On June 30 2022, the Vermont Migrant Education Program (VMEP) hosted a Northeast Kingdom Parent Advisory Council (NEK PAC) at the UVM Extension Saint Johnsbury office, with the collaboration of two other Extension programs, 4-H and the Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).
Some of the migrant students came to learn about planting and harvesting microgreens with Alison Smith and Holly Ferris of 4-H, with the help of VMEP Program Identification and Recruitment Coordinator Sara Stowell, who interpreted for them. Meanwhile, Bernadette Bessette from EFNEP taught parents how to cook with microgreens, with the help of the Northwest Migrant Regional Coordinator Ernie Bove as her interpreter and sous chef.
Later on, parents sat down with Migrant Education Program in School Youth Coordinator Danielle Sussmann Turo, Migrant Education Program Leader Esbey Braun Hamilton, NEK Regional Coordinator Jesse Cote and Ernie Bove, to discuss their children’s academics, their relationship with their children’s school, migrant education services, and the future of their children and their dreams. Parents, kids and staff had a great time, and the weather was perfect! This is an example of a marvelous collaboration between Extension programs working towards healthy families.