55 Years, Countless Stories

Empowering the Future

This year, Urban Roots celebrates 55 years of growing health communities. Our roots run deep, anchored by the people who’ve nurtured this organization from its humble beginnings to today’s thriving programs.

Urban Roots, formerly Community Design Center of Minnesota, was incorporated in 1969 as a 501(c)3 to empower community residents to realize their goals for better health, wellbeing, and economic opportunity. Over the years, we have provided a range of community development services in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and southern Minnesota, including architecture, urban planning, economic development, and organizational development. We have operated our food and environmental programs on the East Side of Saint Paul since 1996, engaging thousands of youth in education, training, and work projects that provide service to the community, develop young leaders, and improve health and the environment.

Join the 55 Hive!
🐝 Donate $55 (or more!) in honor of our 55th anniversary
🐝 Set up a $55 monthly gift
🐝 Support us in 55 ways: dollars donated, friends told, social media posts shared, etc.

Your gift will help us continue empowering youth, growing and preparing healthy food, and stewarding green spaces. Thank you!