Nourishing Our Community: A Year of Progress at the Tisch Food Center
As Thanksgiving approaches and I reflect on my first year as the Executive Director of the Tisch Food Center (TFC), I am filled with gratitude for the incredible strides we have made together. Alongside our partners, our team has dedicated itself to advancing food equity and fostering a healthier, more sustainable food system. I am proud of the tangible impact we have had on our community.
Transforming Food & Nutrition Education in NYC
We are thrilled to have witnessed the rollout of Food Education in NYC Public Schools. This initiative, which was many years in the making, as set forth in the Roadmap for Food Education, will empower students to make informed choices about their health and well-being. We are deeply appreciative of the leadership of the mayor and chancellor, along with the teams at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy and NYC Public Schools, for prioritizing this essential step towards a healthier future for our city's youth.
Empowering Educators with Curriculum Resources
A significant achievement for us this year was completing our K-8 Science Scope and Sequence mappings to Nutrition Education. This comprehensive resource empowers educators to seamlessly integrate nutrition education into their existing science curricula. Additionally, we developed a Grade 4-6 Reading, Writing, and Literacy Scope and Sequence, aligning with the newly adopted curricula in New York City Public Schools. These freely available online resources are already being utilized by educators across the city.
Food Ed Hub: A Hub of Activity and Connection
The Food Ed Hub, our central platform for food education and advocacy, has been bustling with activity. We hosted numerous live events, each with 100-200+ participants, including a Career Fair, Awards Ceremony, Food and Nutrition Education Conference, Chancellor Day webinars, and most recently, a Nutrition Education Partner Fair. These events brought together educators, policymakers, and community members to share knowledge, forge partnerships, and celebrate our collective commitment to food justice.
Expanding Our Reach
Our social media presence has grown significantly, with our LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook presence and Food Ed Hub Digest subscribers, to our over 700 Food Ed Coalition members. We also expanded the distribution of our Tisch Dish newsletter, to over 2,200 individuals. Our Wellness Finder, a comprehensive directory of family-friendly nutrition and wellness programs, now includes over 130 providers.
Speaking for Food Equity, Social Justice & Climate
I was honored to participate in numerous speaking engagements, both via webinars and in person. While all were memorable, I was most humbled to speak about the importance of equity in the Farm Bill and the profound impact of food and nutrition policy on our communities at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Advocacy Summit. My most personally fulfilling speaking opportunity was addressing a group of young women at Barnard College, highlighting the intersection of food, climate, and social justice. Truly, our youth are phenomenal.
A Year of Inspiration and Impact
My most memorable advocacy experience was attending a Healthy Free School Meals rally in Albany. The stories of individuals and communities struggling with food insecurity were both heartbreaking and inspiring. I heard stories of students who stopped playing sports due to hunger and schools incurring so much meal debt that staffing positions had to get cut. This experience reaffirmed my commitment to advocating for policies that ensure everyone has access to nutritious, affordable food.
As we look ahead, I am filled with optimism for the impact of the Tisch Food Center in the future. We are committed to continuing our work to promote food equity, empower communities, and foster a more sustainable food system. I am deeply grateful for the dedication and passion of our team, our partners, and our supporters. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and families.
Thank you to those of you who have been a part of our journey. We welcome others to join us!