Connecticut College
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Launched in 2017, Global New London is an intensive summer program designed in collaboration with staff from the Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy, the Walter Commons for Global Study and Engagement, and the Hale Center for Career and Career Development. Working together with faculty and community partners, students participate in an experiential learning opportunity that illuminates local issues and priorities in New London within a broader global framework, while at the same time providing community partners with assistance for discreet projects that they have identified through the thoughtful contribution, energy and commitment of Connecticut College students. Each year, part of the student cohort works with faculty to learn about food systems, sustainability, and supports projects in partnership with Brigaid, New London Public School’s food service provider. Brigaid's mission is to apply the talent of professional chefs to improve the offerings of institutional food service operations by cooking fresh food from scratch.

Established in 2010, Give 'N Go is a partnership between Connecticut College, the United Way of Southeaster Connecticut and Safe Futures (a domestic and sexual abuse shelter and transitional living program). At the end of the school year students are able to donate clothing, furniture, appliances, and food as they move out of the residence halls. The United Way and Safe Futures work with the Office of Sustainability to run an "agency pick-up day" when local community organizations can come and take items they need for their operations for free. Leftover items are stored until the start of the next school year for use by first year students. Volunteers and staff from the college and from United Way and Safe Futures work together to plan and implement this annual program. The program in May 2019 collected 11,325 lbs of donations. A shortened version of the program was held in 2021 and collected 7,400 lbs or donations.

Through Connecticut College's Office of Community Partnerships, work study students are paid with college funds to work as community gardeners at F.R.E.S.H. New London, a local urban farm. F.R.E.S.H. (Food: Resources, Education, Security, Health) New London is a holistic response to hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity. The organization promotes and builds local resources to meet local needs. It pursues its mission through food and agriculture projects, in the fields of: experiential education for ecological literacy and health; training for community and individual self-reliance; promotion of improved community management of natural resources; economic opportunities through local agriculture (including youth entrepreneurship); innovative distribution and marketing of locally grown food; and cultivation of the next generation of youth leaders. F.R.E.S.H. focuses its effort in building a vibrant local food system and a model of a food secure community. Work study students provide support with farm projects including planting and harvesting, farm planning, assisting with office clerical work, and working with the FRESH After-School Programs around New London to recruit and educate youth about nature and community gardening.