The Your Food, Your Choice Fellowship program is a learning and advocacy opportunity for high school students in Central New Jersey grades 9-12. From September through June of the coming school year, participants will learn about school food systems, advocacy and organizing, and communication, while receiving support from Elijah's Promise staff and their peers to make improvements to their school food programs.

School food programs have the potential to transform the relationship students have with food, ensure communal food security, contribute to environmental justice, and institutionalize food and nutrition education opportunities for students in every grade level. As the students who are served school meals every day, you deserve to have a say in that system. The Your Food, Your Choice program will help you learn how and help you take action. From food waste to culturally appropriate foods, and respect for land and labor to the nutrition in our meals, everybody deserves a school food program that works for them and we can't wait to help you build it.

The YFYC program will be split into two cohorts this year, one for returning students and one for new students. Students from the same schools in either cohort will have opportunities to work together. Both cohorts will, at minimum, meet virtually for one hour once every other week throughout the school year, complete short weekly status updates, hold 1-on-1 check-ins once every month and a half, and complete on average 3 hours of work a week. Bi-weekly sessions include learning material, guest speakers, opportunities to meet and work with students from other schools, and personal support in your efforts.

Students will be expected over the school year to develop and follow through on at least two school food system improvements, including projects that may be ongoing from students in the 2020-21 program. Students will also be expected to complete at least one communications deliverable and communicate regularly with a buddy from a different school.

Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by mid-June.

Please email Jason Flatt at food@elijahspromise.org for more information.