Our New Mission, Vision, and Website

Dear FoodCorps community,

As we look toward our 2030 goal—that every kid has access to hands-on education and nourishing food in school—we do so against a canvas of Buffalo, Laguna Woods, and Uvalde, all disrupted by systemic racism, white supremacy, needless violence, and communal grief. All of this while we’re experiencing an ongoing pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples.

Especially during difficult times, FoodCorps believes it is crucial to come together around a shared mission, clear vision, and a culture of equity and justice that will deepen our commitment to our work alongside communities.

Today, we are launching new mission and vision statements, and a new website. These will help us shift the way we tell our story, inviting us to both look inward as learners within the communities we serve, and to work outward as we amplify the impact of schools.

Over a year ago, FoodCorps put in motion a new strategic plan. While our direct service program in schools has remained the same, we needed to deepen our story about that work and be clearer about our policy and advocacy priorities and our equity goals. These have been central to FoodCorps’ approach for years, but they weren’t prominent in our language. 

We’ve also learned that our work is about much more than children’s physical health. Food is a tool for emotional resilience, community connection, academic learning, and cultural affirmation. This nuance was also missing from the way we used to talk about our work. 

With these values in mind, here’s how we’re talking about FoodCorps now: 

Our mission statement: FoodCorps partners with schools and communities to nourish kids’ health, education, and sense of belonging. 

Our vision statement: Every child, in every school, experiences the joy and power of food. 

We know words are powerful, but they’re nothing if not backed up with action. Our staff, service members, Board, and community partners are what will bend the moral arc of our impact. 

We also invite you to explore our website. You’ll notice a new look and feel, and new features like The Case for Food, educational resource library, policy action center, and more. 

As always, thank you for your continued support of our work to nourish every child’s future. We have only just begun to see what kind of change is possible—and we couldn’t do it without you. 

In service,

Curt Ellis, CEO and Co-Founder and Dr. Robert S. Harvey, President