Coming Soon 2026-27!
Student Education Garden
About Our Project
Moving South Berkeley Forward (MSBF) is a youth-driven environmental, social justice project focused on community health and educational equity in South Berkeley.
We are working to transform the previous Santa Fe Right of Way (SFROW) railroad site into a green space and community garden through the environmental mentorship of Berkeley High students of color. Together, we are laying the foundation towards a long term goal of a greenway and youth garden.
We want this community to have accessible health resources and a better future. The possibilities of the things we could be doing in this community is endless but we can't do these things without your help.
This project is spearheaded by youth of color and the South Berkeley community.
Moving South Berkeley Forward (MSBF) is a youth-driven environmental, social justice project focused on community health and educational equity in South Berkeley.
We are working to transform the previous Santa Fe Right of Way (SFROW) railroad site into a green space and community garden through the environmental mentorship of Berkeley High students of color. Together, we are laying the foundation towards a long term goal of a greenway and youth garden.
We want this community to have accessible health resources and a better future. The possibilities of the things we could be doing in this community is endless but we can't do these things without your help.
This project is spearheaded by youth of color and the South Berkeley community.
Berkeley High mentees meeting at Berkeley Youth Alternatives (BYA) garden
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Our Berkeley High students are the livelihood of our project, directly interacting with community members and working diligently to advance our project. In addition to community outreach, we focus on educating our students about various environmental topics. It is our goal to educate our students so that they may be the voices for their own community.
Our students have a weekly blog discussion on our website about topics discussed during our meetings. Past discussions have been on the importance of soil health, ways to reduce food waste, and the difference between food security and food sovereignty. Check out their entries in the Student Blog! |
Eating locally, maintaining a healthy diet, and paying attention to the production process are all ways we can better our health and be more sustainable. At MSBF our goal is to create a community that can sustain its own health and wellness through local, culturally-appropriate, nutritious, & transparent food.
- Daniel Finis Perez, 11th grade
Check out our project presentation below!
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A little history of the SFROW...
1904- Santa Fe Railroad created the "Oakland Local" running from Point Richmond to Oakland, diagonally across BerkeleyIn the 1930's a railroad depot was built at 1310 University Ave. In June 2001, the building was sold to Berkeley Montessori School. As part of the development of the site, the school agreed to provide public access if a pedestrian/bike pathway were ever to be built, and they left a 6-ft passageway to the west of their buildings.
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1977- city of Berkeley approved "Measure Y" providing $500,000 for the acquisition and development of the full 3.1 mile stretch of the SFROW through BerkeleyBy 1979, the City Council approved the development of the SFROW for a combination of "park land, housing, and to sell to neighboring residents."
There were 2 improvements made in the late 1970's to this land: the addition of Cedar Rose park on the north end of SFROW & Strawberry Creek Park (south of University) |
1986- After housing being built on the site, voters approved "Measure L" mandating that all remaining open space be preserved as such3 additions to SFROW have been made in the past 10-15 years including a youth-training garden for Berkeley Youth Alternatives, Spiral Gardens (2003), and a pathway running north of University Ave for 3 blocks stopping at Deleware St.
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Our mission is to provide the rest of the "missing links" south of University to build an equitable green space for our South Berkeley community
The Land |
Moving South Berkeley Forward recognizes that the SFROW sits on territory of xucyun (Huichin), the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people, the successors of this area. This land offered and sustained life for generations before our arrival. It was and continues to be of great importance to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and its ancestors.
We recognize that every member of the community has, and continues to benefit from, the use and occupation of this land. We cannot model solidarity until we begin to recognize and acknowledge indigenous peoples in our greater worldview context . We as a project team recognize and thank the indigenous Huichin Ohlone peoples and their land, center black and brown lives, and lead with women of color to embody the philosophy of leaving no one behind.
We recognize that the Muwekma Ohlone poeople are alive and flourishing members of the broader Bay Area communities today.
As we are ever learning beings, here are a few resources to learn more about the land you inhabit, ways to get involved, and to amplify indigenous voices :
We recognize that every member of the community has, and continues to benefit from, the use and occupation of this land. We cannot model solidarity until we begin to recognize and acknowledge indigenous peoples in our greater worldview context . We as a project team recognize and thank the indigenous Huichin Ohlone peoples and their land, center black and brown lives, and lead with women of color to embody the philosophy of leaving no one behind.
We recognize that the Muwekma Ohlone poeople are alive and flourishing members of the broader Bay Area communities today.
As we are ever learning beings, here are a few resources to learn more about the land you inhabit, ways to get involved, and to amplify indigenous voices :
