This summer, with support from a CCPD Internship Stipend, a K student joined the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities in Traverse City to work at the intersection of food systems and public health. From assisting with culinary medicine classes for cancer patients to promoting local food access initiatives, the internship provided hands-on experience in community-based health work and reinforced a growing interest in equity-driven public health careers.

“This summer, I had the opportunity to intern with Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities in Traverse City, Michigan, where I worked closely with the organization’s Food and Farming team. Groundwork focuses on creating healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities, and my work centered around the intersection of food systems, health, and community engagement. 

One of the most meaningful parts of my internship was assisting in culinary medicine classes at the Esperance Teaching Kitchen in partnership with Munson’s Cowell Family Cancer Center. These classes introduced cancer patients and survivors to practical, plant-forward cooking skills as a tool for healing and well-being. In addition, I helped with community outreach projects like promoting local farmers markets, supporting programs such as Senior Project Fresh, and writing articles for the Traverse City Record-Eagle to highlight food access initiatives across northern Michigan. 

Through these experiences, I gained invaluable skills in public health communication, community engagement, and program development. I learned how to adapt nutrition education to different audiences, how partnerships strengthen public health initiatives, and how storytelling can inspire community change. Perhaps most importantly, I grew more confident in my ability to bridge my academic background in community and global health with real-world applications. 

This internship affirmed my passion for pursuing a career that combines public health, food systems, and social equity. It also deepened my commitment to working alongside communities to address barriers to health and well-being through collaborative and creative solutions. 

I am especially grateful for the support I received from Kalamazoo College’s CCPD and the internship stipend, which made it possible for me to fully immerse myself in this experience. Looking back, I can see how much this summer shaped my professional goals and helped me imagine new pathways forward in health and equity work.” – Amelie Sack ’27