The Berkeley Food Policy Council and the Berkeley Unified School District will be hosting a public information event, “Save BUSD Gardens and Cooking Programs!” BUSD has one of the oldest and most successful food and nutrition programs in the nation. It teaches students where their food comes from and how to prepare healthy foods for lifelong health. For 15 years, this groundbreaking program has cultivated a vision for children’s health, wellbeing, and academic achievement that emphasizes the relationships among food, diet, physical activity, health, and the environment. Read on for the funding cuts the program faces and how you can participate in this event.
On October 1st, 2013, BUSD is expecting to lose a total of $1.9 million in current funding for the Gardens and Cooking Program serving 14 schools, from the preschool to high school level. Due to changes in federal and state programs, the Gardens and Cooking program will be cut or drastically scaled back; 12 years of investment, infrastructure, innovation, and staff expertise are at risk.
The event will take place on Thursday, April 11th from 7 – 8:30 pm at Longfellow Middle School Auditorium. The program will include several short films, a panel discussion, and a conversation regarding strategies to secure funding for the Berkeley Unified School District’s garden and cooking nutrition education programs. “Save BUSD Gardens and Cooking Programs!” will celebrate the successes of the BUSD Gardens and Cooking Program and engage the community in creating a path forward to ensure its future. Kids are welcome, but childcare will not be provided. Light snacks will be available at 6:30pm. For more details, click here.
