Community Engagement Trip to the Mississippi Delta
Mississippi Delta Trip Applications are Closed
This application will be open until Monday, January 20 at 11:59 pm EST. Filling out the application does not constitute a commitment to attend. All accepted students will be required to complete a commitment letter indicating they agree to the guidelines for participation. We will send decision letters by Monday, January 27th.
Join Tisch College and The Friedman School of Nutrition for a week in the Mississippi Delta (~March 15-22, 2025), where you'll learn, farm, and collect data as part of the NIH-funded Delta GREENS Food is Medicine (FIM) Project.
The Mississippi Delta is renowned for its rich culture and agricultural history, yet it continues to face health disparities stemming from historical poverty and racial inequity. The Delta GREENS FIM Project aims to strengthen and support earlier community-led initiatives to improve access to fresh, locally farmed food and expand local farmers' economic opportunities.
Please note that this tentative itinerary will be finalized early in 2025: The trip will begin with a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN, to contextualize the historical roots of systemic inequity and how they impact current efforts to achieve health equity. Then, we will arrive at the Delta, where we will have a mix of hands-on activities and experiences curated based on students' interests and educational components (such as evening reflections and guest speakers) led by Tufts and Tougaloo College faculty, including Dean Economos, postdocs, and staff.
All expenses (airfare, lodging, and food) will be covered with a $100 deposit, due upon acceptance to the program and completion of the travel commitment letter. If you're interested in nutrition, public health, or sustainable agriculture, this trip will give you valuable experience and the chance to contribute to meaningful research!