Local Change Global Impact

By providing world class advocacy, evaluation, and resources to transform our communities, the Institute for Ecology, Scholarship, and Health marries ecology and education for a healthier world.

 

Contact UsRio Grande Valley Food Resolution

The Institute for Ecology, Scholarship, and Health focuses on environmentally sustainable projects that promote nutritional health, understanding and relationships in schools and communities.

 

By building connections and implementing creative and dynamic solutions, we ensure access to nutritious produce, execute successful events bringing together key stakeholders, and provide assistance in grant writing and administration for organizations focused on improving the local food system in the Rio Grande Valley.

Our Team

Our Services

Our Services vary according to each project, its budget, timeline and alike resources. Take a look at some of our strategies and case studies behind previous and current projects.

Program Design, Implementation & Evaluation

The experts at IESH can help you design interventions and programs to achieve desired outcomes. Informed by the latest public health research, our suite of managed services can help your team achieve the results you seek, on time, and within budget.

Event Organization

Bring your convening to life with our trusted team of event organizers. From conferences to strategic networking events, our team executes intentional gatherings that lead to results.

Strategic Community Advocacy and Engagement

Our experienced team of community leaders can advise your coalition-building, community engagement, and advocacy efforts to maximize your impact. Backed by years of experience and informed by the latest research, together we can accomplish more.

Financial Landscape Map

Let our team of analysts help you discover the various financial resources available for your enterprise. From grants to bonds, our team can help you find a wide array of public and private funds along the capital spectrum.

Latest Success: Food Summit 2024

280 attendees. Four days. 4.85 out of 5 star rating. Read reviews about the event below and check out the livestream recordings from 2023 and 2024. 

“This event is an opportunity to learn from a diverse range of people in the Rio Grande Valley. It brought together people from different sectors of the food system from college students to professors, community workers to farmers and chefs, government offcials to school children. It builds opportunities for collaboration and momentum.”

Food System Vision for the Rio Grande Valley

This vision aims to guide development of more specific solutions relevant to both the challenges and cultural wealth of the region. We invite you to see it, to contribute to it, to draw hope from it, and be compelled to move towards it in your own capacities. 

Read Our Vision Here

Our Projects

Food Summit

I.E.S.H hosted the Food Summit 2023 and 2024 bringing together agriculture, policy, activism, and community stakeholders to co-create a positive narrative for the region and envision a resilient and inclusive food system. In partnership with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, The National Center for Appropriate Technology, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the USDA these events were made possible.

Buyer Supplier Events with Region One ESC

By collaborating with Region One Education Service Center, IESH facilitates the connections between producers and school nutrition personnel to increase locally grown foods served in the cafeteria.

STEM Education Focuses on Hydroponics

Students learn the design and management of a commercial hydroponic farming system with a STEM-focused TEKS-aligned curriculum.

Small Farm Launches with Educational Programming

The development of a standardized model of a small, diversified fruit and vegetable farm allowed students from various schools to immerse themselves in a working farm, and scale across numerous schools in multiple states.

Value Chain Coordination with Mission CISD and Triple J Organics

IESH incubated the development of Verdant Exchange, a produce brokering service designed for locally grown sustainable food. In this way, Mission CISD began the procurement of locally grown citrus for their cafeteria.

Farm to School Summit at Region One ESC

A half day summit brought together leading farm to school advocates to share best practices and technical tips on starting, operating, and funding farm to school programs. 

Capacity Building Grant Administration

Grants in the amount of $10,000 were distributed to various community organizations including small diversified vegetable farms, to increase their capacity to feed their communities.  

Equitable Food System Working Group

In conjunction with UTRGV, The Institute co-founded and co-leads the Equitable Food Systems Working Group with the aim of reimagining and catalyzing a resilient local food system in the Rio Grande Valley.

Panel and Event Organization

Informed by the tenets from The Art of Gathering, the team at IESH organizes meaningful, thought-provoking events. From panels to workshops, the events are designed to unify participants to a common vision and catalyze action.

University Local Food Purchasing Policy

Working with the leadership and students at a university, IESH supported the design of a food purchasing policy for the student dining hall that requires local food purchases to increase year after year impacting 30,000 students.

Region One Produce Purchasing Coop Vendor

IESH and the leadership at an education service center in Texas designed a food purchasing policy that allows small local growers to be more competitive when selling to schools in the area. A cooperative purchasing model was established to further the impact of the purchasing policy impacting over 500,000 students. 

Program Evaluation Design for Mission CISD

Designed a farm to school program and associated evaluation to assess the impact farm education has on student’s socio-emotional wellbeing.