By

Sara Leimbach,   Jordan (david Starr) Senior Hi

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Topics:

Access to Healthy Foods,  Student Leadership

This Fuel Up to Play 60 grant has enabled the Wellness Warriors of Watts to increase our access to healthy fresh produce. This grant has facilitated a growth in our community as staff and students farmed, cooked, conversed, advertised, ate, and advocated together. In a difficult political context, this grant helped foster a positive psychological environment. Above all else, the Fuel Up to Play 60 grant grew our collective identities as dynamic scholar athletes.

What improvements have you seen at your school?

The improvements seen in our school community have been increased involvement in school activities, and a focus on self care amid social and emotional trauma. The access to healthy food highlighted the need to advocated for fresh eating options in the community of Watts.

How did students and adults work together as a team?

The students worked as a team to develop, implement, and document our events for the Wellness Warriors.

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

The challenges were mainly at the funding level as getting the check (on the school district's end) took half the year. So, we were borrowing other funds until the check cleared. However, even this process grew our ability to navigate donations in the future in a timely manor. The Fuel Up to Play 60 Team was very helpful in these processes.