Project Overview

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While working at the Institute for Community Research (ICR), I spearheaded a collaboration with Hartford Food System's Executive Director which initiated a five-week long youth summer project and years-long partnership focused on healthy food accessibility and availability in the community of Hartford, CT.

 

My team at ICR and I secured grant funding for the initial summer project which examined issues of food justice, food distribution and local food production in the city to create a more equitable food system from the perspective of Hartford youth. 

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The partnership featured the following: 

 

•  8 youth were selected through Capital Workforce Partners Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program to be paid as Youth Researchers, working part-time with the ICR as researchers and part-time with Hartford Food System as Urban Farmers. Their work at Hartford Food System gave them hands-on experience in food production, food justice and healthy food accessibility. 

• During the five-week project while working at ICR, we trained the 8 Youth Researchers in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (survey, card sorting, in-depth interviewing, videography and investigative photography). 

• Their research focused on exploring the teen friendliness of farmers markets in the city of Hartford. They investigated research questions such as: 

  • Are farmers markets teen-friendly? ​

  • Why are they open to teen engagement, or not open to it? 

  • How can we make farmers markets more teen friendly and welcoming spaces for youth? 

  • What are youth friendly spaces in Hartford, CT that truly nourish youth?

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Methodology 

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The Youth Researchers conducted the following research to help inform the creation of a food justice advocacy group, working closely with policymakers to create change in Hartford, CT:  

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• They created and administered a survey to 72 Hartford high school students that asked questions about purchasing behavior, eating habits, and knowledge/opinions of farmers markets. 

• They conducted a total of 21 interviews with the following community members: Farmers Market Manager, Food Safety Specialist, other fellow Hartford youth, among others. 

• The Youth Researchers observed farmers markets and community garden spaces, utilizing creative methodologies such as videography and investigative photography. 

 

Upon completion of data collection, they presented their insights to a community audience at ICR and facilitated a discussion about the research results and next steps. 

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This summary was informed by and adapted from ICR's website. You can read more about the project at their website here. 

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