GridgeFridge

Author: Morgridge Center for Public Service

Food for Thought with the Morgridge Center for Public Service The Morgridge Center connects University of Wisconsin-Madison students, staff and faculty to local and global communities to build partnerships and solve critical issues through service and learning. The Morgridge Center was founded in 1996 with the generous support of alumni John and Tashia Morgridge. In the spirit of the Wisconsin Idea, we believe in building reciprocal relationships with our partners and strong citizens among our student population.
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Combating Food Insecurity: Local Organizations Rooted & Slowfood UW’s Commitment to Community-Led Food Systems
Episode 10
Monday, 8 June, 2026

In this episode of GridgeFridge, we dive into how one local agricultural nonprofit organization, Rooted, runs its multifaceted mission to build community-led food systems, making fresh, quality food accessible to everyone.Urban farms, community gardens and a neighborhood center are just some of the cornerstones to how Rooted strengthens its community outreach and development. Education is a pillar of Rooted’s efforts to integrate community-led food systems, and one of their partnerships is with Badger Rock Middle School, a project-based charter school. Rooted provides the middle school students with gardening and culinary lessons and works with Slowfood UW to get connected with college volunteers to help at the middle school.We spoke with Rooted’s Director of Urban Agriculture Education at its Madison South locations and two UW students who previously worked at Badger Rock Middle School, Kiley Ystenes and Addy Von Bernthal, who now work as executive directors for Slowfood UW. Their unique perspectives offer insight into how community assets, needs and ideas are essential to strengthening food access for all populations. Together, they offer not just a visualized goal of a community-led food system, but the steps a community can take to make fresh, affordable and sustainable food a lasting part of its livelihood.