The Genesis Project

The Genesis Project, the community and economic development work of A Just Harvest, seeks to create meaningful opportunities for the community.

The Genesis Project is working in five areas:

Anthony Boatman, director of The Genesis Project, stands in front of A Just Harvest's first aquaponics tank designed to raise tilapia, herbs and vegetables.

Creating an Aquaponics Social Enterprise that will place 5-7 North of Howard young adults into a two year rotating apprenticeship that will give them the skills and experience needed to enter the growing market of urban agriculture.

Just BITES (Business Incubators that Encourage Sustainability) mentors community members who want to start a small baking or catering business and gives them access to our licensed, industrial kitchen in which to prepare and then sell their food.

Developing a Micro-lending Program which has been established to provide access to credit to people traditionally underserved by credit markets, enhance their fiscal responsibility and help them avoid predatory lending services.

Further strengthening our Community-Based Learning Partnerships which currently include students from DePaul University, Loyola University, Chicago Theological Seminary and the University of Chicago.  Students are engaged in community organizing, creating safe and sacred space for patrons and the wider community and providing an array of volunteer services.

Developing a Food Justice Task Force which will work to address issues of access to healthy foods, engage in local and regional food policy efforts and organize to close the ever increasing food gap.