Our Story

Forest Avenue Outreach (FAO) is a 501c3 organization serving the Riverbend neighborhood, and youth citywide.

VISION

Healthy, positive, and vibrant communities within the heart of Des Moines. Equity for teens' employability and success in positive life choices. High School graduates prepared to fill high-demand jobs in the Des Moines Metro.

HISTORY

“Urban Agriculture is reintegrating food production, preservation, and preparation back into the lives of city dwellers. Community gardens, community orchards, beekeeping, community classes, and more bring the green back into our city and our bellies.” - Ralph and Rebecca Chiodo founders of Forest Ave Outreach in 2012, establishing 501c3 status in 2013.

Forest Ave Outreach began with Urban Agriculture, Youth Programming (including entrepreneurial training), and Community Outreach. It began with an empty city lot at 334 Forest, which was transformed into an orchard with an outdoor classroom and community green space. The produce was distributed to garden volunteers and donated to neighborhood families. A practice FAO still upholds today. The original youth entrepreneurial training program is now replaced with an earn-while-you-learn pre-apprenticeship “Pathway to Building Trades” (recognized by the Dept of Labor as a pre-apprenticeship to local union building trades) in partnership with Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades Council.

MISSION:

GROWING COMMUNITY ONE SEED AT A TIME

A special thanks to volunteers: