Programs

For the past 11 years CUG has hosted GDYT interns consecutively on its site. The GDYT program provides summer jobs that train and employ young adults between the ages of 14 and 24 for up to 120 hours. Our youth interns are placed into one of three teams (research,sustainable food systems, media and development) to allow them to explore the different aspects the environmental field can have in their specific area of interest.

• Community-based citizen science and research can lead to empowered neighborhoods and improved community health. Environmental sensitivity, personal investment in issues concerning one's environment, and increased knowledge of and skill in using environmental action strategies can empower residents and lead to wide scale community-level change. Cadillac Urban Gardens takes a community-based approach to research to ensure information is used to improve the lives of Southwest Detroiters, our programs, and spread awareness of environmental issues occurring here in our Southwest Detroit community. 

• 2024 research partners include the University of Detroit Mercy's Gen-Bio lab, Michigan State Univerisity's Entomology BUG program, Bowling Green University's Urban Bee study, and CUG youth led research.

CUG is launching a new partnership in 2024 with MSU Extension to operate a MSU 4H and Jr. MANRRS club. 4H/Jr MANRRS programming is open to all youth between the ages of 5-19 where twice a month throughout the months of June-August MSU Extension will lead workshops focused around environmental stewardship for youth in the SW Detroit community.

What is 4-H?

Many people think 4-H is just for kids who live on farms or those interested in raising and selling animals -but that's not true! Offering a diverse range of topics and interest areas, 4-H is the largest youth development organization in Michigan. 4-H provides fun, educational opportunities that empower young people with skills to lead for a lifetime and become the foundation for future success through a variety of program areas ranging from STEM, agriculture, textiles, art and more!!

STEM Pathways Summer 4-H Club @ Cadillac Urban Gardens

Embark on a 6-week journey and explore careers in STEM and Agriculture fields. Participate in exciting hands-on activities, learn how to build a resume, and become a true leader in your community by making positive change. By the end of this program, you will have a better understanding of various career fields in the STEM and Ag industry and feel more confident in your post-secondary education choices. Examples of the activities you will be participating in may include, but is not limited to, water pollution, robotics, engineering, geology, agronomy, and much more!

Community is the foundation of every project we do. Cadillac Urban Gardens garden madrinas and padrinos are the foundation to which we build a system of equitable access and availability of culturally relevant food across Southwest Detroit. Our volunteer garden madrinas and padrinos are composed of individuals in the community from a variety of age ranges that act as our “godmothers or godfathers” of the gardens where they help educate, inform, and develop best practices and methods to ensure healthy crop development. Our madrinas and pardinos also serve as mentors to our garden leaders and community members who are interested in learning more about urban agriculture and how to promote community sustainability and retention to ensure the garden continues to reach not only its full potential but the residents who need it the most.

At Cadillac Urban Gardens we just don’t grow produce, we grow leaders. Cadillac Urban Gardens youth garden leaders are youth and young adults between the ages of 10-22 who volunteer their time to create and promote food sovereignty across Southwest Detroit. Through this youth are able to participate in the development and implementation of agricultural-based activities which in turn not only promotes place-based learning but will also provide residents with access to fresh fruits and vegetables through teaching youth and young adults where their food comes from, and how it is grown.

CUG partners with a variety of entities to support health and wellness based programming. Our partners in the past have consisted of SW Solutions, Henry Ford Generation of Health, and CHASS Center's La Vida Program. Our partners have focused on a variety of topics lead at Cadillac Urban Gardens such as

• • Horticultural therapy to aid in general mindfulness

  • Private volunteer sessions closed to the public for those who have experienced SA or IPV to volunteer within the garden to aid in community building and healing 

  • Health and wellness activities to aid youth in understanding and setting healthy boundaries  

CUG partners with the CHASS Mercado seasonally to provide access to free vegetables, seeds, and garden information to residents who attend the mercado located at CHASS Center. You can find CUG at CHASS beginning starting in June until the end of September.