A Day to Remember: Honoring Our Speakers, Storytellers, and Community
The 20th Anniversary Celebration began with afternoon site visits and farm tours, and continued into the evening with live jazz, delicious food, and dancing.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who:
- Donated to support Urban Tilth’s future
- Joined us at the North Richmond Farm to celebrate
- Volunteered their time, care, and creativity to make the day possible
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who shared their voices and stories at the 20th Anniversary Celebration.
The afternoon began with a warm and inspiring welcome from Chito Floriano, Urban Tilth’s Director of Farm and Garden, whose words set the tone for a day filled with pride, gratitude, and community spirit.
Later in the evening, Executive Director Doria Robinson offered a moving reflection on Urban Tilth’s 20-year journey. She spoke about the people, partnerships, and perseverance that have shaped our work, and honored Park Guthrie, Urban Tilth’s founder, whose early vision helped plant the seeds of transformation that continue to grow today.
Adele Ho, Urban Tilth’s Farm Construction Manager, shared an update on the North Richmond Farm Project, offering a clear picture of the progress and possibilities ahead. She talked about the design, the labor, and the collaboration that have gone into creating a space for food, learning, and community connection.We are deeply grateful to the North Richmond Storytellers Project, whose “Walk Through History” brought stories of place and memory to the stage, showing how community care has sustained Richmond across generations. This oral history project will be a key feature of the History Walk, the main pathway through the farm, where visitors will be able to experience these stories once construction is complete. Watch the full video here.
We closed that portion of the evening with a special tribute to Rudy Lozito, a long-time mentor and beloved figure in our community. The tribute included a short film led by Daniela Tabora, who runs the Rudy Lozito Fellowship. The video shared voices from those Rudy inspired and highlighted the fellowship work that carries his spirit forward. Watch the full video here.
Each story shared on stage and around the farm reflected what Urban Tilth stands for:
a community that grows stronger together through shared purpose and love for this land.
Click here to view photos from the event.
Gratitude for All Who Made Urban Tilth’s Success Possible
As we celebrated this milestone, we extended our deepest gratitude to Urban Tilth’s incredible staff, dedicated board members, and generous donors, past and present, who made these 20 years possible.
Your unwavering commitment, hard work, and belief in our mission were the backbone of every garden planted, every young leader nurtured, and every community gathering held on this land.
To our staff, who showed up every day with heart, knowledge, and grit. Thank you for turning vision into reality and cultivating not just crops, but care and community.
To our board members, who guided Urban Tilth through growth and transformation. Thank you for your leadership and the countless hours spent behind the scenes helping us stay rooted and resilient.
And to our donors, whose gifts, large and small, powered our programs, supported our team, and helped grow a healthier, more just Richmond. Thank you for your trust and your investment in our shared future.
This celebration, and every harvest before it and after it, belongs to you, too.
Thank You to Our Incredible Volunteers
As we celebrate 20 years of growth, we want to take a moment to thank every volunteer who has given their time, care, and energy to Urban Tilth. You are at the heart of everything we do. Because of you, our gardens, farms, and public spaces have become thriving, welcoming places for our community to gather, learn, and grow together.
This year, we were honored to recognize a few outstanding volunteers with a special certificate of appreciation:
- Phyllis Howard
- Emily Hansen
- Liam Africa
- Steve Kurzman
- Michelle Fahlsing
- Nora Ponce
- Karina Saucedo
- Yenny Garcia
- Rei Scampavia
- Martha White
Each of you has helped cultivate not just the soil, but the spirit of community, resilience, and hope that defines Urban Tilth. Your care reminds us that tending to the land is also a way of tending to one another.
Thank you to every volunteer who shows up with open hands and hearts. Your time, energy, and care help us grow not just food, but a stronger, more connected Richmond. None of this would be possible without you.
The Community Speaks: Ideas for the Farm’s Next Chapter
During the celebration, artist Silent James helped bring the community’s ideas to life. Participants shared their hopes and suggestions for the future of the North Richmond Farm on sticky notes, and James transformed them into a vibrant, illustrated visual map on a large board.
One of the highlights of the day was a young girl featured in the image of the board. She took it upon herself to become the best community organizer of the day, guiding visitors to the vision board section with a handmade sign and making sure everyone had the chance to contribute. Her initiative and energy were a huge help and a perfect example of the community spirit that makes Urban Tilth thrive.
Through James’ drawings and illustrations, the board captured the collective imagination of the community, showing what people want to see grow at Urban Tilth over the next 20 years. From new garden projects to community programs, the artwork created a colorful, inspiring snapshot of our shared vision for the farm’s future.
Looking Ahead
For 20 years, Urban Tilth has grown strong roots in the Richmond community. Together, we will continue nurturing the next generation of leaders, expanding access to healthy food, and strengthening the resilience of our city. Thank you for being an essential part of our story and our future.
With the 20th Anniversary Celebration behind us, we are excited to turn our focus toward the next chapter. The completion of our last 10-year plan marks a milestone as we begin preparing for Urban Tilth’s 2026–2035 strategic plan. Over the next year, staff, volunteers, community members, and stakeholders will work together to explore opportunities for growth, identify ways to strengthen ongoing work, and develop new projects that meet the evolving needs of our community. We look forward to sharing the completed plan and shaping the next decade of Urban Tilth together.
Keep an eye on your inbox for future opportunities to give your input on the future of Urban Tilth.
We’ve raised $19,566 so far, your contribution can push us to 20K!
Thanks to your generosity, we came within reach of our $20,000 goal to support Urban Tilth’s next 20 years of growing healthy food, youth leadership, and community resilience in Richmond. If you weren’t able to join us, please consider contributing or sharing our donation page below to help us raise the remaining $484 and reach our full goal.
Every donation matters and honors the seeds we’ve planted and the harvest we’ve shared. $20, $50, $100 donations make all the difference.