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Unfortunately, it had become an all too familiar news story – teen killed in a senseless act of violence.

It’s the norm now in our daily newsfeed. Read it, then go on about your day.

But this one stuck with Lisa Kattenbraker, and the emotions that came with it – the sadness, the anger, the confusion – weren’t leaving any time soon.

sunset airJust paint.

That was the only answer Kattenbraker, a local artist, could come up with.

George Carter was a strong activist for community gardens in New Orleans. Remarkably, he had been involved with the cause since he was about seven. He was shot and killed in 2014 at the age of 15.

“I don’t read those types of news stories very often because whether it’s the emotional artist part of me I get really affected,” said Kattenbraker, a resident of Olympia. “It just keeps happening and this one got to me really deeply and I just immediately did a piece trying to sort through just how I felt about it. It was my outlet. It’s a cause (community gardens) that I have always been really advocating for and he was my son’s age.”

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Artist Lisa Kattenbraker’s “Growing Community” is will be raffled off to support the GRuB School programs.

The piece started without any real direction – just let the creative process flow. Even if it turned out poorly, it would serve its therapeutic purpose for Kattenbraker.

“I had no idea, no foresight into what I was creating,” Kattenbraker said. “It was a purely emotional healing response that I needed to do for myself. It took a few months to finish. When I was done, I didn’t know what do with it.”

The piece, titled “Growing Community,” has appeared in a handful of Kattenbraker’s exhibits, but was never made available for purchase.

Two years later, it has found its purpose.

Kattenbraker’s artwork will be raffled off during “Grubuation” on June 15.

The event will recognize and celebrate the graduation of the GRuB School students with all the proceedings of the raffle going to support the Olympia High School’s Freedom Farmers, GRuB School and the newly adopted Tumwater program.

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Freedom Farmers’ Blue Peetz, GRuB executive director Katie Rains, and Lisa Kattenbraker feed the newly acquired goats at Freedom Farms.

“It’s just a gorgeous piece and all proceeds are going to support student stipends for both our program here and the GRuB program in West Olympia and Tumwater this coming summer,” said Olympia High School teacher Blue Peetz, who oversees the Freedom Farmers program.

The handmade batik, valued at $2,500, is framed and measures 27×30 inches. Raffle tickets are $10 and can be purchased through the GRuB School or at its Grubuation event.

“I just really appreciate it because this comes at a very cool time for us. The district is considering fully funding us. It’s been so positive,” Peetz said. “We had 62 kids apply this spring for our program, but we only have 26 spots. That’s a lot of kids we are turning away. We can serve more kids because of this.”

Peetz estimates the raffle could cover up to three student stipends.

“We’ve been doing 20 and 30 students. Now we are at our third site with 75 teens from four different high schools from around Thurston County who get to experience this type of youth work,” said Katie Rains, executive director of GRuB. “Lisa has generously stepped in to help the community connect with that and support these students.”

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Olympia High School students at work at Freedom Farms.

The non-profit organization is now with two districts in Thurston County. Joining the Olympia School District will be the Tumwater School District, which will participate in the program for the first time beginning this summer, resulting in three sites – Freedom Farmers, GRuB School in West Olympia and newly launch Tumwater farm. The entire program will employ 75 high school students over the summer, one of which is Kattenbraker’s son, Maia.

“He did not thrive in the standard school system,” Kattenbraker said. “It was incredibly difficult to see his depression as he struggled with school. You just start to see things shut down. We were looking at programs all over the state, but (Freedom Farmers) wasn’t on the radar. When I found it, it was just perfect. He’s so happy to be here. It’s a perfect fit.”

The Tumwater farm site has already hired its first summer crew and will begin its program in late June. The food produce there will be integrated into the school district much like Olympia has done.

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GRuB provides students an opportunity to lead farm and community work while learning leadership and life skills. The program is designed to help students grow and succeed in school, life and future employment.

“The great thing now is by next school year, with the funding from the district and the interest, we’re going to get to expand,” Peetz said. “Our goal is to work over the next year and launch in 2017 a second-year block class for Olympia High School. So, students could have the opportunity to stay here for two years of high school. Right now they do one year, but what we are seeing is this a place where kids thrive. It’s applied learning and it’s relevant. This is feeding our cafeterias.”

In addition, GRuB School, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, will host the Rooted in Community National Youth Leadership Summit July 20-24 at The Evergreen State College. The conference will draw 100 to 150 individuals from around the country who are involved in similar work involving community gardens within the high schools.

“We really wanted to take a chance and connect folks and share the success we’ve had here,” Rains said. “There will be a chance for students to come out here and visit the Freedom Farm and just have a chance to learn and grow together. The model we have here is pretty unique.”

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