Members of the group 'Stop the Violence' hope a new project in southeast Bakersfield will bring change and growth to the community.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday at the community garden on the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Virginia Avenue. The hope is the garden will turn out more than just food.
It may not look like much now, but families are invited to choose a planter box, where they'll be able to plant seeds and grow produce to sell to local grocers and restaurants. Organizers hope the 7,400 square foot garden will form new and positive relationships in the community.
"It's something to keep the family together. Hopefully, get young people involved and keep them out of gang violence," said Pastor Josephate Jordan, Co-founder of Stop the Violence.
Those behind the project add, it's really about creating opportunities in an often forgotten area.
The hope is 'Stop the Violence' will be able to hand the project entirely over to the community so volunteers can move onto other areas in need.
