Profile

Building Audacity (BA) is a Black-founded and led nonprofit organization based in Lynn, MA. BA envisions freedom and power for the most marginalized in society and empowers youth to lead the change they wish to see in their communities. Their work… Building Audacity (BA) is a Black-founded and led nonprofit organization based in Lynn, MA. BA envisions freedom and power for the most marginalized in society and empowers youth to lead the change they wish to see in their communities. Their work includes providing anti-Blackness training to educators, increasing access to infant care products for Black and brown birth givers to combat maternal and infant mortality, and more. At the root of BA's work is an understanding that communities know their problems best and thus their solutions best.
Lynn, Massachusetts is commonly known as a food desert as it is a low-income community ranked 8th in MA for most limited access to grocery stores (Massachusetts Public Health Association, 2020). However, the term food desert does not capture the oppressive and deliberate denial of access to essential foods employed in this community due to community members' identities. Lynn has food apartheid, limited access to vital foods due to systemic racism in urban planning denying the predominantly low-income, community of color easy access to essential, nutritious, affordable foods (National Resources Defense Council, 2021). In addition, the odds of having diabetes are almost twice as high among low-income adults who are food-insecure compared to low-income adults who are food-secure. Pregnant women who are food-insecure may also have a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes than pregnant women who are food-secure.
Food insecurity can force individuals to choose between purchasing food or paying for utilities, transportation, and even medicine (Feeding America, 2021). With limited grocery stores, many Lynn residents purchase cheaper foods at fast-food restaurants or gas stations that are often high in sugar, salt, and fat (Feeding America, 2021). Because of this, food-insecurity, and the limited food options it causes, has health consequences such as higher risk of chronic disease including heart disease and diabetes (Feeding America, 2021). The injustice of the Lynn food system causes many Lynn residents who are low-income and people of color to lack agency over their diets, health, and wellness. This has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which doubled food insecurity in MA (Boston Indicators, 2020). Building Audacity provides food delivery to residents throughout the Greater Boston community. To qualify for our services, families are no or low income, live in areas with poor access to public transportation, are led by seniors and have school aged children, and/or have family members who are differently abled.
We endeavor to speak to this need by continuing to operate our produce delivery project by growing and distributing hydroponically culturally aligned produce.
In partnership with Tufts University, Building Audacity will work with Ann Beha Architects and Adaptive Architectural firm to buildout a 6800 square foot Winn property in Lynn, MA and outfit a mobile pantry that will target produce distribution in low income communities. The project will include the creation of a 1100 square foot hydroponic center estimated to generate 50,000 lbs of culturally aligned produce. In addition, the space will be used to house Building Audacity, Jean Charles Academy. Jean Charles Academy (JCA) is a STEM focused school that offers instruction in a dual language environment.
The project has three major activities:
1: Growing Center
Using hydroponic farming, 1.4 sq ft of space can yield up to 50 lbs of produce. We will allocate 1,100 square feet hoping to yield 55,000 lbs of free produce 3-4 months after opening. Hydroponics grow produce faster than traditional gardens, use ten times less water, do not contribute to soil erosion, and are easier to have in urban areas like Lynn with limited space for traditional gardening (Pure Greens, 2019). To maximize space, the Hydroponic farm will grow via vertical shelves. René, our youth lead for the establishment of the urban farm, is a third-year student at Tufts University studying environmental engineering with a focus on race and justice. Passionate about health equity and environmental justice, René will work closely with Aja Atwood, CEO of Trella Technologies and expert in urban and indoor farming. At Trella, Aja is developing energy-efficient and globally-scalable solutions that make it possible and easier to grow a diversity of plants indoors and in small spaces.
Center Components
Hydroponics- 6 racks
Tufts University New Entry Sustainable Farming Project is a project partner. The partnership involves a signed MOU that allows us to use their hydroponic equipment and have access to two paid interns funding by Tufts. The New Entry mission is to improve our local and regional food systems by training the next generation of farmers to produce food that is sustainable, nutritious, and culturally-preferred and making this food accessible to individuals regardless of age, mobility, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. In doing this work, it provides critical training, career development, and economic opportunity to new farmers.
Aeroponics- 10 towers
An advanced form of hydroponics, aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment rather than soil. Aeroponic systems use water, liquid nutrients and a soilless growing medium to quickly and efficiently grow more colorful, tastier, better smelling and incredibly nutritious produce. Funding from New England Biolabs will be exclusively used for the purchase of 10 aeroponic towers.
2: Research
Research plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) with the goal of increasing the speed at which we grow produce to provide to food-insecure community members. PGPMs are traditionally found in the rhizosphere of soil and include bacteria that benefit plant growth and development and protect plants from disease and abiotic stressors (Genetics and Molecular Biology, 2015).
Also, the project will provide a source of earned revenue to fund our work. 25 percent of the produce will be sold to community organizations who offer cooking and nutrition courses and small local businesses.
3: Mobile Pantry
Fruit bearing plants and other center produce will be sold and displayed via a mobile pantry. The bus will have regularly scheduled stops in low income neighborhoods of Chelsea, Lynn, Revere, and East Boston. Members of the CSA will be able to get food boxes as part of their membership. All other produce will be for sale.
4. Retail Produce Distribution
Sale produce to restaurants and other institutions that need wholesale produce. This operation will generate funding needed to open retail stores.