Center For Ecoliteracy

THE MISSION IS TO ADVANCE THE TEACHING AND MODELING OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN K-12 SCHOOLS.

THE CENTER FOR ECOLITERACY BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS AND THE CAPACITY OF K12 SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES BY ADVANCING ECOLOGICAL LITERACY AND FOOD SYSTEMS CHANGE. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS IN 2021 WITH THE OFFICE OF KAT TAYLOR, NEXTGEN CALIFORNIA, AND THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS, WE ACHIEVED OUR BIGGEST POLICY WIN TO DATE: BUILT A "SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL" COALITION WITH OVER 200 ORGANIZATIONS AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR CALIFORNIA TO BECOME THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO ADOPT FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL K12 STUDENTS, A GROUNDBREAKING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR UNIVERSAL MEALS.SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL: THIS LANDMARK INVESTMENT IN STATE FUNDING WILL PROVIDE $650 MILLION ANNUALLY TO NOURISH STUDENTS AND SUPPORT ACADEMIC SUCCESS. BY LEVERAGING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA FOOD FOR CALIFORNIA KIDS NETWORK, THE CENTER FOR ECOLITERACY CONNECTED SCHOOLNUTRITION LEADERS WITH POLICYMAKERS, CONDUCTED ORIGINAL RESEARCH, AND LOBBIED POLICYMAKERS. OUR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDED PUBLISHED OP-EDS, EARNED MEDIA, RAISING AWARENESS ONLINE AND WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND DEDICATED EMAIL CAMPAIGNS. IN ADDITION, WE INVITED THE SCHOOL MEALSFOR ALL COALITION TO ADVOCATE FOR UNIVERSAL MEALS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BEGAN PLANNING FOR THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL IN 2022, AND CRAFTED A 2022 POLICY PLATFORM TO BUILD ON THE NEW POLICIES AND ADVANCE SCHOOL NUTRITION PRIORITIES.FRESHLY-PREPARED AND CALIFORNIA-GROWN SCHOOL MEALS: AS PART OF THE SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL CAMPAIGN, WE SECURED $150 MILLION FOR TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT SCHOOL NUTRITION PROFESSIONALS IN SERVING MORE FRESHLY-PREPARED SCHOOL MEALS. AN ADDITIONAL $30 MILLION FOR A FARM TO SCHOOL INCUBATOR GRANT PROGRAM WAS INCLUDED FOR 2022, MAKING CALIFORNIA'S FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY. AS WE WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY AND COMMITMENT OF CALIFORNIA'S K12 SCHOOLS TO SERVE FRESHLY-PREPARED MEALS MADE WITH LOCALLYGROWN FOOD, THESE INVESTMENTS WILL SUPPORT SCHOOLS IN INCREASING LOCAL PROCUREMENT, SERVING FRESH SCHOOL MEALS, AND PROVIDING GARDEN, CULINARY, AND FOOD SYSTEMS EDUCATION.CALIFORNIA FOOD FOR CALIFORNIA KIDS NETWORK: THE LAUNCH OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE FOR THE CALIFORNIA FOOD FOR CALIFORNIA KIDS INITIATIVE LED TO THE GROWTH OF THE NETWORK TO 97 SCHOOL DISTRICTS SERVING 2,089,148 STUDENTS AND 329,831,033 SCHOOL MEALS ANNUALLY. WE RECOGNIZED SIX INSPIRING LEADERS WITH THE 2021 CALIFORNIA FOOD FOR CALIFORNIA KIDS LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION AWARDS AND LIFTED UP THEIR LASTING MODELS FOR SCHOOL FOOD SYSTEMS CHANGE.EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: THE CENTER FOR ECOLITERACY EXPANDED OUR EDUCATION OFFERINGS WITH RESOURCES AND LESSONS THAT EDUCATE STUDENTS ON SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS AND CLIMATE CHANGE. WE COMPLETED A PILOT, REVIEW PROCESS, AND FOCUS GROUP WITH EDUCATORS TO DEVELOP FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR "CALIFORNIA'S CLIMATE-SMART FARMS," A SERIES OF FIVE LESSONS WITH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND CALIFORNIA GROWING REGIONS. IN ADDITION, WE CONTINUED OUR ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE SAN MATEO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS ON OUR K12 ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD SYSTEMS EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.THE CENTER FOR ECOLITERACY SERVES AS AN ANCHOR TENANT AT THE DAVID BROWER CENTER, A HOME FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ACTION AND ONE OF THE BAY AREA'S MOST ADVANCED GREEN BUILDINGS. BEING LOCATED AT THE DAVID BROWER CENTER ENABLES US TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES WHILE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION WITH DOZENS OF OTHER LEADING NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.