This article is part of a series highlighting the partnership agencies in Northeast Kansas City.
Country Club Christian Church has partnerships with many fine organizations in Northeast Kansas City, but only one of them has its own aquaponics fish farm, The Urban Farming Guys (UFG).
Ten years ago a group of folks with varied backgrounds made a commitment to one of the most impoverished areas of the Northeast with a promise to create sustainable positive change, not just as allies but as residents of the neighborhood, establishing UFG. They moved into the Lykins neighborhood, on 12th Street east of Prospect Ave., ultimately establishing a campus featuring farm lots, cottage businesses, a makerspace, co-working space, greenhouses, solar arrays, a tool library, aquaponics, community gardens, classes and programs.
UFG’s mission is to help disadvantaged communities rebuild from within, building local economy, capacity, and resiliency while sharing what they’ve learned globally through open source do-it-yourself videos on their web site and trips abroad to share their projects. UFG’s unique approach, a combination of hard work, true partnership, creativity and resourcefulness, has helped contribute to a 20 percent reduction in crime in the Lykins neighborhood compared with 10 years ago.
Country Club Christian Church has been working with UFG for a number of years, both through regular hands on service opportunities for children, youth and families and through Grace at Work, and through grants supporting projects that helped UFG expand its reach and project base. If you would like to get involved with The Urban Farming Guys, contact Corey Meyer at [email protected].
The Urban Farming Guys share all kinds of interesting content and videos on their website. Check it out!
