Growing Into Our Future
Gather New Haven 2020 Annual Appeal
Gather New Haven is wrapping up our first year as the newly merged entity of New Haven Land Trust and New Haven Farms. The truth is, 2020 has been a difficult year but we have been working to find our own unique direction and create synergy across all our programs. While COVID-19 has necessitated temporary adaptations, it has also shed light on long-standing injustice. The pandemic has exacerbated existing fissures in our social, political, and economic systems that have disproportionately affected under-resourced and marginalized Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.
As a food, environment, and community development organization, our role in this fight lies at the intersectionality of race, health, land access, and resource distribution. More work must be done to address the causes and environmental impacts of structural racism. As an organization, we are committed to the work of uprooting our own complicit and harmful practices as we establish our values, refine our programming and pursue justice alongside the New Haven community.
We have persevered in the face of countless challenges in 2020 and we are coming into the new year with new knowledge and greater understanding of our combined goals and potential for increased impact. We will continue to listen and learn from the collective voices throughout our community, while also pursuing intentional growth and development. We are counting on your support to help move this work forward. Your support would provide:
- COVID-19 adaptation strategies for all programs
- Environmental entrepreneurial opportunities for New Haven youth
- Environmental and public health learning opportunities
- Tools and resources for community gardens and farms
We hope that you will continue to support our work and consider giving to our 2020 Annual Appeal.
Sincerely,
Brent Peterkin, the entire Gather Staff, & the Board of Directors.
