Below you will find detailed descriptions of all of the service sites located in this state. Each description includes details about the community where the service site is based,the overall work and mission of the organization, and what an incoming servicemember can expect to do on a day-to-day basis at this site. We hope this documentwill help you to best determine where you are most interested in serving! Please note that all service sites and site descriptions are subject to change. Final details will be confirmed during the position offer process. New Jersey Service Sites • AtlantiCare • New Brunswick Public Schools • Orange Public Schools • Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Gloucester County • Isles Inc • Philips Academy Charter School • Coopers Ferry Partnership • Center for Environmental Transformation • Grow it Green Morristown • Greater Newark Conservancy • United Way of Passaic County AtlantiCare residing in Atlantic City. There are hundreds of different languages spoken in the city, and in fact, the school district recently added to their City/Town: Egg Harbor Township staff a case worker who speaks over 40 languages to meet the needs of the many In support of AtlantiCare's vision to build diverse families who attend their schools. The healthy communities, AtlantiCare encourages most common languages other than English and educates people about how to eat healthy, are Spanish, Bengali, Vietnamese, Haitian stay active, and establish wholesome habits for Creole, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Gujarati. a lifetime. Our program addresses the root The racial makeup of Atlantic City is very causes of chronic disease by increasing diverse with black (42%), white (25%), consumption of healthy foods through the Hispanic or Latinos (24%), and Asian (9%) creation of access points for fresh, local making up the majority of the community. The produce by way of school and community median family income is $29,200, which is gardening and food-literacy-themed more than $40,000 below the state average programming and education. AtlantiCare has with 34% of persons living below the poverty partnered with all 11 schools within the Atlantic level (compared to 10% on the state level). City School District, as well as 78 other schools According to the County Health Rankings & in our service area of Atlantic, Cape May, and Roadmaps, 18% of Atlantic County residents southern Ocean counties. Our Healthy Schools report having poor or fair health and 17% are initiative stresses three main concepts: Healthy uninsured. Being that Atlantic City is the most eating, increased exercise, and emotional diverse community in Atlantic County with the wellbeing. The AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, greatest needs, it can be assumed that these Healthy Children program works together with percentages may be even greater in Atlantic the Growing Green program to support school City itself. Atlantic City's diverse characteristics gardens with funding and resources, including bring unique healthcare needs and challenges healthy cooking demonstrations by the that are as diverse as the people residing in the Growing Green Chef Council. All but one of the city -- whether that means serving families with 11 Atlantic City schools hosts a school learning young children, active adults in the prime of garden through funding by AtlantiCare Healthy their life, or older residents who may be facing Schools, Healthy Children and AtlantiCare age-related issues or living with chronic Growing Green. diseases. Although diversity may bring challenges, it is important to note that such Atlantic City is located in Atlantic County, which diversity is looked at as a valued community is one of 21 counties in New Jersey. It is resource by proud Atlantic City citizens who located in the southeastern corridor of the truly care for their community. In addition to state. Atlantic City is part of the 8.1 mile long economic challenges, many residents of Absecon Island, along with Ventnor City, Atlantic City face health disparities which Margate, and Longport. Atlantic City is a disproportionately increase their likelihood for socioeconomically and ethnically diverse chronic conditions such as diabetes, community with urban neighborhoods, a cardiovascular disease, and cancer. These seasonal beach and bay district, and a city in diseases are debilitating and can negatively turmoil with the recent casino closings. impact one's quality of life. Poor nutrition and According to Census figures, there are 39,558 the lack of fresh and healthy foods are root people, 15,504 households, and 8,558 families causes associated with many chronic offer more exotic produce. 3) Atlantic City High conditions. Fresh and healthy foods are School (9-12): The plan for Atlantic City High nutrient dense and provide the body with much School is to have a full garden program needed vitamins and minerals to prevent incorporated throughout the school by building illness and manage disease. Deemed a food 10 raised beds on school grounds. Our service desert, Atlantic City was without a proper member will teach nutrition education every grocery store within its city limits until recently, Tuesday with Mrs. Harris's food class and and even now offers limited food choices in its every Wednesday afternoon with the Let's corner and convenience stores. As a result, Make A Move Club. Our service member may Atlantic City residents not only have issues also look at the need and want for a salad bar associated with hunger and food insecurity, but at this school and collaborate with the Food also with inadequate access to healthy foods. Service Director to have more locally grown This lack of access to healthy and fresh foods food in the cafeteria. directly corresponds to the high incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity Preferred Skills, Interest and Knowledge among the city's residents, and it impacts the health of the City's youth. A service member at AtlantiCare would need to have interest and knowledge in nutrition 1) Texas Avenue School (K-8): Some of the education (including culinary skills), knowledge main goals for Texas Avenue School are about seed starting, garden maintenance, planting and growing all year round, having experience in community organizing as well as students work more in the garden, and having be outgoing and open to public students taste the produce they grow. Our speaking/presenting. Our service member service member will conduct taste tests in the should have computer skills, including and eye cafeteria and holding cooking lessons that for design when creating materials to be include nutrition education every month during distributed or used in school or community the PAC meetings. Every Thursday our service events. Knowledge around social media is a member will be dedicated to improving Texas plus! Avenue's school food environment and will teach one-hour lessons to five classes: one Students served: Pre-School, Elementary, Kindergarten class, one first grade class, one Middle School, High School second grade class, and two third grades Required languages: classes. 2) Chelsea Heights School (K-8): At Helpful languages: Spanish, Bengali, this school, our service member will create a Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Cantonese, new garden consisting of 5 raised beds that will Mandarin and Gujarati be used for nutrition-based garden education. Community type: Urban In addition, we plan to set up consistent Number of staff at service site: 5000+, our classes that our service member will teach program 3 every week. Another priority at this school will Access to a car: Required be holding taste tests. Throughout the year families will also become more involved in the process through offerings of services and opportunities. Lastly, we plan to partner with the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and New Brunswick Public Schools City/Town: New Brunswick New Brunswick Public School district is an urban school district. We approximately have 10,200 students and 1,675 certified teachers and support staff. Relevant programming includes: Snap-Ed., Nurture and nature. New Brunswick Public School district is an urban school district. We are primarily 88% Hispanic, 10% African-American, and 2% other. Three schools the service member will be serving are: New Brunswick High School, New Brunswick Middle School, and one of our elementary schools. We will look to engage the broader community via the PTO, teachers, newsletters, and the Wellness Council. Preferred Skills, Interest and Knowledge Background in nutrition Has experience with children Bilingual (Spanish speaking) Experience helping lower income families make healthy food choices Students served: Elementary, Middle School, High School Required languages: Helpful languages: Spanish Community type: Urban Number of staff at service site: Approximately 1625 Access to a car: Helpful Orange Public Schools the various school and 3) the passion and knowledge for urban farming initiatives. City/Town: Orange Students served: Pre-School, Elementary, Middle School, High School The Orange Public School District commits to Required languages: provide a safe and caring environment where Helpful languages: Spanish each student is expected to grow and succeed. Community type: Urban We pledge to prepare all students with Number of staff at service site: 820 equitable opportunities for college and career Access to a car: Required readiness, leading to lifelong learning and responsible citizenship in a competitive global community. The district serves about 5,700 students attending 7 elementary schools, one 8-9 academy, one high school and three special focus programs. The district boasts a greenhouse at one elementary school and a community garden at another. The high school houses a hydroponic greenhouse. All three are incorporated into the district?s science curriculum. The City of Orange Township has a population of over 30,000 people living in a 2.2 square mile area with very limited open green space. In the late 19th Century Orange was known as the hat-making capital of the world. But like many former manufacturing centers, the City?s suffers from a challenged socio-economic environment.