coexist

By Lily Robbins

This summer, the Bailey College of the Environment sponsored eight interns from Wesleyan University, the New London community, and Middletown High School to be a part of the Planting Seeds Internship Program. These interns were matched with four community organizations who have been working on issues of environmental and food justice in Connecticut. Day to day, they took on tasks alongside others at their sites, learning from each other about farming, community organizing, non-profit program development, and intergenerational action. Whether it was learning how to build a beehive or how to have a one-on-one meeting with a community member, the cohort was eager to develop new skills and make connections with new people.

(Pictured left to right: Christine Caruso, Arianna Riabov Hernandez, Chingun Tsogt-Erdene, Lennon Favreau, Malana Rogers-Bursen, Scott Kucsera, Lily Robbins, Mia-Lillian Powell, Sophia Karson, photo by Reggy St. Fortcolin)

The program kicked off with an introductory webinar on June 7, where interns could get acquainted with site supervisors before they arrived, as well as each other in the Planting Seeds cohort. Starting on June 30, the Planting Seeds team gathered for weekly Monday workshops facilitated by Malana Rogers-Bursen (Project Director of Food Security, Environmental Justice and Sustainability at BCOE) and Dr. Christine Caruso (Professor of the Practice and Associate Director of Community Engagement at BCOE). In these weekly workshops, interns got to share with each other about their experiences at their sites, and talk about how each organization’s work fit into the larger statewide movement for environmental and food justice. Workshop topics included food systems, social justice, community organizing, and youth participatory action research & evaluation. Each Monday was hosted at a different location, offering each intern a chance to see and work at each site, and the organizations a chance to meet the cohort.

Interns attend a workshop at Keney Park Sustainability Project in Hartford (photo by Malana Rogers-Bursen)

Office of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness Services at Middletown Public Schools

Mia-Lillian Powell and Issy Simpson worked at Middletown Public Schools, working with Food, Nutrition, and Wellness Services. They participated in designing school meal menus, proposing and testing culturally appropriate recipes to be used in the upcoming school year. The interns also gained hands-on growing experience by building and maintaining school gardens in the city. Creating promotional and educational materials for both the school cafeterias and gardens was also a key aspect of their internships.

“This internship was so meaningful to me because I went from knowing almost nothing about food systems to realizing how deeply food justice touches our everyday lives. Helping plan the lunches I eat, creating posters for our schools, building gardens for younger students, and even seeing my classmates enjoy their meals made me realize that food isn’t just about eating, it’s about inclusivity, community, and care.” 

– Mia-Lillian Powell, Middletown High School Student at Middletown Public Schools

“For my planting seeds internship, I worked at Middletown Public Schools. We worked on building new gardens at some of the schools, as well as revamping some existing ones. As well as this, we worked with the kitchen staff to brainstorm new nutritious recipes to be added onto the school menu, and sometimes got the opportunity to help in the kitchen. My experience at this internship not only grew my understanding of the inner workings of public schools, but also allowed me to develop a love for gardening, which is something I had always wanted to explore more.” 

– Issy Simpson, Wesleyan Student at Middletown Public Schools

“Having Issy and Mia with us through the Planting Seeds Program this summer was an incredible experience for our schools. Their creativity, dedication, and passion for food and education shined through in every project. They not only supported our gardens and nutrition education, but also brought fresh ideas and energy that inspired both our team and our students. The Planting Seeds Program truly helps us bridge the gap between classroom learning and hands-on food education.” 

– Randall Mel, Director of Food, Nutrition and Wellness Services at Middletown Public Schools

(Interns at FRESH New London, photo by Vetiveah Immanuel)

F.R.E.S.H. New London

Yesly Jimenez, Sophia Karson, Arianna Hernandez, and Scott Kucsera worked with FRESH New London this summer, a food justice non-profit dedicated to creating food system change through local agriculture, community engagement, and youth leadership empowerment. The four Planting Seeds interns supported the organization’s programming on both hands-on farming and administrative ends—specifically through the youth crew program, the “Pay What You Can farm stand,” and the Food to People pantry.

“This summer, I was allowed to work at FRESH New London, a non-profit organization that focuses on food justice. I learned a lot about agriculture and the various ways politics impact food inequality. I am very grateful that I got to know more about these topics at FRESH, where everyone is dedicated to helping create a better future for the next generation, and where the staff truly cares about hearing from the youth and their perspectives. The entire staff, including the youth, was dedicated, welcoming, and highly talented. I could not have chosen a better place to spend the summer and cannot wait to see how FRESH continues to grow!” 

– Yesly Jimenez, Wesleyan Student at FRESH New London

“This past summer I had the opportunity to intern at F.R.E.S.H. New London, and working at F.R.E.S.H. was a truly inspiring and rewarding experience. During my time at F.R.E.S.H, I was able to deepen my understanding of farming, food justice, and community-driven change, working alongside a great team of people who share a passion for food sovereignty and social justice. From growing food for the local New London community to supporting in teaching the political education curriculum alongside F.R.E.S.H’s youth leaders, I gained valuable skills as an educator and organizer, while learning about the power of working collectively towards a more just food system. I feel deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to F.R.E.S.H. New London and am lucky to have been part of the New London community this summer. Thank you to all the members of F.R.E.S.H. and New London for this vibrant experience, and I look forward to carrying these lessons forward in the fight for food advocacy and political justice.” 

– Sophia Karson, Wesleyan Student at FRESH New London

“The Planting Seeds internship program offered by Wesleyan University truly enriched FRESH’s growing season this summer, both logistically and creatively. It cannot be understated that due to funding cuts, FRESH has had to be extremely strategic in stretching our funds to continue our programming at the same capacity and quality. The Planting Seeds Internship was a logistical life-saver because it allowed us to retain our capacity for the workload (by adding 2 interns and financing the jobs of our 2 Jr. Staff partners) needed during this grueling growing season. The Planting Seeds team supported us with food distribution in New London from food-to harvest-to processing-to watching the food leave in the hands of a happy community member. Creatively, though, they may have contributed even more. This cohort was a key part of the planning process that structured our summer youth program. Our summer theme was Building a Critical, Revolutionary Mindset, and the different experiences and expertise brought in by the team made our workshops what they were. They co-facilitated, archived materials, and helped us debrief all of the work we did this summer, and we couldn’t have done it without them. HONESTLY!” 

– Chloë Nuñez, Senior Program Manager at FRESH New London

(Photos by Lennon Favreau, taken at New Britain ROOTS)

New Britain ROOTS

Lennon Favreau spent her summer at New Britain ROOTS, a food justice non-profit committed to making food system change through local agriculture, youth leadership empowerment, and community engagement. Through her internship, Lennon got farming experience with the youth program to maintain over a dozen gardens in the city. She also was integral to the launch of the organization’s community fridge project, as well as the continuation of their mobile market.

“My time working at New Britain ROOTS was incredibly special, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. While at ROOTS I was able to engage and interact with the New Britain community and connect with members through a shared love of fresh food. Interactions came in the form of selling produce at various farmers markets throughout the city, substituting at summer school, and doing garden work all around New Britain. Through weeding, harvesting, teaching, learning, or selling, I was able to grow my understanding of CT food systems. A major highlight for me this summer was taking care of the bees at ROOTS and learning about beekeeping with my supervisor, Jenna. She showed me how they get fed sugar water each week, how to rotate their trays, and how to calm them with smoke! I feel extremely grateful to have come across ROOTS. I am thankful for the people that are a part of this organization, for the community members of New Britain, and for those at Wesleyan and the College of the Environment for creating an opportunity like this for their students.” 

– Lennon Favreau, Wesleyan student at New Britain ROOTS

“This summer, ROOTS hosted a Planting Seeds Intern from Wesleyan University. Our intern was able to plug into our diverse programs, and directly applied what she was learning in her summer class to our food justice work in New Britain. Lennon brought creativity, enthusiasm, and thoughtfulness to our worksite, and helped us successfully launch our Community Fridge Program. Her presence added capacity to our work, and her food-justice lens was a valuable asset to our community programs.” 

– Jenna Van Donselaar, Program Manager at New Britain ROOTS

(Pictured left to right: Herb Virgo and Chingun Tsogt-Erdene, photo by Malana Rogers-Bursen)

Keney Park Sustainability Project, Hartford 

Chingun Tsogt-Erdene worked at Keney Park Sustainability Project in Hartford, focusing on creating a business plan that would support the organization’s future plans and generate sustainable revenue. Through working at the city farmers market and the project’s milling site, he supported the organization’s community-engaged programming during his internship.

“My internship at the Keney Park Sustainability Project (KPSP) was a rewarding and eye-opening experience. I supported their efforts to generate sustainable revenue through volunteer engagement and urban wood utilization, while also working on smaller projects like organizing their websites, creating a Google Sheets system to track sales and purchases, and the farmers’ market. One of the highlights was visiting the milling site, where I got to see the process of sawing and drying tree slabs up close. That visit gave me a much deeper appreciation for the work being done on-site and connected me more closely to KPSP’s mission. I really enjoyed meeting the staff and volunteers. The passion everyone had for their work was inspiring and showed me how much impact a nonprofit can create with dedication and creativity. This internship has helped me grow in several important ways. It gave me a better understanding of how nonprofits operate, the critical role volunteers play, and the balance organizations must strike between mission and sustainability. The Monday workshops with other interns were also great learning experiences. The discussions at the workshops pushed me to reflect on real social issues and stay open to new perspectives. Altogether, this experience deepened my interest in mission-driven work. Looking ahead, I hope to continue supporting KPSP’s goals as a volunteer and remain engaged in sustainability and community-based projects. This internship has been a great step in my growth, and I am grateful to have been a part of it.” 

– Chingun Tsogt-Erdene, Wesleyan student at Keney Park Sustainability Project

Reflecting and Expanding Our Reach

As their internships came to an end, the cohort met one final time at the BCOE in Middletown, taking a tour of campus and spending time reflecting on their experiences in the program. Interns identified what worked and what could be improved about the Planting Seeds program, offering feedback that will shape future iterations of the program and help it grow. The BCOE is excited to continue working with sites across CT in Summer 2026 and building intergenerational partnership. It’s an opportunity to keep building meaningful statewide relationships between community organizations, Wesleyan students and community youth who are passionate about moving towards food and environmental justice together.