Photo Focus: VI Justice Initiative Harvest Festival Raises Over $50,000 for Legal Aid

The Virgin Islands Justice Initiative’s third annual “Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch,” held at Magens Bay Beach on Oct. 12, raised more than $50,000 to support free legal representation and educational programs across the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Hundreds of attendees came together for a day filled with family activities, local food, and cultural performances, with all proceeds going toward the initiative’s mission of providing legal aid to underserved communities. This year’s festival also introduced the VI Justice Initiative’s new slogan: “Planting Seeds for Community Driven Advocacy.” Volunteers, sporting t-shirts with the slogan, assisted with the event, fostering a strong sense of community involvement.

“The new slogan truly represents our work,” said Casey Payton, executive director of the VI Justice Initiative. “It’s about planting small seeds of change that will grow into a stronger, more connected community.” A key attraction of the festival was the Farmers Market, which celebrated the territory’s agricultural potential. Large pumpkins locally grown by Farmer Whaler, Wenner Hill Gardens Cooperative, and other vendors were available, symbolizing the islands’ growing ability to produce their own food.