WASHINGTON, DC, July 8, 2024 — The National Children’s Center (NCC) announced a strategic partnership with FRESHFARM today to enhance their food and garden education curriculum at their Early Learning and Early Intervention Center in Southeast DC.

FRESHFARM is a proven local leader in early education of healthy eating habits. Currently operating in 21 DC Public Schools, they serve 7,600 pre-K to 5th grade students, providing experiential food education. These efforts aim to improve health outcomes, which is why this model was featured at the 2024 Food Is Medicine Summit organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

NCC is excited to welcome FRESHFARM to the Early Learning and Early Intervention Center (ELC). Through this partnership, one of FRESHFARMs Community Food Educators will visit the ELC monthly to host an in-person family engagement activity and teach an educational session for NCC’s staff focused on local food preparation, procurement, consumption, and storage techniques.

Through the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), the ELC will become one of FRESHFARM’s Healthy Tots sites, providing educational outreach to staff and families. Our ELC community and families will have access to monthly virtual cooking sessions and bi-weekly virtual office hours with community engagement experts.

This partnership will continue to build upon both organization’s proven expertise to better serve children and families in Southeast DC.