“We’d hope people would get a healthier lifestyle if it was right in town within walking distance. If we made it cheaper than all the snack foods, more people would come around to it.”
In This Episode
In this episode of The Forgottonia Project, host Joe Brewer sits down with Grace Yaste and Natalie English, two students at Cuba High School and winning entry creators in our first-ever Unforgettable Forgottonians: Youth Civic Pitch Challenge. Their award-winning proposal, Harvest Homes, tackles food access, public health, and small-town revitalization all at once by reimagining Cuba’s abandoned former hospital as a community nursery and fresh produce market. Tune in to hear how rural students are confronting the irony of living in agricultural heartlands while lacking access to fresh food, and how repurposed historic spaces can spark healthier futures.
Key Points
- The Rural Fresh Food Paradox: Confronting the reality that living in agricultural, rural regions often comes with severe fresh food deficits due to distance and high travel costs.
- Repurposing Abandoned Community Assets: Proposing creative reuse for historic landmarks—such as Cuba’s former city hospital—to solve modern community needs rather than letting them deteriorate into eyesores.
- Building Civic Alliances & Student Momentum: Recognizing that turning big ideas into reality requires raising awareness, securing adult partnerships, and mobilizing youth voices across the community.
Additional Questions for Discussion
- What unused or abandoned buildings exist in your town that could be creatively repurposed to serve a urgent community need?
- How can rural towns bridge the gap between surrounded agricultural production and the everyday food choices available on local shelves?
- What strategies can young leaders use to pitch their ideas effectively to town councils, local business leaders, and potential adult allies?
Resources
Unforgettable Forgottonians Youth Civic Pitch Showcase Padlet Board
The Forgottonia Project 