A core priority for the Hometown Food Security Project has been to actively engage students across the county to promote understanding of food insecurity and how they can be part of the solution. Since the coalition’s inception, students have participated in numerous volunteer opportunities. We’ve collaborated with local schools through a variety of existing programs, such as the World Food Prize and Austin Aspires, while also creating new opportunities for youth involvement, like the A Work of Art event. This diverse range of programs enables students to expand their understanding of food insecurity while also introducing them to HFSP.
Fostering a strong relationship with the local school system is important, as is having a clear vision and purpose for the engagement before launching activations. Our long-standing relationship with local schools has been helpful for engaging students in different initiatives.