Healthy Chelsea is a community coalition, supported by Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Community Healthy Improvement (CCHI), with a mission to improve the health outcomes of Chelsea residents. The coalition formed in 2010 as an initiative of the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center and initially focused on healthy eating and active living in the schools and community. Its focus has since widened to include substance use disorders and trauma-informed care. Healthy Chelsea works on projects in all areas of the community, but one of the strongest partnerships is with the Chelsea Public Schools. Healthy Chelsea collaborates with the school department and individual schools to create and foster a culture of health and wellness. This is done through school garden programming and education, school food improvement, cafeteria taste tests, youth-led food justice initiatives, and promotion of physical activity in the classroom.

Early Learning Center- The ELC has a 3-year-old garden, a 1-year-old indoor garden space, and a team of admin and staff that is especially committed to health and wellness. The service member helps coordinate planting activities for the outdoor and indoor gardens, supports Harvest of the Month lessons and tastings in classrooms during and after school, and leads garden-based lessons for the summer program.

Berkowitz Elementary School – The FoodCorps service member teaches a 12-lesson series to all 2nd grade classes over the course of the year. These lessons meet ELA, math, and science standards. There are also monthly Harvest of the Month tastings in the school’s cafeteria, which the service member leads, and regular cafeteria presence promoting different vegetables or entrees.

Hooks– The FoodCorps service member teaches a 12-lesson series to all 2nd grade classes over the course of the year. These lessons meet ELA, math, and science standards. There are also monthly Harvest of the Month tastings in the school’s cafeteria, which the service member leads, and regular cafeteria presence promoting different vegetables or entrees.

Kelly – The FoodCorps service member teaches a 12-lesson series to all 2nd grade classes over the course of the year. These lessons meet ELA, math, and science standards. There are also monthly Harvest of the Month tastings in the school’s cafeteria, which the service member leads, and regular cafeteria presence promoting different vegetables or entrees. (potentially)

Sokolowski – The FoodCorps service member teaches a 12-lesson series to all 2nd grade classes over the course of the year. These lessons meet ELA, math, and science standards. There are also monthly Harvest of the Month tastings in the school’s cafeteria, which the service member leads, and regular cafeteria presence promoting different vegetables or entrees.