On a mission to end poverty, support a self-sufficient food system, and reduce recidivism, Gangstas To Growers is building worker-owned cooperatives that offer hope and opportunities for young people in Atlanta. We are a commitment to our Ancestors to help heal and end the suffering of our people through unconditional love and knowledge.
Gangstas to Growers (G2G), offers a 40 hr/week, 10 month program providing paid internships to our formerly incarcerated and at-risk young adults. Participants 1) are mentored by local farmers, 2) create value added products, and 3) build worker and community-owned cooperatives. Our program uses yoga, meditation, and self-reflection exercises to identify the intrinsic motivations and the personal goals of our participants. They learn self-care techniques, proper nutrition, and personal finance to help increase their resilience in the face of adversity. In the classroom via community educators, we use guided discussion, documentaries, and writing exercises to engage participants’ understanding of the national and global issues affecting them. Participants also receive individual and group therapy sessions weekly in addition to fifteen other weekly and bi-weekly classes they paid to attend.
In 2025, G2G has created a 6 month fellowship empowering our alumni to step into leadership, organize their community, and bolster their worker-owned businesses (cooperatives). Developing cooperatives include:
- Diamond Hill Food Co-op starting a produce buying club as a precursor to the community owned, paying G2Gs to help go door to door, organizing members.
- Worker-owned Sweet Sol, a value-added farm to product co-op
- Kwanz-Opp (land stewardship co-op) using the funds to bolster operations to create profitability.
We serve up to 30 young adults a year and up to 20 farmers a year providing labor. Our Gangstas To Growers have helped grow over a ton of food since we began.