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Millbrook, NY- The Green Teen Poughkeepsie program, an initiative of Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County (CCEDC), empowers local youth to grow fresh produce for nearby food pantries while learning hands-on job and life skills. Thanks to the continued support and advocacy of Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-Poughkeepsie), the program has secured state funding to sustain and grow its community garden and greenhouse at Dutchess Community College (DCC). This investment helps ensure that the space remains a thriving hub for youth leadership, food justice, and agricultural education.
"I am proud to again secure $100,000 in the State budget for Green Teen, which creates special opportunities for youth from the City of Poughkeepsie,” stated Jacobson. “The Poughkeepsie program builds on successes from the program in Beacon. It is more than teaching about nutrition and the local food system, or hands-on experience in farming — it shows young people the value of teamwork and exploring new experiences. The program also provides practical training in life skills like CPR and resume-writing. I look forward to seeing the progress made by these young people participating in Green Teen."
“This kind of sustainable support from Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson doesn’t just allow us to plant vegetables, it helps us grow young leaders,” said Mary Lou Carolan, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County. “When elected officials invest in grassroots, youth-led programs like Green Teen, they’re investing in the long-term health, sustainability, and equity of our communities. We’re honored to work alongside partners who believe in that mission.”
Green Teen Poughkeepsie officially launched in 2023 and marked a major milestone in July 2024 with a ribbon-cutting for its new greenhouse. This tunnel-shaped greenhouse extends the growing season and introduces youth to hydroponic gardening. The space also serves as an innovation lab for trellising and other technical approaches that boost yields and deepen learning.
“Throughout the seasons, youth employed by Green Teen engage with unique workforce development opportunities through community partnerships, civic engagement, community service and teamwork,” said Carolyn McGraw, Program Leader for Youth Development at CCEDC. “Teens learn technical skills in the garden, but also life skills like resiliency, cooperation, leadership and problem solving.”
The garden currently spans 4,800 square feet, with 2,400 square feet under cultivation and 210 square feet of raised beds. Since planting began in May, youth have harvested over 350 lbs. of produce including cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, garlic, various herbs, tomatoes, and peppers. Additionally, the Green Teen program has pollinated a giant pumpkin that will be showcased and entered at the Dutchess County Fair this year.
"One of the most meaningful aspects of this collaboration is the opportunity it creates for high school students to connect not only with the broader community, but with DCC,” said Dr. Susan Rogers, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness. “Through this program, they build practical skills, earn paid work experience and get an early, welcoming introduction to college. Forming relationships with the people and resources that define DCC- and that will be here to support them if they choose to continue their journey with us. We are particularly grateful for the support of all of the partners involved, including Cornell's Cooperative Extension in Dutchess County, our own internal DCC staff and Board of Trustees, and Assemblymember Jacobson, whose support makes this collaboration possible."
Lacie Reilly, DCC's Director of The Pantry and Human Services Program Chair agreed: "The community garden is more than a source of fresh produce- it’s an incredible example of what’s possible when local partners come together to meet basic needs. At our campus food pantry, we see firsthand how this collaborative effort nourishes our students, both physically and emotionally. When we have more than we can distribute, we share it with other local agencies, deepening our commitment to being part of the larger community solution.”
All produce supports The Pantry at DCC, providing access to healthy food for students, staff, and families. Any excess is shared with Dutchess Outreach and the Saint Thomas Episcopal Church Food Pantry in Amenia.
Green Teen, a long-running initiative based in Beacon since the early 2000s grew to its collaborative Poughkeepsie location at the campus of Dutchess Community College in 2023.
At its core, Green Teen empowers urban youth to step into leadership by immersing them in the local food system. Through hands-on gardening, farming, and community engagement, participants build real-world skills in nutrition, health, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. The youth hired by the Green Teen Poughkeepsie program work in one of two sessions: the Spring Session runs from April through June on Tuesdays through Thursdays after school and consists of setting up the growing space and preparing planting. The Summer Session runs from the beginning of July to the end of August right before school starts.
In both sessions, participants work as a team with a crew leader. Each session has at least ten youth who are hired to maintain the grounds and hydroponic greenhouse. They plant, maintain and harvest all the produce generated for The Pantry at DCC and additional locations. Green Teen participants are also involved with several campus programs and classes that provide them with life skills and professional development like financial literacy, health and safety and college preparation. They contribute to field trips, career exploration and collaborative events with campus and Cornell Cooperative Extension programs. They also secure one college credit and are matriculated while involved in the program to receive the resources provided by the campus.
To learn more about the Green Teen program, visit ccedutchess.org/youth-4h or contact Program Leader Carolyn McGraw. Follow @greenteenpoughkeepsie and @CCEDutchess on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
To learn more about The Pantry at DCC and the other various student support services, visit https://www.sunydutchess.edu/around-campus/student-services/support.html.
About Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County (CCEDC):
CCEDC delivers research-based programs in agriculture, youth development, environmental sustainability, nutrition, and more. Key initiatives include Green Teen, Master Gardeners, Dutchess County 4-H, Taste NY at Todd Hill, Family and Consumer Education and the Mid-Hudson Clean Energy Hub.
Connection. Collaboration. Community. That is how CCEDC is Growing Forward! For more information on CCEDC’s programs and services, visit ccedutchess.org or call 845-677-8223.
About Dutchess Community College:
Founded in 1957, Dutchess Community College is a two-year community college that has earned a reputation for providing an outstanding education and offers one of the lowest tuition rates in New York State. The College currently has four locations including its main campus in Poughkeepsie, DCC @ Fishkill, DCC @ HVR Airport, and DCC @ the Family Partnership Center. For more information visit www.sunydutchess.edu.
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