ideas for initial cities, based on a myriad of reasons: resource availability, existing organizations, and interest that this project has already gained: 

• Burlington, VT
• Boston, MA
• New York, NY
• Washington, DC
• Raleigh, NC 
 
• Detroit, MI
• Milwaukee, WI
• Chicago, IL
• Denver, CO
• Albuquerque, NM

• Salt Lake City, UT

• Las Vegas, NV

• San Francisco, CA
• Portland, OR

• Seattle, WA 

In a culture that shuns “difference,” the queer voice is often left silenced. So much so, that many youth are opting to take their own lives to escape the intolerance they experience on a daily basis. Recent headlines prove this: “Our queer children are killing themselves,” (San Francisco Bay Guardian, 9/29/2010);  “Family mourns death of bullied, gay CA teen,” (ABC7.com, 10/2/2010); and many other similar stories have been published. 

In an attempt to reach out to queer youth who feel as if life doesn’t get any better, author Dan Savage launched the It Gets Better Project, aimed at sharing inspiring stories to those who feel isolated. However, many feel the same as internet blogger Zoe Melisa: "Telling our own stories from our incredibly privileged positions overwrites youth experience ... We should help folks feel seen--by trying our hardest to see them."  Indeed, local Seattle group Queer Youth Space recently wrote on Facebook: “..instead of just telling queer youth that it gets better, how about we change it now. Help us, queer youth, change our lives today.”

Which leads me to why I am starting this project. To me, food has the power to heal - not only ourselves, but the communities we live in - in all senses of the word. I am rooted in my belief that through building urban farms we can deconstruct multiple barriers that divide us -- sexual identity, gender, race, etc. That is why I believe that The 1212 Project is something worth fighting for.

12 farms. 12 cities. 12 months. And a new platform for empowering queer youth.

Are you in?

12... and growing.