This week's guest has built a legacy of transforming the lives of young people through farming and leadership. For 14 years, Max Elliott served as the Executive Director of Urban Roots, a farm-based youth leadership organization in Austin, Texas.

Created out of its parent organization YouthLaunch, Urban Roots launched with just 15 teenagers and one field in 2008.  On their 3.5 (three and a half) acre farm, Urban Roots serves teens and young adults through paid internships that not only focus on farming, but also on their growth as leaders and good citizens. Urban Roots has an exponential impact that transforms the lives of young people while providing over 35,000 pounds of produce for the community, donating 40% to local soup kitchens and food pantries, and educating thousands of youth and community members about food, farming, and healthy lifestyles.

In this episode, Max shares how a Buddhism class led him to practice and commit to a healthier lifestyle. Max and I also talk about balancing purpose and profit, the impact of COVID-19 on their programming, as well as the triumphs and challenges of his journey at the intersection of farming and youth empowerment.

To learn more about Urban Roots, visit urbanrootsatx.org

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