The mission of Holyoke Public Schools is to be the first educational choice for Holyoke families by designing multiple pathways of excellence where all students graduate prepared to excel in college, career and in community leadership. By educating students about food and nutrition, as well as empowering them with the skills to grow their own food, we can equip them with the ability to advocate for food sovereignty and community-grown foods in their future.

The partnership between FoodCorps and HPS directly supports the academic achievements of students through integration of hands-on, outdoor learning into the science and broader curriculum, which resides within best practice for holistic teaching. Service members will support district goals with:

• Hands-on education: Weekly and bi-weekly classroom and garden lessons with 1-2 district elementary school with members as the primary caretakers of a school garden
• Increase culturally relevant menu options: Taste test new menu options to gauge student approval and survey students to understand what foods they want
• Change attitudes about school meals: Bring enthusiasm about locally grown foods, new menu items, and school meals, shifting the common perception about school food
• Enhance the cafeteria look and feel: Small but important enhancements to the look and feel of the cafeterias through menu boards, posters, murals, table toppers, etc.
• Foster new district partnerships: Maintain newly developed district relationships with Sodexo and the Food Bank of Western Mass

Built along the Connecticut River, Holyoke was home to the largest paper mill architectural firm in the country. Today Holyoke is home to Massachusetts largest Puerto Rican population and the largest Puerto Rican population per capita of any American city outside Puerto Rico proper. The arts and business landscape is continually changing, becoming more inclusive, and more socially just. Holyoke celebrates its rich culture through annual parades and events, such as the Puerto Rican Day Parade and the Celebrate Holyoke three-day festival. The city is near state reservations and reservoirs that are great for hiking and exploring, as well as an innovation and improvement district which has seen unprecedented investment in the most underserved communities in Holyoke.