Our Work
Four Examples:
MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL FARM FEASIBILITY STUDY
Terra Soma designed and conducted a multi-method feasibility study to guide a large urban school district’s approach to developing a districtwide educational resource. Building a team of 9 experts (including community engagement, farming, soil science, curriculum development, evaluation, survey research, communications, evaluation, food systems development, landscape architecture, architecture, construction estimation, and project management, we completed a thorough, creative, and compelling vision and plan to shape the district’s approach to this important effort. (Client: Minneapolis Public Schools)
edgewater | colorado traffic calming mobility plan
Teaming with our client, Terra Soma co-led facilitation of neighborhood walking audits and design workshops with the City of Edgewater to inform and co-create with the community a traffic calming mobility plan. Terra Soma led the design and development of the plan. The process has resulted in the City of Edgewater committing funds to the implementation of the plan and receiving a grant from the Denver Regional Council of Governments for a pop-up demonstration project. (Client: Blue Zones, LLC)
food access planning guide
Terra Soma developed the Food Access Planning Guide, a companion guide to the Minnesota Food Charter, to give planners food-systems specific language to use in their work. To develop this resource, Terra Soma worked with the client to select and facilitate a cross-sector, diverse leadership team to contribute guidance, conceptual direction, and policy priorities. For another two years, Terra Soma organized with community food advocates and local governments across the state to integrate food access concepts into community planning efforts. In the Twin Cities metropolitan area, where every city, county, and township is required to update comprehensive plans every 10 years, the sustained, strategic initiative resulted in thirty-seven cities including food access planning language for the first time in their comprehensive plans. This effort also fostered lasting partnerships among city and county planners, regional planning groups, the Minnesota chapter of the American Planning Association, the Public Health Law Center, and the Minnesota Department of Health to support the ongoing implementation of these plans over the next 10 years. (Client: Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota)
National Community food systems development program
Strengthening community food security through grantmaking and capacity building is an important way to improve access to healthy food in limited resource communities.Minneapolis, Buffalo (NY), and Toronto participate in this innovative nationwide community funding initiative, designed and supported by Greater Twin Cities United Way and the General Mills Foundation. Terra Soma provides capacity building and technical assistance to grantees and funding agencies across these three cities, drafts and designs numerous reports, and provides strategic support to share research findings with key audiences.