Project Grant 20193841430263

LOUISVILLE, KY-BASED 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT, THE FOOD LITERACY PROJECT (FLP), AND ITS PARTNER JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (JCPS), THE LARGEST AND MOST-DIVERSE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE, WILL USE USDA NIFA SPAEC GRANT FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE NATIONAL CHALLENGE OF INCREASING THE NUMBER AND DIVERSITY OF STUDENTS ENTERING THE FANH SCIENCES THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INQUIRY-DRIVEN, EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE CROSS-CURRICULAR INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES CO-CONSTRUCTED BY STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH THE 3-YEAR STRENGTHENING FOOD LITERACY, FANH SCIENCES EDUCATION AND CAREER READINESS THROUGH STUDENT INQUIRY, EXPERIENCE AND ACTION IN LOUISVILLE, KY PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WILL 1) CREATE NEW CURRICULA AND MATERIALS TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF K-14 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN THE FANH SCIENCES; 2) IMPLEMENT HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND METHODS TO EXTEND LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF REAL-WORLD SITUATIONS; AND 3) CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS TO COMPLETE PARTICIPATORY LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES IN THE FANH SCIENCES.THE PROJECT'S PRIMARY AUDIENCE IS A DIVERSE GROUP OF 90+ ENGLISH LEARNERS (EL) STUDENTS AT IROQUOIS HIGH SCHOOL (IHS), ONE OF JCPS' MOST CHALLENGED SCHOOLS (RANKING IN THE BOTTOM 5% OF HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE STATE). IHS IS LOCATED IN SOUTH LOUISVILLE, A PRIME RESETTLEMENT AREA FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. THE PROJECT ALSO HAS BROAD IMPACT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A WHOLE, WHICH SERVES NEARLY 100,000 STUDENTS. STUDENTS WILL CONNECT WITH FRESH, HEALTHFUL FOOD WHILE IT'S STILL GROWING IN THE GROUND, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FARM, COOK, BREAK BREAD, COMMUNICATE AND ACTIVATE CHANGE TOGETHER, DIRECTLY IMPACTING THEIR EXPERIENCE OF PLACE AND RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE FOOD SYSTEM - AS WELL AS THEIR TASTE BUDS, HEALTH, SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND ABILITY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, CAREER AND BEYOND. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO BUILD TEACHERS' CAPACITY, INCREASING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF EFFECTIVE HANDS-ON LEARNING AND INQUIRY-DRIVEN FANH SCIENCES EDUCATION.