ZUNI, N.M. (Sept. 25, 2026) — The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project shared lessons from its growing partnership with the Zuni Public School District during a statewide school nutrition symposium in Albuquerque on Sept. 17. The presentation highlighted the partners’ ongoing work to introduce Zuni students to fresh, locally grown and traditional Indigenous foods and encourage greater curiosity about food and nutrition.
ZYEP Program Manager Tara Wolfe and Food Sovereignty Coordinator Brittny Seowtewa joined ZPSD Food Services Supervisor Joy Bobelu at the New Mexico State-Wide Farm to School & School Nutrition Training Symposium at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center campus. The event brought together food directors, kitchen managers, distributors and other professionals to share strategies for strengthening school nutrition programs.
“Thanks to an invitation from the New Mexico Department of Health’s Healthy Kids Healthy Communities, Tara and I had the opportunity to present to food service staff from all across New Mexico,” Seowtewa said. “We shared our own road map for collaborating with ZPSD, providing a guide for how we were able to operate with our schools and grow a partnership.”
That road map began with a memorandum of understanding between ZYEP and the school district, followed by relationship building and trust. Over time, the youth project began implementing activities with students and expanded its work with full support from ZPSD.
Bobelu provided the school district’s perspective, sharing information about ZPSD demographics and daily food service operations. Seowtewa said it also was meaningful to have other district staff attend the presentation, particularly members of the nursing staff.
During the presentation, ZYEP shared examples of activities that have worked well with Zuni students. Taste-testing has become an important strategy, giving children opportunities to experience different foods without pressure.
“One of our highlights was introducing kids at Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School to rainbow carrots,” Seowtewa said. “They tried purple, yellow, white — not just orange. The different colors really encouraged interest and questions! We’re doing more than just giving carrots to kids. We’re boosting their motivation and sparking their curiosity.”
“We encourage them to try new things,” she continued. “And if they don’t like something, that’s OK. We tell them, try it, and you get to decide.”
The ZYEP team hopes that willingness to experiment will extend beyond school to the grocery store, the dinner table and even the family garden. They’re exploring ways to increase students’ exposure to traditional Indigenous foods such as blue corn and squash, along with other locally grown produce.
At Zuni Middle School, Wolfe, Seowtewa and Bobelu used the school’s weekly salad bar as another opportunity to engage students. The salad bar features greens from the ZPSD greenhouse, and during a recent salad bar promotion, they set up a table with nutrition cards that included fun facts and food preparation ideas.
“The students also got to vote for their favorite fruits and vegetables,” Seowtewa said. “Carrots won! That was really cool.”
The activity did more than collect information about students’ preferences. It also allowed the young people to meet Bobelu and discover that the person overseeing food service for their district was responsible for some of their favorite meals.
“The best part was that Joy got to meet and interact with the students,” Seowtewa said. “They learned that she organizes the food service department and makes the menus, and they got excited, especially when they learned she was responsible for the scratch-made orange chicken that came with an egg roll. They told her they loved those things and were hoping for more Asian dishes.
“Joy got to connect with them too,” she added. “It’s a big job to feed so many kids, and it often isolates her from the people she’s serving, so it was wonderful to see her with them. She really lit up.”
As ZYEP and ZPSD continue building their school nutrition partnership, the youth project also is preparing for two additional school-based health initiatives this fall.
On Sept. 29-30, ZYEP will once again support the New Mexico Department of Health in collecting youth body mass index data at Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School. Staff will collect data from the school’s kindergarten and third-grade classes and submit it to NMDOH for analysis.
For Seowtewa, this will be her third year participating in the project, while Wolfe has several years of experience. ZYEP Food Sovereignty Leaders Khassia Hattie and DeVon Bowekaty also are being trained in the procedures.
“Tara and I were given the responsibility to oversee this process, which is such a privilege,” Seowtewa said.
Following the state’s analysis, results will be provided to the school nurse, with plans to share the information with families and the broader community. The data will help inform efforts to support healthy growth and wellness among Zuni youth.
Then, from Oct. 5 through Oct. 30, ZYEP will work with teacher Shanell Leekya’s physical education class at Shiwi Ts’ana on a biking curriculum designed to teach students basic riding skills. ZYEP Youth Development Leader Rani Yamutewa will assist with the classes, and Physical Activity Coordinator Tyler Sice will provide support with bike maintenance and repairs.
The program is made possible through a partnership between Little Bellas, a mountain biking organization with nationwide chapters, and the Navajo Nation. It provides the skills, gear and confidence necessary for a sustainable, locally run bike program.
“A lot of our kids don’t know how to ride a bike, and we see a lot of abandoned bikes around Zuni because people don’t know how to repair them or don’t have the right tools,” Seowtewa said. “So we’re really excited about this program. It’s going to be really fun!”
As October is National Eat Better, Eat Together Month, nutrition education also will be included in the monthlong curriculum.
To learn more about the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project and its programs, and for information about making donations, partnering with ZYEP, and volunteering, call (505) 782-8000 or visit zyep.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest news and events, follow the nonprofit youth organization on Facebook (/zuniyouthenrichmentproject), Instagram (@zuniyouthenrichmentproject), YouTube (/ZuniYouth), and TikTok (/zyep09).
Founded in 2009, the nonprofit Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is dedicated to promoting resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong, healthy adults who are connected with Zuni traditions. ZYEP fulfills its mission by providing positive role models, enriching programs, and nurturing spaces that contribute to the healthy development of Zuni youth. ZYEP strives to provide every child with the encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
