Our mission is to engage individuals and communities in a whole-body approach to health. Through education, we empower individuals to learn how to connect and apply the science of self-healing. We are committed to building a culture of holistic community health, environmental resilience and social justice. We work collaboratively with stakeholders to develop scalable solutions that take targeted action in our communities. Our Grow Southcoast programming addresses health-related issues by creating and implementing programs, like Grow Education, that increase access to nutrient-rich foods, supports immune-building practices, and promotes environmental resiliency. For over eight years, Grow Education has been successfully partnering with the New Bedford School district to create school and community gardens. Food Corps members will support and deepen our school wide culture of health by assisting us with our expanded Farm to School programming and evaluation.

The FoodCorps members serving in New Bedford will be building upon the work that the Grow Education and Farm to School project has initiated. This has encompassed; the building of a garden at each school with the school community, planting and harvesting workshops in those gardens, and presentations by local leaders related to local agriculture, fresh, healthy foods and the environmental connections. They will be participating in growing the partnership with the Food Service Department and the Farm to School Coalition which has begun taste tests of fresh fruits and vegetables, new and healthy meal sides, and the planning for healthy, culturally relevant menu items. This partnership will be organized with the Food Service Assistant Director and Nutritionist who will be able to communicate about menu items and changes. The FoodCorps members will be a part of this process and will also help plan district wide taste tests and evaluation that accompanies this rollout. Additionally, FoodCorps members will be introduced to the specific school community members in which they will be stationed, including the cafeteria managers and 3rd grade teacher cohorts at each school. Members will benefit from the relationships with (and knowledge of) these teachers in order to plan for the Hands-on Learning requirements. These learning activities will take place both in the classroom and gardens. Garden workshops will be supplemented through supply sourcing and the experience and credibility of the Grow Education program team. Grow Education has also begun to create schoolwide Farm to School coalitions who could support the Food Corps members in steps needed to build the Schoolwide Culture of health. The Marion Institute will be in consistent planning and communications with the members to shift the cultural expectations.