Sweet Potato Project

The Sweet Potato program at the West Fresno Family Resource Center is a prevention program that aims to prevent and/or reduce school drop-out, gang involvement, and substance use initiation for African American youth ages 12-15 by decreasing internalized oppression, hopelessness, and low collective efficacy, while increasing engagement in collective economic activity, college intentions, mentoring, and leadership development.


It is designed to address the Phase I African American strategic recommendations to focus PEI on community-based efforts specifically addressing African American culture and to address the

co-occurrence of mental health conditions and socioeconomic challenges.

2020 Sweet Potato Annual Report

PHASE 1:

April- Recruitment, parent and youth orientation


May-Sweet Potato Club begin where youth meet weekly to discuss life, school and

community issues. Youth also participate in life skills lessons, such as leadership,

self-esteem and team building to gain hope for the future.


June-Sweet Potato Club continue, Ag Education begins, youth plant sweet potatoes on 2 acres of land. Youth will begin research on Sweet Potato Product and food preparation training and visit sweet potato site every other Saturday.


July-Youth participate in entrepreneurial and business skills training taught by

California State University. Fresno professors from the Lyles School of Business and Ag Department. Youth will learn how to create a business plan and marketing plan for turning sweet potatoes into a product that can sold.


August- Youth will be divided into Teams and participate in “Pitch Day” at Fresno

  • State to highlight sweet potato product and business and marketing plan.

PHASE II:
September – Youth will harvest Sweet Potatoes. Youth will travel to Livingston, Ca

to participate in the annual Sweet Potato Festival and visit a local sweet potato farm.


October-November- Youth will use entrepreneurial and business skills training and through direct consumer interactions, internet advertising and sales, to take orders for Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Potato Product.


December-The program concludes at the end of winter and begins again with a new cohort of 35 participants in late spring.


2018 Project Poster 2019 Project Poster

Our Creed

Our Work In the Community

Media Links

Click the link below to learn more about the Sweet Potato Harvest on

ABC 30 Sweet Potato Harvest

fresnoland article about the Sweet Potato Project

Fresnoland News Article

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Sweet Potato Project II

For more information contact:

Patrick Hamilton

(559) 892-0264

or fill out the contact form below

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