https://www.uvm.edu/news/story/resettled-vermont

I chose this story for it’s connections to my home state and the University of Vermont where I went to school. The story shares a picture of how certain areas in Vermont are approaching resettlement in the small state. One education system that is highlighted is the Winooski School District which serves students from many different countries including Bhutan, Somalia and Iraq. The story emphasizes how Winooski Middle and High School is designed as a community school to support the “holistic development” of the students. I did my student teaching in a neighboring school district serving a similarly diverse population of students, but I am curious to learn more about what this community model of schooling entails and how it is different from the school that I worked at. Finally, the story also touches on the issue of food insecurity and how the community has found ways to address this issue. According to Catina (2017), “New Farms for New Americans (NFNA) is a community-based gardening and agriculture program by AALV that provides refugee and immigrant farmers with plots, training, and the necessary education to sustain their agrarian traditions in Vermont—all while growing healthy, nutritious foods for their families and neighbors” This model allows individuals to grow and have access to food that is not found at local grocery stores. Food is such a important piece of our cultural identities and I think this approach is a powerful way for individuals to feel connected to their cultures and homes.