SpringForward Delivers: Always Local, Always Fresh

Just in time for the holidays, we are participating in a project that brings fresh, healthy food from our urban farm to residents of East Baltimore.

Our SpringForward™ team has started making deliveries of locally grown lettuce, kale and mustard greens to corner stores. This month’s first delivery went to Potomac Mini Mart at 101 S Potomac St.

We are working with Dr. Joel Gittelsohn’s research team from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which has developed the Baltimore Urban Food Distribution (BUD) app to connect local farmers with corner stores.

"I've had the pleasure of learning about PHILLIPS over the years and I'm thrilled at the potential of this new partnership to improve healthy food access for some of Baltimore’s most vulnerable residents,” said Maryland Delegate Brooke Lierman (District 46), “By using the power of collective purchasing and delivery, BUDapp has the promise to affordably move foods from local producers, such as the SpringForward’s hydroponic farm, to our city’s corner stores where many of my constituents and many City residents access much of their food. This is a win-win-win.” 

We created SpringForward™ as a social enterprise to break down barriers to employment for adults with emotional and behavioral health needs. Besides providing tailored career opportunities in the fast-growing field of indoor agriculture, we are addressing the urgent need to improve access to fresh, nutritious produce in High Food Priority areas.

SpringForward™ operates a pesticide-free, hydroponic indoor farm. In addition to the lettuce, mustard greens, and red Russian kale being delivered to the corner stores, the farm can produce arugula, a variety of culinary herbs such as basil, dill, thyme and cilantro, and more than 30 varieties of microgreens from pea shoots to carrots and radishes. 

NOVEC Funds 3D Internship

Thanks to the generosity of Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC), we are creating a postsecondary fellowship in 3D design and printing.

NOVEC’s support makes it possible for 2019 PHILLIPS graduate Henry to accelerate his career in the fast-growing field of digital design and additive manufacturing.

Henry was part of our first 3D design and printing class at the Annandale campus in 2016. The staff recognized his potential and encouraged him during his years at PHILLIPS to pursue his dream of becoming a “tech guru.” This summer, he worked as our first 3D Technician Apprentice, assisting Designing Futures Program Manager Sam Son and instructor Tom Meeks at our 3D Lab in Fairfax. Henry’s hard work and progress has greatly boosted his confidence and independence.  

The NOVEC Fellowship gives Henry the opportunity to continue his progress by earning a nationally recognized certification in additive manufacturing, as well as gaining authentic work experience designing, printing, scanning, and fulfilling orders.

We want to introduce more young people like Henry to digital design and fabrication. Our next round of Community Classes begins in January. Weekly sessions will take place at our Fairfax campus every Saturday starting January 29. CLICK HERE for details and registration information.

Giving Is a PHILLIPS Value

We try to teach our students about the importance of giving back, so it’s wonderful to know one of them has taken that lesson to heart and carried it with them into adulthood. Jasmine, who has founded a nonprofit to support people in need, recently returned to our Laurel campus with a colleague to deliver donations for families.

Thank you, Jasmine!

Annual Campaign Supporters

As of December 20, 2021

Mary Ajetunmobi
Bisi Akinkugbe
James Alder
Carmen Alvaredo
Anonymous
Martha Ayer & Ron Diase
Mary Barkley
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Bartlett
Benjamin Bialek
Leslie A Brents
Joseph Samuel Burke
Maratea Cantarella
Marcia Cantarella
Piper Phillips Caswell
Beth Chapman
William & Gloria Cherkasky
Dwayne Cherry
Mike Condro
Leslie Dublinske
Mike Dugan
Fran Ellers
Kathe Falzer
Joseph Fiscus
Christine & Mark Fowler
Sherri Franklin
Karen Gahm
Raymond L Gazelle Jr
Frank Genco
Derrick & Sandra Grimes
Nicole L Harrison
Christopher Heffelfinger
Scott & Juliet Heimberg
Ron & Miriam Heyer Foundation
Andrew William Hosier
Pablo Izquierdo
Elena James
Francis Kargbo
Diane Katz
Eric & Julie L Kiesel
Bill & Carol Weld King
Krishnan Family Charitable Foundation
Randy & Aphy Lennon
Scott Levin
Marbeth Ingle Levy

Tiffany Lewis
Erik Linn
Stephen Masten
Thomas & Esther McCullogh
Margaret McGonigal
Julius Miller
Brenda Harvey Moore
Fi Moore
George Napier
Kathleen M. O'Leary
Steve & Margie Osheroff
Chris & Sally Birkhead Parkhurst
Linda Perls
David Perry
Chuck Phillips
Betsy Phipps
Susan Pintchovsky
Kurt & Lynn Pritchard
Jo Ann Quinn
Lynn Radin
Rich & Jacci Schnidman
Anne Slonim Rafal
Jerry & Kathy Rafal
Robert Rexrode
Jeff Ross
Andie Rowe
Robert Salerno
Sonja Shockey
Joy Sibley
Carol M Skiba
Amy Slonim
Terri Stagi
Mark Stoler
Julie Germain Thomson
Christopher Ulrich
Robert Weiner
Sharon K. Weiss
Patrik & Pearson S. Widrig
Ellen Willis
Gina Yoder
Kelly Young
Lisa Zaborowski
James R Zapf
Mark Zerman

Youth Face Dual Crisis

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for a swift and coordinated response to the nation’s youth mental health crisis, which has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. He has issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory that explains “how we can all work together to step up for our children during this dual crisis."

“Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide — and rates have increased over the past decade,” said Dr. Murthy. “The COVID-19 pandemic further altered their experiences at home, school, and in the community, and the effect on their mental health has been devastating. The future wellbeing of our country depends on how we support and invest in the next generation.”

Mental health challenges were the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes for young people in America long before COVID, according to the advisory. From 2009 to 2019, the share of high school students who reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness increased by 40 percent, to more than one in three students. Suicidal behaviors among high school students also increased during the decade.

The pandemic disrupted in-person schooling, social activities, access to health care and social services, food and housing. Those most severely affected are the ones who were vulnerable to begin with, such as youth with disabilities. 

The Surgeon General’s advisory recommends steps that individuals, families, community organizations, technology companies, governments, and others can take to improve the mental health of children, adolescents and young adults.

You can read a summary here and read the full report here.

PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families
7010 Braddock Rd | Annandale, Virginia 22003
703-941-8810 | piper.phillips@phillipsprograms.org

PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families is a private, non-profit organization serving the complex needs of children and youth living with cognitive, emotional and/or behavioral challenges in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. Through excellence in specialized education, community programs and individualized support services, we provide our children and families every advantage to ensure they develop to achieve their greatest individual success. Their potential is our commitment.