The Empathy Farm is the result of a powerful partnership between three passionate community members who share a commitment to supporting neurodivergent youth and young adults through meaningful work.

Tristan, a seasoned organic farmer at Serenbe, brings years of hands-on agriculture experience and a natural ability to teach in calm, grounded, sensory-friendly ways. His background in education and restorative farming shapes the core of our farm curriculum.

Charlene, founder of Radical Dough, has created a beloved bakery where neurodivergent youth already participate in weekly cooking workshops. Her kitchen is a place of belonging, confidence-building, and life skills development, and Radical Dough plays a central role in connecting farm learning to real-world skills.

I (Nicolle) bring a blend of farming, community engagement, and experience design. After transitioning out of a long corporate career, I found healing and purpose in farming, and I now dedicate my work to building programs that bring people together, strengthen community, and create opportunities for young adults to thrive.

Together, we recognized a missing resource in Chatt Hills: a structured, supportive, and inclusive farm program for neurodivergent youth and young adults — a place to learn meaningful, transferable life skills (like growing food, teamwork, and cooking), and a place to build friendships, confidence, and something they can be truly proud of.

By combining Tristan’s farming expertise, Charlene’s culinary mentorship, and my background in community-centered program design, we are building a pilot that fills a real, urgent need — and lays the foundation for a long-term model that can grow with the community.

This is our shared story, and with your support, it becomes our community’s story too.