Ietef Vita | From Gangs to Gardens

Ietef Vita is an amazing individual who wears many hats in his community. He is a hip hop yogi, educator, midwife, emcee, deejay, youth advocate, and seeker of self sustainable life, to name a few. He created this program to help heal the cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and respiratory challenges that are rampant in his low-income, predominantly colored Northeast Denver neighborhood. His organic garden helps to educate individuals on the importance of healthy eating and growing your own food.

Vita uses his music to inspire the youth to become more active in the food activist community. “In order for us to see environmental improvement we must begin with the health of ourselves and individuals.” This message couldn’t be more appropriately timed.

“I am more than what you see” ~Ietef Vita

DENVER, CO – JULY 3: Ietef Vita, aka, DJ Cavem Moetavation, right, gets rid of weeds as his wife Neambe Leadon Vita, in back at right, and her daughter Selasia, 3, in blue and Libya, 21 months, in green on left, plant seeds in the couple’s gardens at 33rd and Elm street in Denver, CO. on July 3, 2013. The couple try to grow as much food as possible as part of their vegan and healthy diet. As part of our “Summer of Love” series for the Style section we profile the relationship of DJ Cavem Moetavation (a.k.a. Ietef Vita) and his wife Neambe Vita. They are proud and longtime Five Points residents. They’re artists, community activists, musicians, teachers and more. They espouse the idea of being vegan or vegetarian and promote eating healthfully and organically. Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)