We’re growing the next generation of food justice leaders.
Youth Food Advocates
Community Food Advocates is growing the next generation of food justice leaders by doing a deep dive into the policies that shape our food system. We provide experiential learning opportunities where young people develop the skills to fully engage in the policy making process and create systemic change in the nation’s largest school system.
Youth Food Advocates publish the results of their Menu Survey Report!
The Youth Food Advocates (YFA) Menu Survey was created by students, for students. Since its launch during YFA’s Summer Leadership Training in 2021, YFA has collected hundreds of student responses and directly informed changes by the NYC Public Schools Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS), including menu updates and new tools for gathering feedback in cafeterias.
The report highlights three key areas:
Lunch Participation – why students choose school lunch, or opt out.
Menu Feedback – ratings of hot and cold menu items across NYC schools.
Student Voice – open-ended comments and ideas for improving and expanding school menus.
By centering student perspectives, the YFA Menu Survey continues to shape more inclusive, responsive, and nourishing school food for all.
YFA Application is Open May 15 - June 15 Annually
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Our Story
2014-2017
Youth Food Advocates (YFA) participated in the Lunch 4 Learning (L4L) campaign to get universal free school meals in NYC public schools. Youth partners organized a press conference, gave testimony at budget hearings, rallied at City Hall, and participated in a social media “selfie” campaign. This effort was a success, and as of fall 2017, school meals are free for all NYC students.
2018-2019
The YFA program engaged with students in schools throughout NYC to support youth-led, school-based and citywide school food advocacy. YFA launched a new logo in 2019.
2020-2021
When schools closed in March 2020 due to COVID-19, YFA went virtual. Throughout the pandemic, young people shared their voices about school food and food insecurity by joining YFA listening sessions. YFA members led educational outreach about Pandemic EBT (P-EBT). In fall 2020, YFA launched its first citywide cohort with 16 young people from across the city. The inaugural YFA Thanksgiving Campaign was launched in 2020. YFA published its first newsletter in 2021.
2022 and beyond
As the youth arm of L4L, YFA’ers have been raising their voices to call on the City to expand cafeteria redesign to all middle and high schools by testifying at budget hearings and meeting with City Council members. YFA’ers also lead school food advocacy initiatives in their own schools, collecting data and engaging their school communities.