When I learned I’d been placed with Common Threads, I was genuinely excited. Over the past few years, I’ve developed a passion for cooking; especially learning how to do it well on a budget. Common Threads immediately resonated with me because of its mission to make healthy cooking accessible and culturally relevant. While I didn’t come in with formal nutrition experience, I was eager to learn and contribute in a hands-on way.

After relocating from Ohio to Miami, one of Common Threads’ main markets, I found myself adjusting to a new city alongside a new role. At Common Threads, my early weeks focused on onboarding and learning the organization from the inside out. I met with team members across departments to better understand the programs and mission. Stepping into a role so different from my previous experiences was intimidating at first, but with the support of my supervisor and colleagues, I quickly gained confidence.

Reflecting on this experience so far, it has been defined by learning, adaptation, and growth. Becoming deeply involved in an organization in a short period can be daunting, but the Common Threads team has been welcoming and supportive throughout. I’ve moved from feeling uncertain to feeling confident and connected to the mission. As I continue this journey, I’m excited to build on this foundation, deepening the research, listening to students, and helping shape programming that makes cooking and nutrition more accessible.

February – Los Angeles, CA – Common Threads, a leading national nonprofit committed to fostering health and wellness through cooking and nutrition education, is proud to announce a transformative multi-year partnership with the Anahata Foundation, supported by a $220,000 grant over two years. Together, these organizations will leverage their shared commitment to advancing the “Food is Medicine” movement and creating generational health in underserved communities in Los Angeles and New York City.

This partnership will focus on Common Threads’ groundbreaking Kitchen Clinic and Chef-Led Small Bites programs, equipping students with the knowledge and tools to build healthier futures. By integrating culturally relevant, hands-on culinary education with actionable health insights, these programs empower youth to make informed choices about their diets and overall wellness.

“At Common Threads, we believe the kitchen is a classroom—a space where we learn to transform our health, fight disease, and thrive through the power of food,” said Linda Novick O’Keefe, CEO & Co-Founder of Common Threads. “Partnering with the Anahata Foundation allows us to deepen our impact in LA and NYC by addressing the root causes of chronic disease and health disparities. Together, we’re empowering young people to rewrite the narrative for their families and communities, one recipe at a time.”

Empowering Youth Through the Kitchen Clinic

The Kitchen Clinic program is at the heart of this partnership. Designed for high school students, the initiative blends hands-on cooking classes with nutrition education, focusing on how food can prevent and manage chronic conditions. By connecting the dots between culinary skills and health literacy, the program emphasizes that food truly is medicine.

“Taking the Kitchen Clinic class has been an amazing experience for me as a culinary arts student,” said a 12 grade Kitchen Clinic participant from Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies. “I’ve learned so much about the medicinal properties of different foods and how they can help promote health and wellness. It’s exciting to understand how ingredients can be used not just to create delicious meals, but also to support wellbeing. This class has deepened my passion for cooking and inspired me to explore the powerful connection between food and health.”

The partnership will enable the expansion of Kitchen Clinics in both cities, delivering these essential life skills to more students and creating a ripple effect in their families and communities.

Savoring Health with Chef-Led Small Bites

Complementing the Kitchen Clinic program, the Chef-Led Small Bites initiative brings professional chefs into elementary and middle schools and community spaces to prepare simple, nutritious snacks while engaging students in conversations about the role of food in achieving optimal health. These vibrant, interactive sessions inspire students to explore healthy eating in a fun and approachable way.

Building Generational Health

The collaboration between Common Threads and the Anahata Foundation represents a bold step forward in addressing health inequities and laying the foundation for generational health. This partnership is deeply aligned with the vision and values of Mark Bertolini, a passionate advocate for holistic health and well-being. As the founder of the Anahata Foundation, Bertolini has long championed initiatives that address systemic inequities and empower individuals to lead healthier lives. His belief in the transformative power of education and community engagement is central to this collaboration.

“Partnering with Common Threads aligns perfectly with the Anahata Foundation’s mission of holistic health and healing,” said Mark T. Bertolini, Trustee of the Anahata Foundation. “We’re thrilled to support programs that not only educate but also inspire, helping young people and their families see food as a gateway to wellness.”

Through this collaboration, Common Threads and the Anahata Foundation aim to honor Bertolini’s legacy of innovation and compassion, creating pathways for youth to reimagine their relationships with food and health while building stronger, more resilient communities.

About Common Threads:

Common Threads is a national leader in enhancing community health through the power of nutrition and food. For over two decades, the nonprofit has been addressing the often-neglected connection between nutrition and overall well-being by providing nutrition education, cooking skills training, and food access.

Operating in-person and digitally, Common Threads has partnerships with over 2,200 schools, provided more than five million meals, and has positively impacted the long-term nutritional health of over one million individuals. From the nation’s largest public school districts in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago, to various community organizations and medical institutions, its efforts are widespread. For additional information, please visit commonthreads.org.

Written By: Tania Garcia | Marketing Intern | 5 MIN READ

Wondering why the food prices at your local grocery store have increased so much? Of course, one easy answer is that this is simply the result of inflation. However, that is not the entire a reason. The reality is that inflation definitely played a role, but the increase was also affected by COVID-19, as well as international trading and events that have impacted our economy tremendously over the past few years. All of these disruptions ultimately caused changes to the food supply chain increasing the overall price, which also varies depending on the specific food groups and where you are located. 

So how do you continue to eat healthy in this new economy? While it is a common misconception that healthy equals more expensive, Kelly Haws, Ph.D., associate professor of marketing at Vanderbilt University, explains that oftentimes people confuse the idea of eating ‘healthy’ with other food labels that increase the cost, like ‘organic’ or ‘gluten-free’. The real key to healthy eating is to eat more whole foods and fewer processed ones, says Alissa Rumsey, a registered dietitian and a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Regarding the recent food price increases, as it turns out, fruits and vegetables had the smallest price increase being 9%; followed by meats, poultry, and fish at 10%; dairy products at 12%; and grains and bakery products having the highest increase at around 13%. This does not disregard how much food prices increasing have affected families across the country, but demonstrates that focusing on eating healthier is still feasible. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind when grocery shopping to make nutritious meals that are still within your budget: 

• Plan Ahead. Look up recipes ahead of time and plan out what you and your family will eat for the week. Make a checklist of all the ingredients you will need and check what ingredients you have at home before visiting your local grocery store. To find healthy and budget-friendly meal ideas, visit https://www.commonthreads.org/recipes/.

• Consider ALL Costs. When creating your budget, include all costs including groceries but also transportation and gas. Be sure to think through what ingredients you need, determining if you can buy all of the items in one visit from one store, instead of having to take multiple trips. Use the USDA’s Low-Cost Food Plan as your own personal food calculator to help you build your budget.

• Buy In-Season Produce. Pay attention to when certain foods are in-season and locally sourced. Not only will they be fresher, tastier and more nutritious, but most importantly they will always be less expensive. 

• Canned & Frozen. Buying canned and frozen foods are shelf-stable and comes in handy when certain foods are not in season. Just because they are canned or frozen does not mean that it isn’t a healthy choice! Many food items are preserved and frozen at peak freshness maintaining their nutritional value, making them a perfect option when shopping. Be mindful of the sodium levels when picking canned foods, always choose ‘low-sodium’ options when available.

• Healthy Swaps. An assorted box of chips is usually cheaper compared to a bag of apples. However, eating one apple is usually more filling and nutritious than an entire bag of chips. Making this small swap helps you to portion out healthier snacks and meals better throughout the week. Try out this Nutrition Comparison Tool to find the best item swaps for your home.

• Buy in Bulk : Buying in bulk is a great option to reduce the price of food per item. Although, while it may be cheaper when thinking long term, this also means paying more money upfront. Planning ahead and meal prepping is key when considering this option as to minimize unnecessary food waste. Targeting shelf-stable items is a great way to buy in bulk. Make the purchase count!

Food prices have greatly increased and with no signs of decreasing in the near future. Use these tips and tricks to stay healthy while you shop smart and prioritize budget-friendly foods and meals, keeping in mind that food prices will differ depending on where you live. No matter what your situation may be, we have a large variety of recipes created with all budgets in mind Happy grocery shopping!

Written By: Olivia Haase | Dietetic Intern

The summer is a great time to involve your children in the kitchen. New flavors and textures can give children a way to explore food while expanding their palates and exposing them to new foods and cooking skills. There are a multitude of ways to instill a love for food and foster their creativity. Keep your children busy, engaged, and excited about cooking with these simple and fun food-related activities.

1. Make DIY Popsicles: Homemade popsicles are always a winner. Encourage your kids to come up with their own flavors, using juice, yogurt, and fruit to come up with refreshing combinations. Help them to explore their creativity by mixing and matching flavors. Once the popsicles have set in the freezer, have fun a taste testing all of the popsicles and pick the best flavor!
2. Have an Outdoor Picnic: Set up a picnic blanket in a shady spot in the grass and let your kids pack up a basket of food to enjoy outdoors. Encourage them to choose their favorite fruits, sandwiches, and snacks. Anything goes! Eating outdoors is a great way to connect children with nature and outdoor creative play. This is a great time to instill the value of taking care of nature: don’t forget to clean up your refuse on the out!
3. Create DIY Ice Cubes: An even simpler take on the DIY Ice cubes. Freeze different fruit and juices in ice cube trays with water. Note: this is a great way to increase excitement around drinking water and bonus points for a great way to beat the heat and stay hydrated.
4. Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt: Connect your kids to an array of seasonal vegetables and local goods by visiting your local Farmers Market. Create a scavenger hunt game and have your kids find certain items. Sunflowers, beets, kale, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables are easy and fun to find. This game encourages exposure, visual stimulation, and connection to the local community.  Bonus points to have them pick out one new vegetable each and come up with a creative way to prepare what they picked out.
5. Start a Small Vegetable Garden: Encourage your child’s connection to growing their own food. No formal gardening space or experience required. Take any container, fill it with soil and plant seeds according to the package. Watch the seeds grow while teaching your children how to plant and care for a living thing. Bonus points, harvest vegetables and make a new recipe!
6. DIY Recipe Book: Help your kids write their own recipe books. Encourage them to think of their favorite foods or dishes they have eaten before. Instruct them to find a recipe online and transcribe into one place for safe keeping. They can design the layout, make designs, or write about the time they enjoyed the dish. This can be done by hand or virtually! If virtually, you can print it out and share with friends and family.
7. Tie-Dye with Food Scraps: A favorite eco-and-kid-friendly activity! Use old scraps from food and give old clothes new life! Remember to supervise your kids throughout the tie-dye process. Food scraps that can dye clothes include beets, spinach, onion peels, avocado peels, cabbage, or coffee grounds. See this article for a quick how-to.

Keeping kids engaged and entertained this summer with these activities helps to foster creativity and exploration while exposing children to new foods, flavors, and textures. From connecting to the local community with a Farmers Market Scavenger hunt to DIY Recipe books at home, these low-cost, easy activities will provide for an educational, fun, and engaging summer! The memories and skills they gain from these food activities will last far beyond the summer months. Happy Summer!

By Council of Great City Schools Superintendent-in-Residence, Michael Hinojosa and Common Threads Co-Founder and CEO, Linda Novick O’Keefe

Imagine a world where every child grows up understanding the vital connection between the food they eat and their overall health. A world where no child goes to bed hungry and everyone has equal access to the nutritious, culturally appropriate food they need to thrive. This does not need to be merely a dream, but rather a reality within reach. It’s a journey that unites the sometimes disconnected worlds of hunger, proper nutrition, and health.  As American society faces complex challenges related to food, nutrition, and health, the time is now for leaders across the nation to advocate for change and transformational vision. It’s time to turn the food system on its head, fight hunger, and wage war on diet-related diseases. The goal? By 2030, food will be elevated to the center of all health discussions, not as a mere necessity, but as a powerful tool for societal change.

This vision is not merely about access to food; it’s also about ensuring access to nutritious, culturally conscious foods and health-promoting activities. Communities most at risk of diet-related diseases often find themselves with scarce access to such resources. This stark disparity sheds light on the need for a more equitable food policy and education.

The educational approach should extend beyond traditional academics to include life skills like understanding the importance of nutrition, developing age-appropriate cooking skills, and gaining hands-on experience with sustainable food practices. According to the CDC, American students receive less than eight hours of nutrition education each school year—woefully short of the 40 to 50 hours needed to foster lasting behavioral change.

Written By: Tania Garcia | Marketing Intern

It is officially Summer and while the first thing many think of is no school, hot weather, and the beach, we should also think about the in-season food! Beginning from June until August right now is the time to enjoy the freshness of certain fruits and vegetables. Eating in-season produce is relatively more inexpensive, easier to find, and -contains more nutrients, providing a richer flavor.  Seasonal fruits and vegetables grow based on their specific requirements of temperature, humidity, and light needed. As stated by Ward’s Supermarket, “Produce that’s not in season undergoes early picking, cooling, and heating that reduces the flavor. Fruits and vegetables in season spend less time from farm to table, so they maintain much of their nutrition and flavor.” With this into mind, let’s acknowledge the summer produce that you can enjoy!  

First, did you know that July is known as the National Berry Month? Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries are all in-season ready to be eaten during the summer months. According to Harvard University, “berries provide potassium, magnesium, vitamins C and K, fiber, and prebiotics-carbohydrates that help promote a healthy gut.” Berries are some of the best sources of antioxidants, dark berries especially can help protect the kidneys. Additionally, according to Eric Rimm, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “On average, people who eat more berries seem to live a little bit longer.” Now, that does not mean that these berries should just be eaten all alone; instead, opt for including them into your meals. My favorite meal to include berries in is breakfast—banana oat pancakes topped with various berries are unbeatable. Luckily for you, Common Threads has a recipe for Banana Oat Pancakes, and not only are they tasty, but easy to make.  

Let’s talk about some vegetables, cauliflower and bell peppers are in season for the summer! Cauliflowers are specifically known to help strengthen your bones, as well as being a great source of fiber. While it may be easy to assume that bell peppers are mainly there for a taste of spice; bell peppers are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C! Consider sautéing them and including them with some chicken for protein or simply stuffing them! Follow the Common Threads recipe on Simply Stuffed Bell Peppers for a delicious meal!  

Many of the fruits and veggies that are in-season often contain vitamin C and antioxidants. According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin C is a nutrient your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen in bones. On the other hand, antioxidants protect your cells against free radicals, which may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Stay active and healthy through the summer by finding fun ways to incorporate these in-season fruits and vegetables providing the nutrients your body and mind need. To find a list of what’s in season year-round visit the USDA’s Seasonal Produce Guide. 

Written By: Mariana Garza

Water is the most important nutrient for your body. About 70% of our bodies are made up of water, so it’s important to make sure we are staying hydrated throughout the day! Drinking enough water will support your immune system, promote healthy digestion, and provide the hydration you need to stay physically active. On average, you should aim for at least 8 cups of water per day. While this might seem excessive and  impossible to reach, it is possible using some simple steps to reach your hydration goals! Water is undoubtedly the best option for hydrating the right way. Even though it may be tempting to reach for the nearest sports drink, soda or juice, sugar-sweetened beverages can increase our risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Here are five sustainable tips to help you stay healthy and hydrated.

Use a fun or colorful reusable water bottle.

• Use a reusable bottle that you can refill throughout the day. 
• A water bottle in a design or your favorite color might motivate you to drink more often
• Ensure you reach your goal of 8 cups of water a day by filling up your water bottle the night before to have it ready to go  in the morning!

Eat water-dense fruits and vegetables.

• Did you know that some fruits and vegetables are over 70% water–some are even over 90%! Fruits like cantaloupe, strawberries, watermelon, bananas, grapes, oranges, pears, and pineapples all have a high-water content. 
• As for vegetables, go for lettuce, cabbage, celery, spinach, cooked squash, carrots, cooked broccoli, and avocados.

Limit sugary beverages like soda and fruit juice.

• There’s a time and place for every type of drink. Like food, drinks can be categorized into three categories, “Whoa, Slow, and Go.” 
• “Whoa” includes drinks that have limited nutritional value and should be consumed once in a while or during special occasions. Sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, juice, energy drinks, sweetened teas, and whole milk belong in this category. 
• “Slow” includes drinks that you can enjoy but should limit them to at most 2-3 times per week. Some examples include 2% milk, 100% fruit juice, and sports drinks. 
• “Go” includes drinks that you can enjoy every day. Water, 1% or skim milk, and unsweetened teas belong to this category. 
• If you have any doubts, check the nutrition facts label on the back of the product for the amount of added sugar per serving.

Don’t be afraid to change it up!

• Drink choices that can be enjoyed regularly include water, 1% or skim milk, and unsweetened teas.  
• Infuse your water with fruit to enhance it with some natural sweetness and change up the flavor.
• You can customize your infused water to your own fruit preferences! Check out the Infused Water recipe for some ideas!

Make it a fun challenge!

• Get some friends together and compete to see who can reach their goals each day. This is a fun way to help keep you accountable to meet your hydration goals! There are even free apps, like WaterReminder that allow you to track your water. This and other app options are available for iOS and Android. 

Use these tips at school, work or on a hot summer day! It can be a daunting task to increase fluid intake but if you follow these tips, you will be drinking more water in no time!

Sources: Eat Right 

Written By: Michelle Truong

Growing up as a first generation Vietnamese American, I can vividly recall my parents struggling with the delicate balance of assimilating to American culture while keeping our Vietnamese roots, language and customs alive after immigrating to the U.S. from Vietnam. 

Today as an adult with kids of my own, I’m finding that I am experiencing a similar struggle of wanting to pass on our rich Asian culture to my kids while celebrating the melting pot of cultures, foods and traditions we find in our vibrant home city of Houston, Texas. 

Without a doubt, one of the most important aspects of Vietnamese culture is food. Food is a way we connect with loved ones, celebrate special occasions and preserve memories of the homeland. From flavorful charcoal grilled meats called “thịt nướng” to savory and sweet dessert soups, also known as “chè” and everything in between. Vietnamese foods will always hold a special place in my heart thanks to the dedication of my parents. 

Many Vietnamese immigrants living in America have made it a priority to preserve their culture by seeking out traditional ingredients to continue making the dishes they love, such as bánh cuốn (thin sheets of rice paper stuffed with savory fillings), bánh mì (French influenced baguettes with meats, pickled vegetables and unctuous handmade mayonnaise), and bún bò Huế (spicy beef noodle soup.) It is also common to gather with family and friends to make and share these dishes, passing down the cooking techniques and recipes generation by generation. 

I am always surprised, yet overjoyed, when my children ask for phở (the national dish of Vietnam) for dinner or when they happily add pungent fish sauce onto their favorite Vietnamese dishes. If you’re finding yourself feeling challenged with keeping your own culture and traditions alive, below are 5 habits that I’ve adopted into my parenting that have helped both me and my children nurture our Asian American heritage and embrace new traditions. 

1. Practice traditional greetings! While it is difficult speaking Vietnamese to my kids all the time, it is a must that they are able to greet their elders in a traditional manner. When greeting their grandparents, they’re expected to fold their arms together and bow as they say, “Chào bà ngoại” for grandma or “Chào ông ngoại” for grandpa. 
2. Research the national foods of your country of origin and beyond! Commit to making a new cultural dish as a family. In our family, my kids love to help cook fragrant jasmine rice, which is a staple in the Vietnamese dietary pattern. They are in charge of rinsing the rice until the water runs clear and they love splashing starchy water around in the rice pot. Common Threads has an extensive collection of culturally responsive recipes that can help get you started in exploring the foods of other cultures!
3. Interview an elder! Our elders have amazing stories of how they persevered through difficult times. Whether they were immigrants, like mine, or were born in America, this practice of generational storytelling can help connect both young and old. 
4. Celebrate the holidays of your native country! Our favorite Vietnamese holiday is Lunar New Year (Tết) which is celebrated in either January or February. My children love saying, “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!” which means “Happy New Year” in Vietnamese before being rewarded with bright red envelopes filled with lucky money. In Vietnam, it is tradition to wear new red Vietnamese dresses called “ao dai” and visit our elders. 
5. Make new family traditions of your own! While traditions passed down by generation are wonderful to honor and practice, it’s also great to build new traditions of your own. In my family, we find ways to connect by playing a game at dinner called “High, Low, Tomorrow” where we all share the best thing that happened during the day, the worst thing that happened, and something we are looking forward to tomorrow. 

Family and traditions are important. They help to foster a positive and healthy family culture that can be passed on from one generation to the next. They also give us a true sense of belonging while reinforcing our history, values and beliefs. Whether it’s practicing an old tradition or adopting a new one, embrace your roots, celebrate those that came before you and take pride in the special mix of cultures and traditions that make you who you are! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle comes from a long line of educators and believes it’s in her blood. Her grandparents and mother taught for many decades before passing the torch down to her. She is a seasoned educator with a passion for teaching a culturally responsive curriculum and equipping youth with life skills that will prepare them for adulthood. As the Education and Training Manager at Common Threads, Michelle gets to combine two of the things she loves most– education and cooking!

Written By: Joris Van Zeghbroeck

It is spring and that means that the produce aisle is beginning to change with the season. Older storage yukon gold potatoes are getting replaced with shiny ones fresh out of the ground, sprouting garlic is being swapped out with fresh bulbs, and local greens are being restocked after a long winter. This seasonal change is even more abundant at your local farmers market. Farmers markets focus on bringing seasonal foods to local communities for as much of the year as possible. This looks different across the country based on the climate and local agriculture communities. In northern cities like Indianapolis, you can visit a farmers market year round! In the summer months, you will find a bountiful selection of crops, however, in the winter this selection begins to dwindle as farmers transition to selling storage crops like potatoes, apples, and beets, waiting out the cold. Once spring blossoms, the markets’ erupt with spring crops like tender sweet leafy greens, spicy crisp radishes, and buttery hakurei turnips! In southern cities like Miami, with their subtropical climate, this transition looks very different. In the winter farmers are harvesting and selling crisp fresh lettuce, pints of bright cherry tomatoes, and dark rich eggplants. As spring approaches and the heat begins to take a toll farmers move away from their annual crops and begin preparing for perennial tropical fruits like mangos, dragon fruits, mamey, and sapote! Unlike large scale grocery stores, local farms are not trying to provide a consistent set of offerings across the entire year, but are instead focusing on listening and responding to the environment as the seasons change. 

The Benefit of Local Small Farms

Local farms are more likely to implement agricultural practices that work with and respond to nature, reducing the environmental impacts of farming. From year to year farmers rotate their crops to maintain soil nutrient levels and reduce the amount of insect pests thus decreasing or even eliminating the need for chemicals. Small farms also grow a diverse set of crops on their farms increasing local biodiversity. This expands far beyond the plants they sow into their fields and includes higher amounts of insect, bird, and animal species above ground as well as fungal and bacterial species in the soil which are beneficial to the environment and us! Finally small farms implement cyclical systems that retain as many nutrients and water resources on the farm as possible. Therefore, local farms often use less water and fertilizers by implementing practices like mulching and cover cropping which protect the soil from drying out and stimulate the soil microbiome to recycle nutrients that already exist in the soil.

Every time the season changes local farms demonstrate their dedication as stewards of the land by adjusting and responding to the changing environment to produce nutritional food for their communities while nurturing local ecosystems. However, the benefits of small farms do not stop in the ecological realm. Small farms and local food systems are more nimble and responsive than larger ones and able to adjust their growing practices and business models to meet the needs of their local communities. This was no more evident than at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When our Miami market entered lock down like so many other cities, an increased number of families became unsure how they would afford to put their next meal on the table and at what point they would be able to go back to work. Common Threads was faced with reevaluating how to continue serving our mission when we were unable to implement our programming. With generous funding from Florida Blue we were able to partner with a local produce distributor providing 200 families from our partner schools with 30 lbs of locally grown produce for 6 straight weeks. Through the power of local farms and food networks we were able to ensure that families had access to nutrient dense and delicious produce further allowing us to expand and deepen the impact of our programming. As our commitment grows for supporting local produce, we have launched a Farm to School program in our Chicago market in partnership with the USDA that incorporates cooking and nutrition education with the added focus on the benefits and importance of local food sourcing. This program partners with Chicago Public Schools and 3 urban farms, giving students the opportunity to visit the farms and bring the produce back to their school to use in meals they get to cook and share with fellow students. 

Local farms provide a unique and valuable resource to communities and are an essential part of our work as an organization. Show your dedication to the environment for National Gardening Month and Earth Day by going out and supporting your local farms and food purveyors. Visit the USDA’s Local Food Directory to explore which farmers markets exist near you and what they are doing in their fields and in the community. Not only will you be helping the environment but you will also be helping support your community! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joris has been with Common Threads for over 3 years working as a Program Manager in Miami. FL and Fort Worth, TX. Additionally, he manages the tracking and reporting of Common Threads’ program data. Before working at Common Threads, he worked on building and supporting school gardens in Indianapolis. Joris has an M.S. in Soil Science with a concentration in Agroecology and is passionate about how we can make agricultural systems more sustainable and equitable for communities and the environment.