Kickstarter

ABOUT US: Detroit Youth Food Brigade (DYFB) is a collaboration between local high school students, food-based business, and neighborhood markets to promote food justice and build the local food economy in Detroit. This summer, 20 motivated students recruited through an application process will be trained and paired with 10 committed food-based businesses to learn their ins and outs and sell their products in 10 neighborhood markets around the city. 

And the students get paid! Participating students receive a $580 summer stipend in addition to 60 hours of rigorous training in food production, business development, sales, marketing, financial literacy, customer service, and general work ethic.

WHY SUPPORT THE FOOD BRIGADE? It's a win for everyone!

Students gain hands-on skills and expertise in entrepreneurship and business management, marketing and sales, cooking and nutrition, sourcing, and logistics. Local food businesses gain additional product outlets, a brand boost, and valuable staff support. Neighborhood markets gain increased support and product diversity, greater economic impact, and improved food security in their surrounding areas.

WE NEED YOU!: We received a generous $30,000 grant in support for our program, but we need another $12,000 to purchase a truck along with the necessary equipment and supplies (tables, chairs, tents, coolers, displays) to make this program a true success. The more money we raise through Kickstarter, the more students we can hire, the more interactive training we can offer, the more food-based businesses we can include in the program, the more neighborhood markets we can support, and the longer we can extend the program. We ultimately hope to extend the program into the school year and provide Detroit high school students with year-round employment!

THERE'S MORE?!: Not only does this program have fantastic current impact potential, it's also financially sustainable! We need funding to get off the ground, but each market stand will generate income for the program. All income will be invested back into the program so that we can continue expanding to more students, more businesses, and more markets. This is just the beginning of a youth-led campaign for city-wide food security and a flourishing local food economy in Detroit.

HOW DOES KICKSTARTER WORK?: You can select your rewards and level of donation today, but your credit card won't actually be billed until July 2nd at 11:59pm, when the campaign ends. And you only get billed if we reach our funding goal. On the flip side, we only get paid if we reach our funding goal, so we need your support!