Our goal is to bring healthier food to the world and do it with love and respect.
Teamwork Englewood
Working with the community and the then Mayor Rahm Emanuel, we built a Whole Foods Market store in the heart of the neighborhood at 63rd and Halstead, also convincing both Starbucks and Chipotle to join us in the center, which continues as a central gathering place to this day. After leaving Whole Foods Market, I have stayed involved with both Teamwork Englewood, where I sponsor an annual business pitch contest, and entrepreneur training workshops, and RAGE, supporting food drives and community events for the residents.
“Teamwork Englewood is a community based organization that serves the Greater Englewood community, a community located on the South side of Chicago. The organization works to improve the quality of life of residents through a number of services and community led planning. Walter Robb has been an ally and supporter of the Greater Englewood community. His initial collaboration included working to uplift the voices of residents and stakeholders to develop a community orientated retail Center with the anchored Whole Foods Market-Englewood. This store has been a leader in local hiring, small business development, and health education. From there he has continued to support in building the capacity of the community with an annual Small Business Competition that has given start up and support dollars to dozens of local businesses. Mr. Robb has also supported other community initiatives that has included youth and housing support. Walter Robb is an example of an intentional ally and intentional supporter. There are so many in the Englewood community he has helped that may not even now it is his leadership and generosity that has paved the way.”
Cecile DeMello
Executive Director of TEAMWORK ENGLEWOOD
Pueblo Food Project
Co-founder and supporter of the Pueblo Food Project, established to support the local food system, and to help build community and the local economy. Both the city of Pueblo as well as Pueblo county have a historically and present day significant role in agriculture, and so we wanted to build on that strength. We set up a working group co-chaired by the Mayor and the Country Commissioner to work though the community framework and objectives, and today the Pueblo Food Project is part of the community fabric.
“Walter Robb served not only as co-founder and supporter but played a crucial role providing his expert advice, inspiration, and contributions to the Pueblo Food Project. We have seen this work move from a conversation in US Senator Michel F Bennet's office joined by 4-5 local individuals in early 2019 to Walter convening a discussion with 30 local community members in May 2019, and expanding to include a Pueblo Food Council, five working groups and several short-term task forces (including the Pueblo COVID-19 Hunger Relief Task Force) and over 100 local and regional participants engaged today. Under his guidance and expertise, the Pueblo Food Project now works with many local organizations, institutions of higher education, community groups, not-for-profit organizations, health professionals, small business owners and consumers to create a strategic framework to address the challenges facing the Pueblo food system."
Linda L. Tremblay
Former Pueblo Food Project Member (2019) and current Member of the Pueblo Food Council
“I first experienced Walter Robb’s passion and commitment to a sustainable food system in 2019, shortly after I became mayor of Pueblo, Colorado. His leadership, vision, mentoring and philanthropy sparked the formation of the Pueblo Food Project which is committed to developing and providing access to healthy sustainable food to the residents of our city. He freely shared his contacts and used his influence to help organize the Pueblo Food Project. In a few short months, the project was up and running, securing grants and making plans for a sustainable food system in Pueblo. During the Covid-19 pandemic the Pueblo Food Project has provided access to healthy food to our most vulnerable citizens, has added value to Pueblo County’s agricultural products and will be a lasting legacy and testament to Walter’s work.”
- Nick Gradisar, Mayor of Pueblo, CO
