Healthy Roots Garden & Community Center

03/31/2026

We are excited to share something we’ve been working on💛

Little Tree Grows Healthy Roots is a children’s story about how much the environment around us shapes what’s possible.

It’s a reminder that growth isn’t just about trying harder. It’s about having the right conditions so that effort can actually matter.

A portion of every book supports the work of Healthy Roots, helping us continue to listen, learn, and walk alongside communities as they grow.

Not just for children, this story is for anyone who believes in building strong foundations, supporting one another, and creating healthier, more connected communities.

If this message resonates with you, this is a simple and meaningful way to support what we’re building.

Thank you for being here with us, at the beginning.

~ Julie

Every little tree has the strength to grow when planted in the right conditions. Little tree wanted to grow strong and tall like the other trees in the forest. She tried her very best, but something wasn't right. The sunlight didn't reach her. The soil didn't give her what she needed. To the b...

03/26/2026

When we think about health, we don’t often think about the businesses in our neighborhoods.

But local jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, keeping dollars within the community, and activating vacant spaces to improve safety, all of these directly impact health outcomes.

The Looking Glass Initiative is working to revitalize the local economy and create a healthier, more connected community.

02/23/2026

Introducing the Healthy Roots Community Garden - Powered by Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital

Today, we’re honored to share something deeply meaningful.

The Healthy Roots Community Garden — Powered by Orlando Health is coming to life thanks to the generous support of Orlando Health, a partner who believes in investing in community health at its roots.

In a time when many collaborations can feel transactional, support for the Community Garden reflects genuine goodwill and trust in local leadership.

Because when organizations step forward in good faith, it strengthens more than a project.
It strengthens trust.
It strengthens possibility.
It strengthens the entire neighborhood.

The Healthy Roots Community Garden powered by Orlando Health will expand access to fresh food, create hands-on learning opportunities, and lay the groundwork for long-term health and food sovereignty in South St. Petersburg.

Healthy Roots is being built on relationships like this. Relationships grounded in mutual respect and a shared vision for a healthier South St. Petersburg led by its residents.

We are deeply grateful to Orlando Health for helping power this vision and for modeling what it means to be a true community partner.

This is how healthier neighborhoods are built.
Together.

02/14/2026

Health begins where we live. 🌱

Nearly 90% of our health is shaped by our environment, our housing, our streets, our schools, our access to food, jobs, and safe gathering spaces. In simple terms: neighborhood health = overall health and wellness.

At Healthy Roots and The Looking Glass Initiative we’re working at the intersection of people and place, removing barriers, creating opportunity, strengthening small businesses, improving walkability, increasing food access, and building spaces where neighbors can connect and thrive.

When we invest in our community, we invest in our health. 🤝🌿

Find us today at the The Annual Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival!
Huge kudos to the organizers! What an incredible turnout and celebration of culture, food, and community. We’re grateful to be part of it.

12/16/2025

11/16/2025

10/31/2025

🌱 Systems Change Starts From Within 🌱

As we watch essential supports like SNAP and healthcare benefits face new risks, it’s clearer than ever that we can’t rely on broken systems to care for our communities. These cracks reveal the urgent need for real systems change — change that begins with the people, not for the people) .

At Healthy Roots, we’re building a model that grows community independence and resilience from the ground up. By empowering neighborhoods with access to local food systems, wellness networks, and shared resources, we’re proving that communities can thrive without waiting on systems that were never built for their success.

The future of health equity isn’t about surviving instability — it’s about creating stability from within.

Let’s continue to plant seeds of self-sufficiency, collective care, and systems built by and for the people. 🌻

https://healthyroots.world/

10/28/2025

Sign up to get project updates, event invitations and volunteer opportunities.

10/23/2025

🌱 We’ve officially broken ground on Dr. MLK Jr. St. S in St. Petersburg, FL!

Your support at this stage literally strengthens our roots — early funding dollars are worth more, lending to exponential growth. This allows us to invest more in the essential framework of our program and strengthen the impact. 🙌 https://pay.healthyroots.world/Donate 🤝

This project ensures that this community will finally have access to the opportunities that have been kept from them for generations.

What was once an abandoned building will soon come alive with opportunity, wellness, and connection — designed by the people and for the people of this community.

Our design philosophy is rooted in empowerment: we are the bridge upon which resources cross over — connecting opportunity to need, and potential to progress. But our ultimate goal is sustainability. We’re building a foundation so that, in time, this community will stand on its own — equipped with the knowledge, tools, and power to thrive independently, free from the cycles of broken systems, band-aid solutions and temporary “fire hose” funding.

And once we prove concept, we will scale it to other disenfranchised communities. Together, we can create new systems of society that generously meets the needs of today without sacrificing the resources and opportunities of the generations to come 🌱

🌿 Now we need your help to keep this movement growing. Your contribution is the nourishment that keeps these roots alive — helping us cultivate a future that is owned, led, and sustained by the people themselves.

🫶A Personal Invitation to Our Supporters

If you’ve been moved by our mission and are considering making a contribution — whether it’s a large investment or a small act of generosity — I’d love to personally connect with you.

Every dollar has purpose here. I’m happy to walk you through exactly how your support will be used, the specific impact your gift will have, and the many ways you can be involved in bringing this vision to life.

For those interested in making a larger contribution, we have special recognition opportunities and ways to honor your commitment — ensuring that your support is remembered as a foundational part of this community’s story.

🌱 No gift is too small to make a difference, and no question is too big to ask.
Please feel free to reach out directly — I’d be honored to speak with you about how we can grow this together.

With sincere gratitude ,

Julie Barkett (with John Barkett)
CEO and Co-Founder
[email protected]
C. 727-479-2751

👉 Donate today and help us grow from the ground up. https://pay.healthyroots.world/Donate

**tax-deductible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization**