United Academics is the union of full- and part-time faculty at University of Vermont, with over 700 members from departments and colleges across the campus. We are a member-led union committed to academic freedom, high quality research and education, shared governance, and social and environmental justice.
What We Stand For
We believe that UVM makes a unique contribution to Vermont's system of public higher education and is crucial to Vermont's future.
We seek the best possible environment for teaching, learning and research, and believe that a diverse community of scholars is best served by equal treatment, academic freedom, shared governance, social justice and environmental sustainability.
We seek fair employment practices for our members through the collective bargaining process.
We advocate for the rights of the faculty, and, with others, for the rights of UVM employees, students and community members.
We are committed to the betterment of the University of Vermont, the state of Vermont and our communities local, national and global.
“A happy and healthy community is not a fairytale. All you need is a seed.”
— NADIA Shabazz, FOUNDER
Shabazz had to extend the garden to her front lawn but even then, it wasn’t enough to feed all who wanted to be involved. With neighbors January Blum and Lucas Dupont, Shabazz found a large vacant lot on Main Street and secured it as a farming cooperative. Word about Project Sprout spread throughout Kent County, so the team was invited to help start other community gardens.
Our Mission
Kent County is one of the most severely underserved communities in Tennessee. To combat this adversity, Project Sprout seeks to nourish our neighbors at the most fundamental level with healthy food options and a strong support network. All members get a portion of each harvest and surpluses are donated to low-income families whose work schedules prevent them from volunteering.
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With ten gardens and counting, Project Sprout has seen a significant improvement in mental and physical health for all participating community members. Other than lowering obesity, blood pressure, and depression rates, the crime rate has also fallen. Our children are doing better in school, reporting higher grades and aspirations, and better job prospects.
Get Involved
If you live near one of our gardens, get involved to receive portions of each harvest. We accept volunteers regardless of skill level. There is a rotation in roles, but we’ll teach you all the skills you need to know. Teenagers 14 years and older can earn community service credits for school in addition to getting produce for their families. Donations are also vital to our growth, as we use them for seed, fertilizer, tools, and outreach.