The City of Pine Bluff has been awarded a $75,000 grant through the African American Mayors Association, in partnership with the American Beverage Foundation, to support a youth-focused initiative aimed at improving health outcomes and expanding educational opportunities.
City officials said the funding will support “From the Garden to the Kitchen,” a program led by YEAH8 that focuses on gardening, cooking and overall wellness for children ages 5 to 18.
The initiative is designed to address key community challenges, including childhood obesity, food insecurity and limited access to health education. Through hands-on learning, participants will gain experience growing fresh produce, preparing healthy meals and understanding the importance of nutrition and active living.
“This investment is about more than just programming — it’s about creating opportunities for our young people to lead healthier lives and empowering families with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive,” said Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers. “It directly aligns with our commitment to youth investment.”
In addition to traditional programming, the initiative will include a multimedia component where participants will create and produce content promoting healthy living across the community. Officials said the added element is designed to increase engagement while giving youth a platform to share their voices and experiences.
Tylor Johnson, president and chief operating officer of YEAH8, said the program is focused on providing meaningful, hands-on opportunities for local youth.
“At YEAH8, we believe exposure creates opportunities that yield lifelong applicable experiences for our students,” Johnson said. “‘From the Garden to the Kitchen’ introduces our youth to healthy living, hands-on learning and the power of turning knowledge into action in a fun way. We are grateful to Mayor Flowers and the City of Pine Bluff for their partnership and collaboration, and look forward to launching this exciting initiative.”
The program will be housed through YEAH8 Arts & Motion, a youth enrichment organization based at the Chester Hynes Community Center. The organization focuses on providing creative and academic programming in areas such as science, technology, engineering, arts and math, along with personal development.
City leaders said the grant represents a continued commitment to investing in youth through programs that promote health, education and opportunity. Officials added the initiative is expected to help young people develop lifelong healthy habits while strengthening the community overall.
