What a month of connection, celebration, and community! Thank you to everyone who helped make Boogie at the Bog such a success, supporting Frogfoot Farm and Fields to Families and helping fresh, local food reach more neighbors. This month, we’re also welcoming Roshalene Grace and Jocelyn Chin and sending Christy Mach Dubé warm wishes as she begins a new chapter in her career. Read on to meet our newest teammates, celebrate Christy’s contributions, and catch up on highlights from the past month.
Welcome, Roshalene Grace!
We’re excited to welcome Roshalene Grace to the Marion Institute! A New Bedford native with a strong commitment to community service, Roshalene brings nonprofit experience in community engagement, outreach, and event management. We look forward to the connections and creativity she’ll bring to our work.
Welcome, Jocelyn Chin!
Jocelyn Chin joins us as a Grow Education consultant, bringing a love of science, teaching, and growing food. Starting in Mattapoisett and Marion, Jocelyn will help students connect with food and farming through classroom lessons, school gardens, and field trips to Frogfoot Farm. We’re excited to welcome her!
Thank You, Christy, for all you’ve given to the Marion Institute!
Please join us in celebrating Christy Mach Dubé as she begins an exciting new chapter as Director of Advancement and Philanthropy at the Boston Private Industry Council. Over the past four years, Christy has helped shape the Marion Institute in lasting ways – from launching our farm-to-food relief programs to deepening the philanthropic partnerships that sustain our work. Her impact is woven into who we are and what we’ve become. While we will miss having Christy as a teammate, we’re grateful that she’ll remain connected as an ally and champion of our mission.
A coalition advancing regional food security through equity and sustainable systems
2026 Food Summit: Turning Insights into Action
Our recent 2026 Food Summit brought regional partners together virtually to share early findings from our community-led food system assessments across six Southeastern Massachusetts counties. Discussions highlighted opportunities to strengthen emergency food planning, connect local seafood with school cafeterias, and support new farmers through land access, mentorship, and business resources. These findings will inform our 2026 Food System Assessment and county-level food action plans.
Thank you to Holly Fowler, our county partners, and panelists Shelley Edmundson, Brett Tolley, Posie Constable, and Brad Fesmire for sharing their knowledge and experience—and to everyone who joined the conversation!
Help Shape Southeastern Massachusetts’ Food System: Share Your Experience. Inform Our Next Steps
We’re updating our regional food system assessment for Southeastern Massachusetts – and we need to hear from YOU.
If you work in or alongside the food system, or are affected by food system-related policies – join us for one of our facilitated sessions to share your perspective and help inform the assessment. All sessions will be hosted virtually on Zoom.
Wed., Nov. 4 at 2-3pm
Focus Group – MI Food Emergency Network
Tue., Nov. 10 at 4-5pm Or Wed. Nov 18 at 9-10am
General Session – Successes, Challenges, and Priorities in Our Regional Food System
Can’t Attend? You Can Still Contribute.
We’d still love to hear from you! Share your experiences, challenges, and ideas through our short form to help inform the regional food system assessment.
Thank you for a magical night to remember!
Our 4th annual sold-out Boogie at the Bog brought our community together for a celebration with a purpose: helping fresh, local food reach more neighbors across Southeastern Massachusetts. Thanks to your generosity, we met our $25,000 matching goal—unlocking an additional $25,000 for a total of $50,000!
Thank you to our guests, sponsors, host committee, volunteers, and partners for making the evening such a success! Your support strengthens Frogfoot Farm and Fields to Families, helping us grow, glean, and share nourishing food with local food pantries and community organizations.
Relive the fun: Explore event highlights, see photos below, & more here >
Farm-to-school program promoting health, sustainability, equity, and ecological literacy
On October 7, we welcomed Westport Schools Food Service staff to Frogfoot Farm for a day of harvesting, learning, and making sauerkraut! Led by Grow Education Program Manager Nate Sander, the visit included a farm tour, harvesting spinach, carrots, and chard, and a fermentation workshop with Rose Forbes from IndieFerm.
Experiences like this help Grow Education connect school gardens and classroom learning with the people nourishing students every day. By bringing food service staff onto the farm, we strengthen relationships and explore new ways to connect students with fresh, local food.
Craft a meaningful legacy through the Marion Institute’s Legacy Society with planned gifts, impacting our mission in perpetuity.
If you’ve designated a planned gift, or have questions about our Legacy Society, please reach out at legacy@marioninstitute.org or 508-748-0816, ext. 118.
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