** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND SYSTEMIC RACISM HAVE BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT THE NEED TO RETHINK THE TRAINING OF FOOD SYSTEM LEADERS. AS THE 'GANGSTA GARDENER' RON FINLEY STATES IN HIS POPULAR TED TALK (FINLEY, 2013) FOOD IS THE PROBLEM AND FOOD IS THE SOLUTION TO WHICH WE WOULD ALSO ADD THAT 'EDUCATION IS THE PROBLEM AND EDUCATION IS THE SOLUTION'. THE CHALLENGE IS TO DETERMINE WHICH COMBINATIONS OF FOOD, SOCIAL CONDITIONS, AND PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES ARE THE PROBLEM AND WHICH ARE THE SOLUTIONS. TO PROVIDE THE FUTURE GENERATION WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO ADDRESS THIS INCREASINGLY COMPLEX CHALLENGE, WE SEEK TO EFFECTIVELY TRAIN AND EDUCATE A SOCIALLY DIVERSE BODY OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ACROSS MAJORS IN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS SOCIAL AND TECHNICAL CHALLENGES INHERENT IN INDUSTRIAL AND EMERGING ALTERNATIVE FOOD SYSTEMS. THROUGH AN INTENSIVE, HANDS-ON PROGRAM SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEM (SCFS) FELLOWS WILL COME TO UNDERSTAND SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ROADBLOCKS TO CREATING SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE, AND COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD SYSTEMS AND HAVE TOOLS TO SEEK INNOVATIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS. THESE LEADERSHIP AND MENTORSHIP SKILLS WILL HELP TRAIN THE SCFS FELLOWS TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE LARGER FOOD SYSTEM, WHILE OFFERING PERSONALLY AND SOCIALLY TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES TO 4-H YOUTH.THIS PROGRAM CENTERS AROUND THREE OBJECTIVES:OBJECTIVE #1: TRAIN A CULTURALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT COHORT (SCFS FELLOWS) IN THE COMPLEXITY OF FOOD SYSTEMS THROUGH UNDERGRADUATE COURSES AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS.OBJECTIVE #2: TRAIN FELLOWS TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS FOR 4-H YOUTH IN GRADES 3-5. OBJECTIVE #3: PREPARE FELLOWS TO ENTER THE REAL-WORLD AS INDEPENDENT, CULTURALLY AWARE LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS WITH EXPERTISE IN LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD FROM RURAL AND URBAN AREAS IN CONNECTICUT. WE ENVISION THAT THESE FELLOWS WILL BECOME THE FUTURELEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS IN CONNECTICUT AND BEYOND. BY TRAINING FELLOWS IN FOOD PRODUCTION, SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNITY ACTION, NUTRITION, AND THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS THAT CONFRONT COMMUNITIES WITH FOOD ACCESS ISSUES, THESE YOUNG LEADERS WILL BE PREPARED TO VIEW THE FOOD SYSTEM HOLISTICALLY AND ABLE TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT INCORPORATE ALL ASPECTS OF FOOD FROM GROWING CROPS TO FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS OF FOOD ACCESS.