WORCESTER, Mass. - The Food Combi is a 1970s Volkswagen design, which was converted into a food truck by the Dobson family. John Dobson and his wife are professors at Clark University. Lisa taught a class called community-based entrepreneurship last spring. 

What You Need To Know

  • Clark students are using a food truck to gain entrepreneurship skills to complete a minor 

  • Students worked with community organizations

  • Food Combi came from Mexico and was built by John's son

  • The food truck is planning on being used in the fall again

“While traveling in Mexico, I saw these type of rigs as food trucks and I thought this vehicle, pun intended, would be a great vehicle for Clark students to engage in the community as part of their capstone in entrepreneurship," John Dobson said. 

Melanie Adams is one the 11 students who used the food truck to complete her entrepreneurship minor. ​

“I think it was a great opportunity, and it's something that I never expected," Adams said. 

Dobson said students partnered with community organizations to sell different types of food. They also helped make 100 meals for one of the Woo Fridges.

“They have a lot of academic experience and are outstanding academic students, but to have them bridge that into a practice and apply it to something that's meaningful to them is phenomenal. It's really rewarding to see them come back with these great experiences," Dobson said. 

Melanie ran a yoga event for her project.

“I think it was great, and it kind of made me realize like how much I care about event planning, and how much I like enjoy like creating this atmosphere where people can meet others in their community and make friends," Adams said. 

Dobson said the goal is to help mend the divide between some of the communities in Worcester. 

“It gives them a real concrete experience engaging in the local community. For the ones that don't want to pursue entrepreneurship, what it does is it really makes a resume pop,"  Dobson said. 

For the summer, Dobson’s sons are taking over the family food truck, with some help from Clark students, as well as former incarcerated individuals. Dobson said he plans to use the truck for classes again in the fall.