“Thank you Berry Good Food Foundation for awarding me the Local Food Leader Award. I have worked with the BGFF for only a short period of time, but I can’t express enough the standards they set for collaboration and partnerships for any work on local food sovereignty. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the amazing #growingafoodmovement stewards at Berry Good Food Foundation for recognizing the efforts of Ocean View Growing Grounds (OVGG) Learning Hub in promoting urban agroecological gardening models and supporting local food sovereignty. Ocean View Growing Grounds’ journey towards food sovereignty has been a collective effort, made possible by the dedication and collaboration of many individuals and organizations in San Diego who share our vision. 

I would like to dedicate this award to all those who have supported and believed in our mission. From the volunteers who have tirelessly tended to our gardens to the community members who have embraced locally grown produce, this award belongs to each and every one of you. I want to personally give a shout out to Fanny, Scott, Omar, Lily, and the Global ARC team for getting OVGG to where it is today.

Let us continue to work together towards a future where sustainable, locally sourced food is not just a choice, but a fundamental right for all. Thank you Berry Good Food Foundation once again for this incredible honor.”

- Thi Vo, Environmental Justice Learning Hub Manager