Aliquippa Students Serve Up Leadership and Community at Spaghetti Dinner

Success Stories

Apr 5

On April 3rd, the Aliquippa High School cafeteria buzzed with energy, laughter, and the irresistible aroma of garlic bread at the inaugural Community Spaghetti Dinner, a celebration truly led by the students. The event, supported by PACS, was planned, organized, and executed by the students as part of their Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) project.

More than just a dinner, the event was a hands-on lesson in leadership and community engagement. The students, who prepared the spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread from scratch, focused on exploring access to healthy, nutritious meals. They took charge of every detail, practicing real-life job skills and embracing self-agency, proving that they can spark positive change in their community.

Attendees were also invited to support the local Aliquippa food pantry by donating a boxed good, reinforcing the evening’s theme of giving back and addressing food access and equity.

“Letting the students take the lead gave them agency and helped them see the impact they can have, not just in school, but in their community.”
— Betsy VanNoy, Research Technologist

Resources

The evening also showcased a range of local organizations dedicated to supporting healthy eating and community well-being:

Penn State Extension: Represented by Marie Hepler, Denise Grandinetti, and Marie Alice Gettings, they deliver nutrition education, food safety, and bilingual classes, supporting healthy eating and the Aliquippa Food Council’s mission (established in 2019) to advance food access and equity.
Tyler Youth Group, Inc.: Led by Executive Director Dee Patillo, they contributed to the community spirit and youth engagement at the event.
Aliquippa Food Co-Op: With Carla McCoy and Dave Slebodnik sharing insights about their mission, this local co-op continues to work toward expanding access to fresh, affordable, and locally sourced food in the Aliquippa community.

While PACS provided valuable support behind the scenes, it was the passion and initiative of the students that truly made the evening shine. Their hard work and leadership were at the heart of the event, setting a powerful example of how young people can lead community change.