growingSOUL, Sustainable Opportunities for Universal Learning, is a grassroots non-profit founded in 2009 by then-Maryland resident Jessica Weiss. Our mission is to engage and assist communities to reduce hunger while simultaneously reducing food waste. growingSOUL creates, implements and advocates for sustainable, interconnected, reciprocity-based food systems benefitting the vitality of communities and their residents as well as our planet. 

The​ Chesapeake Bay region’s​ ​first​ ​Zero-Waste​ ​Food​ ​Justice​ ​program,​ growingSOUL is ​a​ ​legacy​ ​project​ ​honoring​ ​our community’s​ ​history​ ​of ​sharing​ ​healthy​ ​fresh​ ​food​ ​with​ ​those​ ​seeking freedom ​​along the​ ​soil trails​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Underground​ ​Railroad. We advocate for and provide access to nutritious & sustainable food for those most marginalized.​