Leadership St. Pete® selects the St. Pete Youth Farm for its 2024 Class Project

Leadership St. Pete® selects the St. Pete Youth Farm for its 2024 Class Project Leadership St. Pete's ® 55 th class of leaders will provide capital improvements and will beautify the St. Pete Youth Farm as part of its “Sprouting Success” legacy.

St. Petersburg, FL - The Leadership St. Pete ® (LSP) Class of 2024 has chosen the St. Pete Youth Farm as the beneficiary of this year’s class project titled "Sprouting Success." The project aims to enhance the farm's facilities and layout, providing an engaging space for young people and the community to learn about sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and environmental stewardship.

The St. Pete Youth Farm, located in south St. Petersburg, provides a place where anyone can access locally grown produce while learning how to grow their own food. The farm offers hands-on learning experiences and programming to teens, fostering the development of leadership and entrepreneurship skills and the knowledge of urban agriculture while promoting mental health and overall wellness. Their mission includes developing future leaders, which aligns with the LSP Class of 2024's goal of supporting initiatives that benefit our youth and the community as a whole.

This year’s class project’s objectives include:

● Improving the farm's multi-use areas with permanent ground coverings, shade, and rain protection to create more functional spaces for programming, meetings, and classes.

● Enhancing the main gathering space with comfortable, permanent seating for community members during training, workshops, and other events held at the youth farm.

● Upgrading the outdoor kitchen and food preparation areas to serve more local residents.

The LSP Class of 2024 will raise donations and host fundraising events, culminating in a hands-on day of service to complete the project in May 2024. The revitalized St. Pete Youth Farm will be a place for youth and community members to learn, grow, and thrive, ensuring a lasting impact on our community.

“At St. Pete Youth Farm, everything we do is in support of the community we serve. We are humbled to have been selected as the 2024 Leadership St. Pete ® class project," said Carla St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce 100 Second Avenue North, Suite 150 St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: (727) 388-2914 www.leadershipstpete.com Bristol, Collaboration Manager at St. Pete Youth Farm. "We're familiar with prior LSP class projects and the rippling effects their contributions produce. We know their ability to transform spaces, impact function, and better fulfill an organization's mission. Coincidentally, this project will be completed just before our 5th anniversary, and will no doubt elevate the way we serve our community. We affirm the indelible legacy this project will leave for our teens and community!"

Visit stpete.com/LSP to learn more about LSP and how you can support our Sprouting Success Class Project.

Please direct media inquiries regarding LSP to one of the following media contacts:

• Danielle Guarino, LSP Marketing Chair | danideeguarino@gmail.com
• Leslie Hafer Chair, LSP Class of 2024 | hafer.leslie@spcollege.edu
• Jenna Stock Wunsch, Chair-Elect | jenna.stock@raymondjames.com

ABOUT LEADERSHIP ST. PETE®
As one of the oldest leadership programs in America and a division of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce ® and its 501(c)(3) Foundation, Leadership St. Pete ® is a dynamic, intensive, interactive, six-month experience designed to promote and enhance community leadership through an in-depth introduction to social, economic, business and political issues in the St. Petersburg area. The mission of LSP is to identify, recruit and develop leaders who represent the diversity of our city and who will assume future leadership roles in our community. The LSP program is made possible through the generous support of community partners. Patron Sponsors of the Class of 2024 are Duke Energy, Eckerd College Leadership Development Institute, Power Design, St. Petersburg College, and the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce.

ABOUT THE ST. PETERSBURG AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ®
The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce ® , originally founded in 1899, now serves over 1,300 member businesses and organizations. Continually identifying ways to create and enhance opportunities to do business in St. Petersburg, the Chamber works to improve the local economic climate and to build a thriving business environment. The Chamber represents perspectives of local business in St. Petersburg, providing and fostering leadership on important business and community issues. Information is available at stpete.com.

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