On Wednesday, February 3, Wesleyan was honored to welcome Randall Mel, Jr., director of Wellness and Nutrition Services for Middletown Public Schools, to facilitate a workshop about the state legislative process, food justice advocacy, and how students can get involved. Attended by members of food justice organizations from all across the state, as well as Wesleyan students and faculty, the workshop gave attendees concrete and actionable advice to begin influencing policy in Connecticut. The event was the first in a series of Activism & Advocacy Workshops being held this spring.
Mel drew from his personal experience as a food advocate working in the Middletown Public Schools, as well as with End Hunger CT. He began the workshop by going over the schedule and structure of the Legislature, emphasizing that even during small “budget adjuster” legislative sessions, like 2026, student voices can have a powerful impact on maintaining funding for important programs.