Our mission is to build food security in schools through comprehensive research and community-based action. We believe all students have the right to nutritious, culturally appropriate food that allows them to attain their full potential.
We support schools in improving the quality and taste of school meals, so students can better focus on their classes and activities. Hands-on education, taste tests and student leadership opportunities give students a voice in what their schools serve, ensuring meals are nourishing and culturally significant as well as appealing.
Halal School Meals Network
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The Halal School Meals Network (HSMN) is a collaboration between the Portland, Westbrook, and South Portland School Departments, the Cumberland County Food Security Council, and Food For All Services. The primary objective of the HSMN is to ensure that Muslim students across the Portland, Westbrook, and South Portland school districts have equitable access to Maine’s universal, free school meals. Interested in learning more about halal school meals or bringing them to your district? Email [email protected].
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Food Fuels Learning
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Food Fuels Learning was started by a parent who saw children coming to school hungry. With the support of the Superintendent and the Cumberland County Food Security Council, this community-driven effort (originally called the Portland Public Schools Food Security Task Force) was born. Meeting with over 200 members of the Portland, Maine community about their greatest successes and struggles within the school food system, we published the 2018 Food Fuels Learning report with recommendations from Portland Public Schools food security champions. Our work now supports the Portland, South Portland, and Westbrook school districts in partnership with FoodCorps Maine. Learn more about the history of Food Fuels Learning here.
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Resources
- Cooking Cart Toolkit
- Webinar: "Halal on the Tray: Equitable Access to Maine's Universal School Meals"
- Video (English): Supporting Culturally Relevant Meals & Diverse Farming Communities in Portland's Farm to School
- Video (Spanish): Apoyo a la alimentación culturalmente relevante y a comunidades agrícolas en Farm to School Portland
- Blog: Grounding School Food Service in Culture and Place: A Rooted in Community Case Study
- Food Fuels Learning Archive
- Culturally Importanat Menu Development Report
- School Food Service 101
In the News
- Halal meal initiative aims to boost school lunch participation for Muslim students in Maine, Maine Public Radio
- Portland schools serving African-inspired dishes to boost participation in school meals, Maine Public Radio
- PPS Developing Culturally Important Menu, Portland Public Schools
- Cultural foods on the menu in Maine's largest school district, News Center Maine
- Food is bridge to racial equity, Amjambo Africa
