We are expanding and introducing a new Aquaponics project this fall partnering with Minnesota Internship Center (MCI). MCI is a 4-campus charter school in Minneapolis, serving youth and young adults in primarily inner-city impoverished communities throughout Minneapolis. The majority of the student population is East African immigrant, 97% of which rely on a free lunch program. MIC has a mission to offer internships and learning to develop skills in self-sufficiency as well as obtaining a high school diploma.

YEA Corps has developed an Aquaponics program offering hands-on practice in sustainability and entrepreneurial skills. The program will expand on MIC’s new recycling program, whereby organic waste will be converted to a verma compost system, feeding a large-scale water tank and tilapia fish. The closed-system will produce herbs grown organically through Aquaponics. The herbs and fish will be sold at local merchants in students’ urban communities. This project begins upcoming 2010-2011 school year. We will also be advising MIC on creating a Hoop house (green house) where they will grow their own vegetables to be used for their lunch program. Seth Bixby Daugherty is partnering with MIC as their chef to cook unprocessed food and partner with local growers bringing nutritious food to their lunch room and educating the students on food science.

In the development and implementation of this program, YEA Corps intends to strengthen MIC’s mission and expand students’ active learning in sustainable and organic growing, nutrition, marketing and community involvement. Curriculum will be threaded through the school’s existing science education.