Urban growing spaces are rooted in decades of community resistance against disinvestment and structural oppression. Faced with growing racial and economic inequality, urban farms and gardens advocate for an equitable food system as a means of promoting community health. The work they do is not just a response to the structural oppression these communities face but continuing a legacy of local growers in Pennsylvania.

Urban growing spaces are an effective strategy for combating health disparities by mitigating institutional barriers to disease prevention such as gaps in access to fresh produce, green spaces, and safe community gatherings. But for the food sovereignty movement to succeed, it must be inclusive to everyone regardless of their accessibility needs.