Academic Year Program (AYP)

The Academic Year Program of The Food Initiative gives our youth and adults an opportunity to continue our vision throughout the school year.  A select portion of our youth interns from the summer program are re-hired and given the chance to continue working 12-15 hours per month during either the fall term or the spring term. This program reinforces what was learned and experienced over the course of the summer and strengthens our ability to share our work and to train our youth to lead others and to speak in our community about health and food justice.  _____________________________ Projects for The Academic Year Program: Planting and Harvesting Youth will continue to finish the summer harvest, to start a fall garden if possible, and to begin preparing the land for next spring.  Leading Volunteer Groups Once a month our youth will lead volunteer groups out at the garden. They will facilitate a small workshop and help organize volunteer teams for field work or other required projects. Community Awareness Our youth interns will be out in the community, sharing their experiences and teaching churches, businesses, schools, and other organizations about hunger and hunger relief.

          

June Dirt Crew 2009 planting black beans and
lima beans for a late summer harvest.