a transformative approach - iowa state university · the black panther party’s free breakfast...

A Transformative Approachto Farm to School

Who the heck am I?

Nathan Spalding (he/him)Iowa Program Manager

Together with communities, FoodCorps serves to connect kids to healthy food in school.

250 AmeriCorps service members

Cedar Rapids

WaterlooOelwein

Postville

Ottumwa

Des Moines

Areas of Service

Hands-on Lessons

Healthy School Meals

A Schoolwide Culture of Health

Hands-on Lessons

Collaborating with educators to teach cooking, gardening, and tasting, since kids love foods they have grown and

prepared themselves.

Healthy School Meals

Teaming up with cafeteria staff to create a cafeteria that steers

students towards the healthiest options and gets them excited to try

new healthy foods.

A Schoolwide Culture of Health

Getting the whole school community—from

principals to the hallways to the bake sales—to

celebrate healthy food.

Our history

2010-11$500,000

50 service members10 states

2019-20

$21 million250 service members

18 states and Washington, D.C.

2016-17

$12 million215 service members

17 states and Washington, D.C.

Our history

2010-11$500,000

50 service members10 states

2019-20

$21 million250 service members

18 states and Washington, D.C.

2016-17

$12 million215 service members

17 states and Washington, D.C.

Hmmm, that’s a lot of growth!

TransactionalApproach

TransactionalApproach

TransformativeApproach

A transformative approach is only possible through building genuine relationships and fostering community ownership

A transformative approach is only possible through building genuine relationships and fostering community ownership

Let’s see some examples!

Dolores Huerta and the UFW

The Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast Program

A transformative approach is only possible through building genuine relationships and fostering community ownership

A transformative approach is only possible through building genuine relationships and fostering community ownership

Let’s see some examples from FoodCorps Iowa!

Wings Park Elementary - Oelwein, Iowa

Cedar Rapids Community School District

What does this have to do with your work? How can you do transformative work, through relationship building and fostering community ownership?

Questions?Nathan Spalding

nathan.spalding@foodcorps.org