Building Roots enables people to create socially cohesive communities.
We envision vibrant, resilient neighbourhoods.
Starting in 2013 as a progressive grassroots social venture, Building Roots was initially founded in response to a lack of fresh food access and agricultural growing space across Toronto.
While developing innovative solutions in some of the city’s lowest income neighbourhoods, we quickly learned that inadequate food systems are a by-product of greater issues in these communities: poverty, social isolation and inadequate attention by the City.
Shifting our focus accordingly, we began to build resources for social cohesion and co-create targeted interventions with communities. In 2019, after many successful “firsts”, featured on CBC, CTV, Globe and Mail and the National Post, we launched our charity, the Growing Neighbourhoods Foundation to expand this work.
We maintain a streamlined team, using an asset-based community development approach, creating impact that punches beyond our weight. Our team creates successful partnerships with public agencies, groups and businesses while fostering resident leadership, job creation and volunteerism.
