Create the nation’s largest and Atlanta’s first publicly owned Food Forest to deliver environmental, economic, and social justice outcomes for the local community.

Lessons learned about tools and tactics through the project that other sustainability directors could use to advance their work. 

The most effective step to building relationships is effective management of expectations and communication, and taking the time to discuss shared goals and identify what is most valuable to that all partners. Once priorities are identified by community-based partners, frequent communication will help prevent more mistakes as the team had to contend with significant pandemic-related setbacks.  

Lessons for developing a collaborative process between a local government sustainability director and local place-based foundation(s). 

Regular check-ins/communication among all partners is critical to a successful collaboration. The partners in this project hold a virtual, bi-weekly status meeting to review progress and plans.