THE EVOLVED NETWORK'S SPRING SCHOOL FARMERS MARKETS
Bringing the Market to Our Schools - Growing Connection, Curiosity & Community
In Spring 2026, The Evolved Network will host on-site farmers markets at two partner schools, transforming familiar school spaces into vibrant hubs of nourishment, relationship, and possibility.
2026 MARKET DATES
National Teachers Academy
(South Loop) - April 30, 2026
2:30pm-5:00pm
2:30pm-5:00pm
William Ray Elementary
(Hyde Park) - May 9, 2026
2:30pm-4:30pm
2:30pm-4:30pm
What the Markets Offer
- Fresh, local produce for families and students
- Interactive stations where students meet the farmers who grow their food
- Class-led booths created by students participating in TEN programs
- Chef partners sharing tastings and demonstrations
- A joyful, communal experience that brings together families, staff, farmers, and neighbors
Participating Farms
Chef Vendors
- Sarah StegnerPrairie Grass Cafe
- Tigist RedaDemera
- Arshiya FarheenVerzenay
- Darnell ReedLuella's Southern Kitchen
Purpose & Philosophy
The markets embody TEN's commitment to walking alongside youth in systemically oppressed communities by:
- Connecting students directly to the land and the people who cultivate it
- Showing young people they are worthy of beauty, abundance, and access to fresh food
- Fostering school comradery, pride, and belonging through a shared community event
- Offering hands-on oppertunities for students to feel valuable and valued, as they take active roles in hosting, tasting, sharing, and learning
- Creating relational encounters that turn food into a pathway for healing, discovery, and possibility