PROJECT TITLE: BLACK NORTH CAROLINA YOUTH PIPELINE TO FOOD & AGRICULTURE-DRIVEN HEALTH IMPROVEMENT

This project seeks to create a mechanism to enhance the pipeline of African American youth who: 1) are connected to the historical and modern-day contributions of African American farmers; 2) understand and are connected to potential career paths in agriculture and nutrition in the food system, and 3) can apply increased nutrition literacy on food choices to invest in personal health. We will develop curriculum connecting students to the importance, contributions, and impact of African agricultural practices on the history of the US, the South, and North Carolina. We will explore the historical context of today's African American food and farming traditions and teach students skills and strategies for healthy food and beverage choices. We will also connect students with African American role models who are working in agricultural, nutrition, and food system-related careers. We will implement the curriculum as a complement to school garden work at two North Carolina urban schools, and an intensive hands-on summer experience at a working farm after receiving the curriculum at school. This project will enable installation of a school garden at one of the partner schools. The resulting curriculum will be shared publicly, and we will leverage partnerships to disseminate the teaching materials to schools throughout North Carolina and the Southern US in support of Black History Month and beyond.