Mission

Fresh Supply is a 501-c3 non-profit, participatory learning organization. We seed intergenerational change in emerging communities through justice-centered projects & curriculum, equitable technologies, and creative placemaking.

Roots

We emerged from a sense of urgency to cultivate innovative and participatory frameworks that empower communities to reshape their own socioeconomic & environmental realities. Our journey began in science classrooms on the West Side of Chicago, working alongside community youth to interrogate environmental injustices including air pollution and inadequate sustainable development in their neighborhoods–and continues to grow and evolve through novel initiatives nationwide, like our flagship program, “THE SUMMER PROGRAM”.

Fruit

In the first year of deploying our justice-centered learning framework during the Summer of 2022, "THE SUMMER PROGRAM," our youth participants not only amazed us with their innovative approach to community engagement but also made history–officially recognized as the creators and pioneers of the first-ever SMS community hotline in the City of Chicago! Furthermore, they became Fresh Supply’s first inaugural graduating class of Digital Stewards. Our program embodies the principles of digital stewardship and equity, teaching students that communication is a fundamental right for all humans, and emphasizing the importance of designing community technologies that cater to the genuine needs of the community.

Today

This year, we are continuing with the Connect D.O.T.S. (Digital Outreach to Transform Safety) Initiative, expanding into new communities on Chicago's Westside, and onboarding exponentially more community organizations into the Garfield Park Community Network. Our efforts remain focused on ensuring the Garfield Park Community Hotline channel is fresh, culturally relevant, and highly accessible. Leveraging the power of the internet and SMS—the world's most widely used data service—we will continue disseminating a diverse range of engaging content, surveys, and community outreach tactics through the Garfield Park Community Hotline, which is powered by our proprietary digital care ecosystem platform, FlowAmigo.

We have already successfully onboarded an increasing number of impactful community organizations into our network, enhancing collaboration and communication within the Garfield Park community. Additionally, through THE SUMMER PROGRAM, we are reaching more youth, providing them with opportunities to engage in digital design practices, community organizing, and innovative technology use. Our student participants are actively learning, connecting, and collaborating with local organizations to integrate them effectively into the Garfield Park Community Hotline. These efforts are crucial in fostering a safer West Side and Chicago as a whole.