The University of Rhode Island (URI) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program- Education (SNAP-Ed) team has led the Students Take Charge (STC) program since 2015. For over a decade, students have been empowered to become wellness advocates in their schools by having the opportunity to see their community reflected in school meals and to recognize their meaningful voice in shaping their environment. The STC program supports the adoption of healthy eating behaviors and provides students with tools to positively influence the nutrition environment around them. 

Research on the program in six urban elementary schools showed improvement in students’ knowledge and confidence in asking for fruits and vegetables. These findings informed the expansion of STC into a multisector model with the Team Nutrition Grant. This grant allowed for collaboration of the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), URI SNAP-Ed, Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Johnson & Wales University, and Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition with the goal to expand the successful STC program so that all students in Rhode Island can participate. The manuscript for this research has been published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior as a Great Educational Material (GEM) paper, highlighting all curriculum components available from the STC program.