The Office of School Nutrition (OSN) of the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) supports the educational development of our students by providing healthy breakfast and hot nutritional lunch to all students in grades K-12 at no charge. On-site preparation ensures that meals are served hot in compliance with federal, state, and local health department regulations. As a division of OSN, DPSCD Farm-to-School works to execute the Office of School Nutrition’s mission to provide high-quality food, nutrition, and wellness education while eliminating barriers to healthy food. Each Farm-to-School initiative focuses on connecting students, teachers, and community members to local agriculture while empowering them to grow their own food at school or at home. The program is further enriched by the following initiatives: Local Procurement, Detroit School Garden Collaborative, Farm-to-School Internship, Drew Farm. The FoodCorps Program In 2012, Detroit Public School Community District, along with community partners, kicked off an extensive farm-to-school initiative that created school gardens throughout the city. The program expanded teachers’ access to real-life laboratories to teach students about healthy eating, nutrition, and concepts around growing food while increasing schools’ access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Each site features raised beds constructed by students from Drew Transition Center. This revolutionary project made DPSCD one of the largest school districts nationally in which food services, site management, and curriculum are working collaboratively to ensure students are able to learn academic content in a real-world context related to gardens. DPSCD currently has 80 active schools in our school garden program, a two-acre farm to school production farm, and programming that includes standards-based field trips to the farm, family farm days, and school farm stands. Food Corps brings added value to our program by fostering participation in healthy meals being offered by familiarizing students with menu offerings. Food Corps also fills a niche need for nutrition education in the district. Vision: To develop an exemplary Food Nutrition Education Program across the district. In addition, each school would maintain model teaching gardens. The Detroit Public Schools Community District is Michigan’s largest public education system. It is governed by a locally-elected, seven-member board with Dr. Nikolai Vitti serving as superintendent. The District champions a whole child approach that combines superior academics with socio-emotional, extracurricular, and health services tailored to each student’s needs. The DPSCD Office of School Nutrition is a Community Eligibility Provision district, therefore all of our students are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch. 82% of the student population identify as Black; 13.7% identify as Hispanic/Latino. Detroit is the largest city in Michigan and the 27th-most populous city in the United States. According to the 2020 census, Detroit boasts a population of 639,111 residents. Metro Detroit is home to 4.3 million people, making it the second-largest Midwest metropolitan area following Metro Chicago. Detroit is known for its contributions to music and as a repository for art, architecture and design, along with its historical automotive background. Seven service members will be involved in hands-on nutrition-based lessons with students; and assist in the creation and sustaining of a healthier school/community environment. We are intentional about placing service members at schools that are active in our Detroit School Garden Collaborative and have a foundation of community engagement that are welcoming of service members. In addition, Drew Farm (a two-acre food production farm that also serves as a field trip site for pre-K to12th grade students). Detroit is a dynamic city fueled by innovation and a spirit of intentionality and sustainability. The city sits on an international border with Canada separated by a strait known as the Detroit River. Along the riverfront, one can find boating, biking, and volleyball among other recreational opportunities. One of the city’s jewels, Belle Isle, is the nation’s only free-standing island park. Belle Isle can be accessed by car or bike and offers running and hiking trails, a golf course, tennis and basketball courts, soccer fields, and fishing. The downtown and midtown communities of Detroit have been revived with the relocation of sports venues such businesses Compuware, Shinola, Nike, Quicken Loans, and Whole Foods. Anchored by Wayne State University, Midtown Detroit is home to art and history museums, galleries, cafes, music venues, and theaters. A wide variety of locally owned ethnic restaurants can be found in neighborhoods across town. In addition, the city boasts one of the most diverse urban farming communities in the country of which the Detroit Public School Community District system is an active participant. FoodCorps service members at Detroit Public Schools Community District are part of a Michigan cohort that includes 19 service members in 9 communities across the state. FoodCorps service members have the opportunity to take advantage of a state rich in cultural and geographic diversity. We boast urban, suburban, and rural sites with their own unique set of engaging characteristics, as well as thought-provoking challenges. We welcome all to apply for an experience to learn, give back, and grow!