Our mention in the report comes a year after the Mayor's Office selected New Roots Institute as an official food education service provider for New York City schools.
New Roots Institute was featured in New York City’s Food Education Roadmap, a report released by the Mayor's Office of Food Policy (MOFP) in collaboration with New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). The acknowledgment highlights New Roots Institute’s vital role in educating and empowering the next generation of New York City students to build a more just, sustainable food system.
The roadmap serves as a one-year update to the city's Prioritizing Food Education in Our Public Schools proposal, which put forward three goals to foster healthy school communities: building knowledge and healthy eating habits, increasing access to nutritious meals, and supporting the larger community with resources they need to advocate for health and wellness.
Mayor Eric Adams was clear in his vision for expanded food education and access in the initial plan, stating, “A positive way of eating enhances our lives, preserves our health, creates a more sustainable food system, and delivers nutritional equity and food justice for all."
Our mention in the report comes a year after the Mayor's Office selected New Roots Institute as an official food education service provider for New York City schools.
Sierra Hollowell, Food Policy Analyst at MOFP, helped direct the development of the roadmap. In a recent LinkedIn post announcing its release, Hollowell wrote, “From personal experience, New Roots' high school lessons are uniquely special and informative. It's amazing to see students engaged and asking questions (and raving about your presentations after class)! Honored to partner with you all!"
The partnership enables students across the city to engage in New Roots Institute’s interactive classroom lessons. Through our dynamic discussions, students explore where their food comes from and how their food choices impact both their health and the health of the planet.
"In this past academic year, we have visited over 32 NYC high schools," said Monica Chen, New Roots Institute's Executive Director. "Many of these students become motivated to then apply for our immersive leadership development program where they continue to build on this knowledge and gain the tools to create real change in their communities."
New Roots Institute has facilitated more than 553 high school lessons in New York City, engaging over 18,000 students in discussions about the impacts of industrial animal agriculture, like climate change, deforestation, farm animal suffering, and human health risks.
Claire Deshaies, New Roots Institute's Lead Educator in New York City, is optimistic about cultivating the next generation of leaders and advocates. "Seeing the students embrace the lesson material so quickly gives me hope. They have grown up surrounded by unjust structures, so they understand the framework of how our food system fits into larger systems of oppression. It’s rewarding to watch them make the connection between their actions and large-scale environmental and ethical impacts. They have real feelings about our food system and they want it to change," she said.
New Roots Institute conducts a digital survey after each classroom lesson, giving teachers and students the chance to share thoughts and feedback about the session.
A high school teacher at Community Health Academy of The Heights shared, “Claire had great presence and patience (the students can be a tough crowd). She was very professional, and had a perfect balance of emphasizing the importance of taking action, while also not shaming students or making them feel bad about their choices.”
Deshaies seeks to connect with students through their real-world experiences. She asks students if they live closer to a grocery store or a fast food chain and whether they know someone with a chronic food-linked illness, like heart disease or type 2 diabetes. Since Deshaies’ lessons are often the first time students learn about the origins of their food, many are shocked and motivated to make a change.
A sophomore at James Madison High School wrote, "After hearing the unbelievable statistics, I felt a change had to be made. The amount of people who are uneducated about the implications of factory farming is inexcusable. I hope that moving forward, people will become more knowledgeable on the topic and make a true difference."
