reEngage DL2021

The session will use experiential learning as a tool to reach greater depths of understanding and engagement, and powerful discussion to address systemic issues and educational connections. Participants will learn about Olivewood’s programming and the important work we are doing in National City and San Diego County and how it is relevant to communities outside of National City and beyond.
We will discuss the impact of food on health, parent and community roles in student success, and institutional barriers to health and wellness can impact students.

Our vision is to walk the gardens while harvesting seasonal produce, discussing the above topics as well as access to healthy food. We will use the fresh ingredients to make a few simple, accessible recipes while showing how to engage students with simple cooking instruction. After the completion of the recipe demo we can have a dialogue about food systems, the power of food to connect and nourish, and how these concepts can be brought back to educational and classroom settings via growing and cooking our own food, grocery store literacy, creativity in the kitchen and more.

During the session, participants will be prompted to discuss food system terms such as “food desert”, “food resiliency”, “food apartheid”, food sovereignty" and how language impacts the way we view food and health and the structures that surround them; the complicated dynamics and components of the food system, the impact of nutrition on student learning, the role that educators play in developing health for the community they serve and how participants can bring these concepts back to their home communities to impact change. By creating their own recipe with the box ingredients and their own pantry items, participants will use skills to that encourage them to be flexible, think critically, use their imagination in difficult tasks, be innovative and use the tools they have at their disposal to be successful - all critical skills for students to possess.

This session will focus on how food can be used as a tool for change.