City Blossoms Inc

“PART III, LINES 4(a) - 4(e): DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES CITY BLOSSOMS, INC. (CBI OR THE ORGANIZATION) IS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN 2008. CBIS MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE THE WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITIES THROUGH CREATIVE KID-DRIVEN GARDENS. APPLYING THEIR UNIQUE BRAND OF GARDENS, SCIENCE, ART, HEALTHY LIVING, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING, WE BLOSSOM IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE KIDS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES. OUR PATHWAYS MODEL IS COMPOSED OF SIX PROGRAMS THAT TAKE PLACE IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED LOCATIONS DURING IN-SCHOOL, AFTER-SCHOOL, AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME. TOGETHER, OUR PROGRAMS CREATE A PATHWAY OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT WITH NATURE AND GARDEN-BASED LEARNING THAT BEGINS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AND CONTINUES THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO EARLY CAREER. IN 2024, THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORTED 30 ACTIVE GARDEN PARTNERSHIPS AND IMPACTED 6,126 CHILDREN AND YOUTH. EARLY GROWERS WE USE OUR BILINGUAL EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM, OUR FIRST HARVEST/NUESTRA PRIMERA COSECHA, TO WORK WITH CHILDREN AGES TWO TO SIX. WE PARTNER WITH EDUCATORS TO DESIGN AGE-APPROPRIATE GARDENS AND PROGRAMMING TO HELP PARTICIPANTS MAKE THEIR FIRST CONNECTIONS TO NATURE AND FOOD. SCHOOL GARDEN PARTNERS WE WORK WITH COORDINATED GROUPS OF ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS TO DESIGN AND INCORPORATE GARDENS INTO THEIR PROGRAMMING OVER MULTIPLE YEARS. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, EDUCATORS CAN ACCESS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COACHING SESSIONS TO SUPPORT GARDEN-BASED TEACHING AND LEARNING. YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP COOPERATIVE USING THE COOPERATIVE BUSINESS MODEL, PARTICIPANTS COMBINE ELEMENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD JUSTICE WITH JOB READINESS SKILLS. PARTICIPANTS MAINTAIN GARDEN SPACES, MAKE VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS, AND SELL THOSE PRODUCTS AND PRODUCE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH SEASONAL CSAS AND FARMERS MARKETS. COMMUNITY GREEN SPACES WE PROVIDE INTERACTIVE, COMMUNAL, AND CHILDREN-FOCUSED GARDENS THAT TRANSFORM UNUSED OR UNDER-USED LAND INTO GREEN SPACES WHERE YOUTH AND ADULTS CAN INTERACT WITH THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVITY. PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT CLIMATE RESILIENCY, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ECOLOGY, URBAN AGRICULTURE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD, WATER CONSERVATION, AND COMPOSTING TECHNIQUES, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION OF PUBLIC ART. RESOURCES AND TRAININGS WE SUPPORT EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY PROVIDING TRAININGS WITH A LENS OF CULTURAL CONNECTIVITY AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO PRODUCE FREE, SHARABLE RESOURCES SUCH AS OUR BILINGUAL COOKBOOK, GARDEN GASTRONOMY/GASTRONOMA DEL JARDN. FELLOWSHIP THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, PART-TIME FELLOWS WORK WITH CITY BLOSSOMS FOR EIGHT MONTHS. DURING EACH FELLOWSHIP, YOUNG FOLKS DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF A PROJECT WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION FROM PLANNING TO IMPLEMENTATION. 2024 PROGRAM IMPACT THE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN, COMMUNITY, AND PLANET HAS NEVER BEEN CLEARER. CITY BLOSSOMS REMAINS COMMITTED TO OUR CRITICAL WORK TO MAKE THE DISTRICT A GREENER AND MORE EQUITABLE CITY. IN 2024, 6,126 CHILDREN AND YOUTH HAD ACCESS TO SAFE, CREATIVE GREEN SPACES ACROSS 30 ACTIVE PARTNER SITES IN WASHINGTON, DC. KEEP READING TO LEARN HOW WE ARE CONTINUING TO AMPLIFY YOUTH VOICES, MAKE NATURE MORE ACCESSIBLE, AND DISTRIBUTE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTNER SCHOOLS. SAFE, INCLUSIVE, OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING: CITY BLOSSOMS COMMUNITY GREEN SPACES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO NATURE, OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAFE COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, AND HOLISTIC PROGRAMMING. IN 2024, WE LAUNCHED OUR FIFTH COMMUNITY GREEN SPACE, THE FARM AT FORT STANTONS YOUTH GARDEN. THIS SITE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DREAMING OUT LOUD AND DC PARKS AND RECREATION. - 1,882 YOUTH AND ADULTS ACCESSED PROGRAMMING AT OUR COMMUNITY GREEN SPACES. - 264 HOURS OF FREE AND AFFORDABLE DIRECT PROGRAMMING AT FIVE COMMUNITY GREEN SPACES. - 129 EVENTS, INCLUDING WEEKLY PROG”

“The form 990 will be reviewed by the executive director, board treasurer, and the board finance committee before it is signed by the executive director and filed with the irs.”

“The executive director and the board chair make sure all the of the board of directors sign a conflict of interest statement annually at the annual board retreat. In addition, any principal officer, member of a committee with board deligated powers, or staff member with significant decision making authority is also required to sign the conflict of interest statement on an annual basis. The executive director monitors compliance with this policy.”

“Community green spaces: see schedule o. 434978. 0. 152300.”

“Program consultants 116415. 116415. 0. 0.”

“Professional fees 14021. 7257. 696. 6068.”

“Other consultants 1276. 0. 286. 990.”