Our, La Terre Promise, will be a space where people can come to experience life outside of the city. This will be a teaching farm as well as a full production and research facility for Lyric Foundation programs and Bella Noir products. Situated on the outskirts of Chicago, La Terre Promise will provide tools for youth development and workforce training for youth, young adults and adults already in the workforce. Our programs prepares participants for higher education and career opportunities through an employment-based development model. Through farming, local agriculture and community programs, La Terre Promise will be able to protect food, our environment, and our community. 

Our farming style emphasizes the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for the future. Local agriculture assures a food system that is safe, affordable and accessible by providing vegetables and herbs at their peak of flavor and nutritional value. Community programs help build the relationships, trust and interdependence needed for strong communities. We currently run a farm to table program out of our Gresham facility located on Chicago’s southwest side. While the production is on a smaller scale than new facility will be, we have been able to provide healthy food choices for hundreds of families over the last 5 years. The other important aspect of the farm is that it is where much of our workforce development effort and social emotional programs will take place. The farm will provide a variety of educational programming geared towards young adults, adults hoping to switch industries, and adults entering or re-entering the workforce. This could be because they have just graduated high school or college, because they have returned from military service, or because they are coming back to the community after serving time in prison. 

The farm will offer formal classes that meet weekly or multiple times per week for several months as well as short workshops. Topics will include farming techniques, organic farming, food preservation and storage, food preparation, as well as animal care and handling, event planning, and STEM topics related to food and farming. Classes will terminate in a certificate, but even more importantly, our staff will work with local businesses and restaurants to arrange internships for students who have gone through our programming. In some instances, we may hire our former students to teach classes and work on the farm. One program that will be featured on this property is called Equine & Me. This program is designed to offer a variety of experiences that are flexible to participants no matter where they are in their mental & physical wellness journey. We believe a strong mind is just as important as a strong body, and that’s why we are offering wellness programs. At this property we will facilitate workshops led by certified professionals, to promote health and wellness such as. Our wellness programs will aim to promote supportive engagement amongst participants, encourage inspiration from within, and promote a balanced lifestyle. Our targeted population are veterans, first responders, youth and young adults suffering from anxiety, depression or traumatic experiences. We also have special programs that focus on offenders reentering society. We are excited about this because through our 501(c) 3 Non-Profit Organization, Lyric Foundation, we provide opportunities for those in need to get the help they deserve even if they are unable to afford the therapy on their own. Participants will have the opportunity to heal with the horses with the help of the generous donors who have helped make the ranch a reality.