This summer, our Food Fellows did more than cook, harvest, and explore the food system—they earned official college credit in both culinary and agriculture courses through a meaningful partnership with Ivy Tech Community College. This is a pivotal step in our mission to expand equitable access to higher education and career pathways.

In June, Fellows toured Ivy Tech’s Indianapolis Culinary and Conference Center, met instructors, and experienced college life firsthand. It was their first college campus visit for many, opening their eyes to postsecondary possibilities in food and hospitality.

Through our embedded dual-enrollment structure:

• Fellows took HOSP 102: Basic Food Theory & Skills, completing daily labs and service projects while working toward ServSafe certification.

• They also completed AGRI 176: Urban Food & Agriculture, which focuses on designing sustainable urban farm businesses and marketing end products, equipping them with the skills and tools to lead in community-based agriculture

These credits are about more than grades—they’re signals that students belong in higher education. By embedding structured college coursework into real-world programming, we affirm that their work with us can translate into both academic achievement and meaningful livelihoods.

We deeply value this partnership with Ivy Tech. Together, we’re not just growing food—we’re growing potential, opportunity, and pathways to careers in food, hospitality, and urban agriculture. Everyone deserves a seat—and a scholarship—at a longer table.