Healthy Roots Garden & Community Center

06/29/2026

*Little Tree Grows Healthy Roots* is rooted in a simple truth: effort matters, but the conditions around us matter too.

A portion of every book sale already supports Healthy Roots, and sponsorships can help place more copies in the hands of local children, classrooms, and community spaces.

Sponsor a book or support the work here: https://pay.healthyroots.world/

There are many meaningful ways to support our work. Find out how on our website "Support Our Work" page - link in comments.

06/17/2026

Friends,

I’m grateful to be sharing the inaugural issue of The Root Report, the new newsletter from Healthy Roots and The Looking Glass Initiative. 🌱

This work means a lot to me because it starts from a belief I hold deeply: communities already carry strength, wisdom, care, and possibility. But too often, people are asked to keep showing up without the conditions, resources, and support needed for that effort to truly take root.

Healthy Roots is working alongside community partners in South St. Petersburg to help strengthen those conditions, through food access, trusted community spaces, local leadership, neighborhood stability, and opportunities that can grow over time.

This first issue shares more about the vision behind Healthy Roots and The Looking Glass Initiative, and the long-term investments beginning to take shape in support of community health and lasting neighborhood change.

Thank you for believing in this work and for being here with us at the beginning.

Read Issue 01 of The Root Report here:

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