University of New Hampshire
EN-10: Community Partnerships

The Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire serves as the backbone organization for the NH Farm to School (NHFTS) Program, which was established in 2003 as a pilot program to introduce local apples and cider into NH K-12 schools. Within three years, over half the K-12 schools in the state were purchasing them for their cafeterias. In addition to continuing with this successful program integrating apples and cider, the NHFTS is working to expand local food procurement. In 2006, NHFTS initiated a new pilot program -- the Get Smart Eat Local 10 District Project -- to work with school districts and a wholesale farm in the seacoast region of the state to introduce new local foods in the schools. Since then, NHFTS has been working to establish new farm-to-school connections with growers and schools in other parts of the state. The NHFTS Program serves as a facilitator engaging farmers, distributors, food service directors, teachers, health educators and administrators in adopting farm to school practices. This involves the following: - Helping to negotiate simple, affordable systems for purchase of NH grown and produced foods by K-12 schools or distributors serving those schools; - Creating, collecting, and distributing support and educational materials tailored for individual stakeholders and program partners; - Providing and presenting information on how to integrate farm to school connections into curriculum and school policies; and - Working with stakeholders and media to enhance the visibility and effectiveness of farm to school efforts. For more information, please see the NHFTS website: http://www.nhfarmtoschool.org/

Food Solutions New England (FSNE) is a regional, collaborative network organized to support the emergence and continued viability of a New England food system that is a resilient driver of healthy food for all, racial equity, sustainable farming and fishing, and thriving communities. The UNH Sustainability Institute serves as a backbone organization for this network. For more information, see http://www.foodsolutionsne.org/

Climate Solutions New England (CSNE) promotes collaboration and collective impact towards the goal of greater energy self-reliance and weather resilience that contribute to healthy, prosperous, and sustainable communities across New England. In 2016, CSNE developed a new partnership with the New England Municipal Sustainability Network--whose members are sustainability staff from nearly 30 communities across New England working to model what community sustainability looks like and to help lead the New England region toward sustainability transformation. UNH provides backbone support for the NEMS Network and pairs NEMS communities with Sustainability Fellows to advance specific sustainability projects in New England communities. For more information see https://sustainableunh.unh.edu/climate-solutions-new-england.

UNH's Center for Social Innovation and Enterprise has developed a number of partnerships with local nonprofits, socially-responsible businesses, with whom it places high-achieving, impact-focused student leaders for the Social Innovation Internship program each summer. For more about those partnerships, see https://www.unh.edu/social-innovation/internship/2017-hosts. UNH's College for Health and Human Services has developed a number of partnerships which contribute to the health of local communities and services for vulnerable populations. See http://chhs.unh.edu/partnerships

Other contacts: Julia Williams, the Senior Vice Provost for Engagement and Academic Outreach, can speak to many of UNH's engaged scholarship activities. partnerships. Phone: (603) 862-1997 Email: julie.williams@unh.edu For general inquiries about community sustainability partnerships, please contact Michelle Fox at the UNH Sustainability Institute.