Roque & Mark was honored to be a part of a recent major milestone nearly a decade in the making: the official ribbon-cutting of the Upward Bound House Urban Farm. The occasion was marked with a ceremony on September 11, 2025, attended by community leaders and local families.
Located at 1417 Yale Street, this 2,100-square-foot urban farm is a thriving center for healing, learning, and nourishment. The event brought together chefs, local officials, volunteers, and the families UBH serves, all united in celebrating the transformative power of community and compassion.
Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete delivered a moving address, sharing her journey from childhood homelessness to public service. Her story powerfully underscored the farm’s mission: to create a supportive environment where families can recover, grow, and thrive.
The farm yields over 100 pounds of fresh produce every two months, directly supporting UBH’s food pantry and meal services. Beyond its nutritional impact, it also functions as a therapeutic space where families connect through gardening, cooking, and nature-based activities that promote overall wellness.
For Roque & Mark, this project represents the deep value of long-term investment in community well-being. The land has been donated for use as a garden since 2015, allowing the once-empty lot to steadily transform into a vibrant space that now feeds families, fosters connections, and supports healing. As longtime partners to UBH, Roque & Mark is proud to witness the ongoing fruits of this collaboration.
“This farm is a powerful example of what’s possible when people invest in their community with patience and purpose,” said Marius Markevicius, Co-President at Roque & Mark. “To see this space thriving—feeding families, building connections, and promoting healing—is an incredibly rewarding moment for us.”
We encourage others to support Upward Bound House—whether by volunteering, donating, or sharing their mission. Together, we’re not just growing food—we’re growing futures.