About Service In Connecticut

Connecticut is a geographically small and diverse New England state complete with urban centers, rural towns, and coastal cities- spanning just 110 miles from east to west! Boasting a wide range of cultural and environmental opportunities, one could be hiking in the Litchfield Hills or visiting a beach at the shore by day and enjoying great music, community, and food in a small city by night. Connecticut is also just two hours away from the large urban areas of Boston and New York City.

Because of our geographic boundaries, our service members have the unique opportunity to collaborate frequently in person and create powerful relationships with organizations and individuals that make up the close-working networks addressing food systems change across the state and regionally. Serving in Connecticut means you are part of a close-knit FoodCorps team, enjoy ample opportunity for a wide range of professional development, and have the chance to make a huge impact for students in our state.

 

Why Serve in Connecticut?

While geographically on the small side, Connecticut is a state with a lot of need. As the state with the second highest income disparity in the nation, one out of every six children struggle with hunger. A variety of state and local food, nutrition, and agriculture organizations and institutions work collectively to increase food security and health outcomes for residents. Connecticut’s farmland preservation efforts mean there is also a steady community of growers & producers helping to increase local agriculture state-wide.

Connecticut is home to one of the first official Food Policy Councils in the country. In 2006, the CT state legislature passed some of the most rigorous school nutrition standards in the country, positioning Connecticut as a leader in increasing access to healthy food in schools. FoodCorps Connecticut is an organizing partner of the CT Farm to School Collaborative, a network of groups working to increase and enhance farm to school efforts throughout the state.

 

About Our Partners

FoodCorps in Connecticut is managed by the Connecticut Field Office. Our founding State Partner, UConn Extension, serves in an advisory role providing key insight on strategy and programming. FoodCorps provides reciprocal support as a member of the Advisory Team for UConn Extension’s Put Local on Your Tray program. This partnership increases our collective impact in fulfillment of a vision for healthy students and schools throughout Connecticut.

Our cohort of Connecticut service members is made possible in part by an AmeriCorps State grant from the Connecticut Commission on Community Service.