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 six-week long youth summer project and years-long partnership focused on healthy food accessibility and availability in the community of Hartford, CT. The program was titled "Food Fight." 

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My roles in this program included key project coordinator, partnership facilitator, program/curriculum developer, and research educator. 

 

My team at ICR and I, alongside Hartford Food System,  secured grant funding for the initial summer program 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. The youth spent half of their time farming in the organization's urban farms throughout Hartford. 

• During the six-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 at their Project Overview page and at their Project Description page.

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