COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
FELLOWS

 "I'm excited to work together to build healthier and more just food systems because we all connect through food; it sustains us, brings us together, connects us with the land, and it can have huge impacts on environmental, cultural, and bodily health. Urban farming is a passion of mine and a generative field of life-long learning. I believe it is crucial we have meaningful conversations with those who have different experiences, relationships to food and the land, and life-ways to deepen our empathy and community strength."

"I’m excited to work together to build healthier food systems because I see, on a daily basis, how thoughtful collaboration can transform food access initiatives into a source of dignity, connection, and resilience. My work in rural Whatcom County has shown me that lasting change happens when we center lived experience, strengthen local partnerships, and design systems that truly work for the people they’re meant to serve."

"I'm excited to work together to build healthier food systems because it is such a big need I hear from students! I'm excited to be able to share resources that I learn about from others with students, and to better align all of the many food systems-related initiatives happening on and off campus. "

"I’m excited to work together to build healthier food systems because I believe that access to affordable, nourishing, and culturally relevant food is a pillar of thriving communities.The more say and access people have over what they eat and how it is grown is directly related to the strength, health, and happiness of their communities!"

"I'm excited about working together to build healthier food systems because food impacts our lives every day, and it is vital that we continuously work to build these stronger food systems. I'm also excited to build a community based on food systems that promotes sharing resources, stories, skills, and anything else that may come out of this collective "

"I'm excited about working together to build healthier food systems because it's badly needed, hungry people can be scary, and I believe everyone has a right to healthy, nutritious food. I also think that when people are properly nourished they are capable of amazing things. If nourishment was secure, we can focus on other meaningful things to a higher degree."

"I'm excited about working together to build healthier food systems because when there is a healthier food system built in a collective model we are nourishing community, embrace our ecological roles, and offer sustainance for generations ahead."

"I am excited to build healthier food systems because I have experienced food insecurity first hand. I have had to heal my journey with food, and as someone going into pre-healthcare I now know the utter importance of nutrition. I want to represent and collaborate with people struggling with food insecurity."

"I am excited to build healthier food systems because everyone has the right to healthy, culturally meaningful, tasty food."

" I’m excited to work together to build healthier food systems because place matters, and local food work helps people understand and invest in where they live. It also opens up cultural conversations around food that help students and community partners learn from one another while building practical skills and lasting relationships."

"I'm excited to work together to build healthier food systems because healthy food is not only a basic right, but a tool for cultural continuation, community building, and joy. In the future, I hope to contribute to the integration of autonomous food systems into our urban areas as an effort to promote justice and equity."

"I'm excited to work together to build healthier food systems because we can do so much more together! So many people and organizations are doing incredible food systems work, and it is so valuable to be able to support each other and collaborate to continue building sustainable and thriving food systems."

"I'm excited to work together to build healthier and more just food systems because food systems are both the site of many injustices along lines of class, race, citizenship, environment, and gender, and at the same time are the site of so many possibilities for change and impact. Working to better our food system means sequestering carbon, feeding our communities, and addressing systemic violence. I am forever in awe of the capability of food systems to hold such a juxtaposition."

"I’m excited to work together to build healthier and more just food systems because food is something that connects us all. Everyone has the right to eat, and to know where and how their food was produced. Together, we can learn and make decisions about our food that lead to connection with the earth and each other, joy and celebration, and resilience in the face of an uncertain future. "

"I’m excited to work together to build healthier and more just food systems because every human being deserves access to food. Collaboration is what builds community, we are better together."

"I’m excited to work together to build healthier and more just food systems because there is a lot of community and resilience found in sharing a meal. If we can get fresh local food to be more accessible and affordable, we can reconnect people to thier food systems, their natural environment, and most importantly to their community."

"I'm excited to work together to build healthier food systems because building community across a variety of perspectives within the food system is inspiring for my work in both personal and academic spheres."