Helen Sisk Memorial Grant Program
About Helen Roelker Sisk
The Helen Roelker Sisk Memorial Grant was created in memory of Helen Roelker Sisk. Helen was an active member of the local food community in Flagstaff. She was involved with several local food initiatives, including working as the head grower for the Flagstaff Garden Starts CSA from 2013 to 2015. Helen envisioned creating a space that supported multigenerational exchange and learning, where programs for young people and seniors (and everyone in between) enhanced lives while enriching soil and plants.
Helen passed away on October 1, 2015, but her vision had become a seed, one that community members, friends, and family carried with them. A fund in her memory was established in her honor through Flagstaff Foodlink. The Helen Roelker Sisk Memorial Grant committee, in partnership with Flagstaff Foodlink, has developed a one-time grant opportunity to foster initiatives that embody Helen’s vision of growing food and community in a space accessible to all.
GRANT AWARDEES
Thank you to all of our applicants for the Helen Roelker Sisk Memorial Grant. We are excited to announce the planned projects of our three awardees!
The Coconino Cooperative Extension has been awarded $6,000 to support a horticultural therapy program for students at Killip Elementary School as well as a management plan for a new community greenhouse planned for the campus.
Superyard Farms of Arizona has been awarded $6,000 to support their Growing Full Circle program which focuses on strengthening food access and sovereignty for Native American families in Flagstaff through free produce shares and the creation of a Youth Farm plot within walking distance from Kinlani Bordertown Dorm and Flagstaff High School.
Colton Community Garden has been awarded $615 and will use funds to enhance their community gathering center with the addition of an outdoor kitchen facility and pueblo oven to increase educational opportunities.
We look forward to these projects coming to fruition over the next few years to help embody Helen’s vision of growing food and community in a space accessible to all.
Stay tuned for updates!