The SchoolFood Plus Coalitions are part of the SchoolFood Plus initiative, a collaborative, multi-agency effort whose primary goal is to improve the eating habits, health and academic performance of the young people within the reach of the New York City school meals program. The Coalitions engage the institutions involved with New York City youth to advocate for food reform.

Managed by FoodChange, the Coalitions are designed to encourage conversation and process change, creating models that can be implemented at the institutional level. Participants include the Office of School Food, the Health Department, various city and state organizations, local non-profits, universities, national organizations and even the children themselves.

Four coalitions exist to support the different groups that are involved:

• SchoolFood Plus Coalition: This coalition works at the institutional level, bringing organizations together that are affiliated with New York City youth. The goal is to collectively push the reform effort forward while taking the group learnings back into their organizations to create change.
• Youth Food Corps: The goal is to create an action-oriented youth movement focused on choosing healthier foods, raising awareness about food issues in their communities, and improving access to healthier food.
• Parent/Community Coalition: This coalition is grass-roots based and focuses on what is happening within the schools, actively involving parents.
• National Urban Coalition: This coalition is an information-sharing and best-practices forum for organizations in major urban areas across the country that are working with school food issues. It is an opportunity to share strategies, experiences, successes and barriers to change.

The SchoolFood Plus initiative began in May 2003. All four coalitions convene annually and individual coalitions meet throughout the year on a regular basis.

For more information, contact Margrethe Horlyck-Romanovsky, Assistant Director, Food & Nutrition Services at mhr@foodchange.org.