11 Seeds of Change: How Community-Led, Community-Fed Initiatives Are Strengthening Local Food Sovereignty in 2026
In 2025,the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC) and Righting Relations (Edmonton Chapter), with generous support from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), were empowered to create a microgrant opportunity that led to investment in 10 local grassroots, mutual aid, and non-profit initiatives. These community-led approaches created meaningful impact and planted seeds to further strengthen food justice and dignity, cultural connection, and local community resilience and care.
JHC and Righting Relations Edmonton were absolutely thrilled when folks shared back about their projects in January 2026, which ranged from community gardens and youth-led land-based learning, to culturally-rooted cooking programs, food literacy and nutritious snack initiatives that engaged people of all ages, newcomers and refugees, ethnocultural communities, and individuals living in supportive housing. The message that emerged from these initiatives was heard loud and clear:
when communities are given resources and trusted, they are capable of shaping creative solutions that are relevant, dignified and sustainable.
Moved by the significant achievements and impact of these community-led approaches that thrived from these small but impactful microgrant investments, RBC generously extended funding to JHC and Righting Relations Edmonton to once again offer this opportunity to fund more meaningful food sovereignty projects in 2026! We are immensely grateful for their support.
After receiving 29 applications last year, we were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and sheer numbers of applicants that applied for the microgrants this year. Over 100 applications were received to consider. With only $15,000 in funding to disperse in total, we could only approve a limited number, which made this decision a challenge with so many innovative proposals. We wish to thank everyone who took the time to submit an application and the initiative to strengthen food sovereignty and food justice in the Edmonton region. It truly resonated with us that the issue of food security, urban growing, food literacy, dignity, and affordability are a high priority and community is wanting to step up to contribute in creating resilient and dignified solutions.
We want to extend our deepest thanks as well to the selection committee for their time, care, guidance and consideration as they reviewed each and every application that was received. In total, 11 projects have been selected, and will receive funding between $750-$1500 each. The 11 successful projects focus on enhancing food security and sovereignty by integrating community-driven urban agriculture with the preservation of cultural traditions, including Indigenous, and Afro-Caribbean food knowledge. These initiatives emphasize social connection and empowerment through hands-on education, offering workshops on sustainable gardening, food preservation, and nutritional food literacy and preparation skills tailored to diverse and marginalized communities.
We are excited to share this year’s microgrant recipients and their projects with you all, and encourage you to support and learn more about them:
Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous Food Bank: Culturally Rooted Food Security & Sovereignty Learning Hub - providing nutrition training and skills-based workshops grounded in Afro-Caribbean traditions.
Alberta Avenue Community League Community Garden: Growing Together - this initiative, which was also funded in 2025, will continue to strengthen their growing initiatives and infrastructure to provide fresh produce to food insecure individuals and will be hosting diverse skill-building and community workshops.
Black Graduate Students Association (BGSA - University of Alberta)
The Afro-Caribbean Campus Connection - distributing culturally essential foods through local food bank partnerships.Civida Housing Foundation: Together We Thrive Community Garden Initiative - creating shared and resident-led green spaces and raised beds at a housing complex to foster community connection and community inclusion.
CO*LAB, Quarters Arts Society, Re:Vita, and 4B Harm Reduction: Garden Club - a weekly drop-in program focused on connecting community through growing food, food literacy and creative community activities.
EcoPlate: Zero-Waste Kitchen Program - teaching food preservation and waste reduction techniques to underserved residents.
Josephburg: Roots of Equity Garden Network - submitted by local community members, the focus will be on expanding inclusive community garden plots and strengthening food literacy and connection in the rural community of Josephburg.
Mino Bimaadiziwin Collective: Mino Bimaadiziwin - Living the Good Life - will support participants to reclaim Indigenous food knowledge through foraging workshops, traditional cooking, creation of resources in Cree, and host community feasts.
Sinkunia Community Development Organization: Sinkunia Community Garden - another microgrant recipient from 2025, Sinkunia will continue to enhance their garden infrastructure and offer intergenerational learning of traditional African farming techniques.
Spirit of Hope United Church: Youth Empowered Together (YET) - a cooking and meal-sharing workshop designed for Queer youth and allies to build nutritional and culinary skills.
Turtle River Land Collective: Rooted in the Land - reconnecting Anishinaabe members with traditional land-based harvesting and Elder-led food preparation teachings.