The garden and cooperativa are based on environmental justice principles and work towards the recovery of the Earth and its people. We value empowerment, sustainability, and our stories as a way to increase the health of our people, build community ownership of land and increase access to healthy, fresh food using traditional growing models. 

In 2006, Southwest Workers Union began an Eastside sustainability initiative in response to the struggle to defeat further development of fuel storage tanks. An integral part of our local movement for climate justice in San Antonio has been the development of home-grown solutions that are culturally-appropriate and led by those who are most affected by the local causes of climate change.  While the potential for a vibrant green economy in San Antonio is growing, the grassroots communities have little to no access to low cost methods for sustainability and "green" technology.  SWU has won significant campaigns to increase conservation programs, passed a sustainability plan and shifted policy to support local food system.  

To date, the SWU complex has acquired over an acre of unused, brownfield land.  In 2006, we began the process of transformation into a functioning community garden, the first food producing community space in the city. The name Roots of Change developed from the realization that the long term transformation of our neighborhood will come from within the community.  We aim to build upon this success by further developing the SWU complex as the first grassroots-level sustainability center in San Antonio.

Intergenerational, multi-cultural sharing is critical to localized food systems. A key element of building a strong community is sharing best practices, seeds, traditional and medicinal knowledge, and skills. These are all needed for the continued benefit of our families and sustainable food systems.