Abstract
The Department of Family & Community Health Sciences (Rutgers Cooperative Extension) Internship Program played a crucial role in supporting the Healthy Corner Store Initiative (HCSI), which aims to transform New Jersey corner stores—often the primary food source in underserved areas—into providers of healthier food options. So far, graduate and undergraduate interns have accumulated over 1,039.54 hours of work with Rutgers faculty and staff, receiving training and mentorship in research methods and ethics while engaging in community participatory research. In partnership with the non-profit organization The Food Trust, they built rapport with community members, installed promotional materials, supported nutrition education programs, and effectively conducted environmental analyses of corner stores across the state. Preliminary data analysis highlights the need for ongoing support and strategic interventions. Building maintenance was generally satisfactory, with 60% of buildings well-maintained and 55% free from graffiti; however, only 25% of stores featured pedestrian walk signals and marked crosswalks. All stores offered fruits and vegetables, and 84% had healthy snacks available, yet only 13% provided fresh vegetable packages. Unhealthy foods were visible from the entrance in 95% of stores. The promotional efforts for healthy eating were mixed: 50% of stores displayed healthy promotional materials, while only 20% featured photos promoting healthy eating inside. Produce bins were visible at the front entrance in 50% of stores, and SNAP/EBT cross-promotion could be found in 25%. HCSI interns will continue throughout the 2024-2025 academic school year.
Author Information
Erin Comollo, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, United States
Paper Information
Conference: IICE2025
Stream: Learning Experiences
This paper is part of the IICE2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Comollo E. (2025) From Classroom to Community: Empowering Community Health Leaders ISSN: 2189-1036 – The IAFOR International Conference on Education – Hawaii 2025 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 505-510) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2025.42
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2025.42
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