it to life,” Continenza said.
The placemaking on the Superior Avenue farm will further enhance Food Strong’s mission of building enduring food systems, and cultivating food justice. The ultimate goal is to transform the neighborhood into a self-sustaining community.
A personal perspective
This project makes me reflect on the relationship nonprofits and for-profit businesses have with the neighborhood they are housed in, the community that staff and volunteers drive to on a regular basis, often while having little to no interaction with the folks who actually live there. With the Superior Farm Fix Up, volunteers — from elders, parents, professionals to students — will visit the neighborhood to build, repair and establish a sense of care in a community that is under-resourced and has a history of not directly addressing resident needs.
“People’s passion and expertise can shine through this space. We can really usher in some vibrant and dynamic programs, training and gatherings here in St. Clair-Superior. It can be a gathering space, a gym for youth, whatever the community wants to see can become a part of our plan and vision,” Continenza said.
The beauty in this growth is highlighted by the origins of Food Strong, as Continenza had an idea to fill an ever-present need that she was witnessing firsthand in Cleveland – food injustice.
“I started this organization from the ground up in my basement. I was a consultant at the time and I just wanted to see more gardens in schools based on my previous experience at the Hunger Network and witnessing people being sick and children not being able to identify fruits and vegetables, it changed my perspective and made me want to act on issues around food justice and accessibility,” Continenza said.
She quickly went from having interns and volunteers to having a staff and an office.
“Growth within the organization has taught me many skills in building a healthy team, while also expanding my own reach and continuing to think big with our mission. It takes a lot of work to balance things and make sure we accurately determine our capacity, but the challenge is welcomed,” Continezna said.
“Within the nonprofit sector, often there is some uncertainty in funding and being able to get different projects and programs off the ground. But with faith, grit and hardwork, a lot of change can be made for the positive. We’ve opened so many doors to opportunities so quickly in the past six years,” she added.
The planning and goals for this project could make it a jewel in St. Clair-Superior that will pour light into the neighborhood, ensuring that residents have a place to learn, gather, eat and build a thriving community. I spent some time in late November clearing walkways and exploring the density of that land. You almost forget you’re on Superior Ave. when surrounded by trees, garden plots and hoop houses. I often caught myself imagining the property vividly at its full potential, and the bountiful offerings it will have for so many.
There are many ways to get involved in the Superior Farm Fix Up. Volunteer days are Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., link with more information and to sign up here. Reach out directly to info@foodstrong.org to discuss any specific skills or interests you may lend to the efforts. And of course, donations are accepted here. In-kind contributions and donation of materials are also welcomed.
A groundbreaking is scheduled for March 24, 2025, at which the organization will share its Year One plans and input from the community with local leaders and media.
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