Mission
Housing, food, skill-building, and community repair are treated as one connected system.
Every builder creates the next builder.
Since its beginning, 500 Acres has led a new movement in American community building. We revive the tradition of learning by doing and building together.
Mission
Train young people to build homes, grow food, and repair communities.
On donated land, 500 Acres trains young people to design and construct affordable homes, grow food, and create businesses that strengthen neighborhoods.
“From the Greatest Generation to the Comeback Generation, we’re proving America can still build back better.”
Michelle Crosby
The model
A practical path from skills to ownership.
About
500 Acres blends project-based learning, maker culture, land stewardship, and real building work.
Timeline
The model moves from fellowship training to prototype builds, community partnerships, and repeatable housing systems.
Get involved
Support the mission or become a fellow.
Support our mission
Partners and sponsors help fund equipment, supplies, student projects, machine time, and fellowship access.
Ways to helpBecome a fellow
The fellowship is built for young people ready to learn by building and contribute to the first phases of the work.
Become a fellowMeet the fellows
Fellows bring different backgrounds into one shared mission: build useful things, learn together, and leave a trail for the next cohort.
Meet fellowsTeam and contributors
Employees, leaders, mentors, and project support.
These are the non-fellow people helping run 500 Acres, support the fellowship, guide workshops, and connect the work to housing, land, design, and construction.
Chief Executive Officer
Michelle Crosby
Michelle leads 500 Acres and connects the foundation’s housing, fellowship, sponsor, and community-building work into one operating mission.
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Chairman
John Seidl
John serves as Chairman of the 500 Acres Group of Companies, helping guide governance, strategy, and long-term direction.
Master Builder
Mikey Thomas
Mikey supports the build side of 500 Acres and the 10k Acres team, helping turn training, tools, and construction work into real outcomes.
Workshop facilitator
John Santos
John is a veteran workshop facilitator and environmental science teacher at High Tech High in San Diego, known for project-based learning.
Design and housing systems
Terrence Curry
Terrence brings experience in design methodology, community participatory design, construction methods, and modular housing production.
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Foundation Week contributor
Cole Kreiling
Cole supported Foundation Week through workshop participation, project support, and hands-on learning alongside the cohort.
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Foundation Week contributor
Valerie Coffey
Valerie contributed to Foundation Week and the broader fellowship support work.
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Urban designer and spatial researcher
Yuchun Zhang
Yuchun brings expertise in urban planning, architecture, spatial analysis, public engagement, and inclusive community-led design.
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Interim Corporate Secretary
Spozami Kakar
Spozami supports governance and operational functions for the 500 Acres Group of Companies.