Join Us as a Changemaker
Learn how you can support programs like Full Lives and other innovative solutions.
Full Lives
Innovating to Build Food Equity
Supporting local entrepreneurs, developing community resources and collectively building a local food system can solve neighborhood food insecurity in a sustainable way.
Nourish Neighborhoods, Grow Communities
In the greater Twin Cities, entire neighborhoods lack access to healthy, affordable food. The effects of these food injustices extend beyond households to a community’s educational, economic and health outcomes. By investing in proven initiatives that address hunger on a neighborhood level, we can get to the heart of the challenges and transform outcomes alongside whole communities.
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“Without this program, some of us would never meet or connect — it teaches our community to come together and make things like the garden happen.” -
“The greatest strength of the Full Lives grant program lies in its ability to gather together — and fund — a group of smaller nonprofits and unite them toward a common goal.”
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1 in 8
Greater Twin Cities residents are food insecure. -
1 in 3
Minnesotans have low retail access to healthy food. -
4x
The rate at which Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and Other People of Color are more likely to experience poverty.
The Role of Full Lives
Part food security innovation and part economic incubator, Full Lives is a place-based community grantmaking program that strives to not only increase access to healthy food but also increase revenue, create jobs and further nutritional knowledge in communities throughout the Greater Twin Cities. Together with nonprofit leaders, we work to promote local agriculture, support entrepreneurs, foster new food businesses and farmers’ markets, and improve food access in neighborhoods of low-income and Communities of Color.
Our Impact to Date
136
personal gardens
12+
acres of fruit and vegetable gardens
639
residents learned how to cook
14
new food sector businesses
278
jobs created
$3.5MM
in revenue
Food Security Stories and Resources
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"We’re grateful for Greater Twin Cities United Way’s support during the pandemic, which has allowed us to respond to the families we serve with resources and care. "
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"Without this program, some of us would never meet or connect. It teaches our community to come together and make things like the garden happen. "
How We Innovate
Full Lives is just one part of the work Greater Twin Cities United Way does to develop innovative solutions to the challenges our communities face.
Find out how we play the role of innovator throughout our work.
