Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County and Dutchess Community College partner to offer Green Teen program in Poughkeepsie
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — JULY 22, 2024 — On July 18, Dutchess Community College hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new community garden developed in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County (CCEDC) and with the support of Assemblymember Jonathan G. Jacobson.
The community garden will increase the capacity for The Pantry at DCC to provide fresh produce to students and community members in need, while also serving as a space for CCEDC’s Green Teen Workforce Development program.
Recognizing the positive impact of the Beacon Green Teen program, which “empowers urban youth to be effective community change-agents by immersing them in the local food system,” Assemblymember Jacobson secured budget funding to launch and support the Poughkeepsie Green Teen program through the 2024-2025 year. Financial support was also provided by the DCC Foundation.
Two youths from the Green Teen program spoke at the event. Elizabeth Soriano, who will be attending DCC this fall, said: “I joined Green Teen because I wanted to start making my own income and have better access to opportunities. Working on the campus has allowed me to network with staff and faculty as well as get to know the campus and resources.”
David Benz, a tenth-grade Poughkeepsie High School student said, “Green Teen gave me a firsthand look at what college is really like, and I’m very grateful for that. I’m really looking forward to doing this next year because it was so much fun and I really enjoyed doing it with the friends I have and the friends I made.”
DCC President Dr. Peter Grant Jordan highlighted the garden’s potential: “This project started with a simple idea – a vision to do more for our community…As we stand together in this community garden, let’s acknowledge the effort already invested in making it a reality and recognize how our continued collaboration will foster its growth.”
Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County Mary Lou Carolan said, “Part of the benefit of being on this campus is how comforting and welcoming the staff have made this experience. This is the example of how great collaboration works.”
The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by distinguished elected officials and local dignitaries, underscoring the importance of this initiative. Guests included Brandon Gonzalez, representing Congressman Pat Ryan’s office; Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino; Mayor of Poughkeepsie Yvonne Flowers; and Dutchess County Legislators Chris Drago and Brendan Lawler.
DCC Instructor and Chair of the Human Services program Lacie Reilly, who also serves as the director of DCC’s food pantry and the president of CCEDC’s Board of Directors, was instrumental in driving the project forward. Along with Pantry staff members and both staff and students from the Green Teen program, she tells the story of how the community garden came to be in this video.
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Founded in 1957, Dutchess Community College is a two-year community college that has earned a reputation for providing an outstanding education and offers one of the lowest tuition rates in New York State. The College currently has four locations including its main campus in Poughkeepsie, DCC @ Fishkill, DCC @ HVR Airport, and DCC @ the Partnership. For more information visit www.sunydutchess.edu.