Rooted Solidarity

Turning Food Justice Into state Policy

by jalmond

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.

A Workshop on Indigenous Food History with Xochitl Garcia

by abisceglia

By Ikimot Siyanbola

Note* The terms Native American and Indigenous are used interchangeably in this blog, but it’s important to know that Indigenous is an umbrella term that not all Native Americans may accept.

On September 22nd, Rooted Solidarity was honored to welcome Xochitl Garcia to Wesleyan to deliver a workshop about Indigenous food history. The workshop primarily focused on how Indigenous food history has been hidden, obscuring the crucial contributions of Native people to our food system. Participants included community members, as well as Wesleyan students, faculty and staff. Attendees learned through doing, as the workshop consisted of playing trivia to test our knowledge.

Planting Seeds and Nourishing Community Food Systems

by abisceglia

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)