Around CAUSES

Here's what's been happening around CAUSES!

• CAUSES Welcomes Lorraine Weller Clarke
• Nutrition student Leah Fahey: from China to Boston
• Yao Afantchao Honored by the Cameroon American Council
• Prof. Ralph Belton Selected Professor of Architecture of the Year
• Chef T honored by Marguerite's Place  
• City Orchard Celebrates first Harvest
• Dean Sabine O'Hara participates in Leipzig, Germany's Degrowth Conference

CAUSES Welcomes Lorraine Weller Clarke
Dr. Lorraine Weller-Clarke recently joined CAUSES as the new Project Specialist for Urban Agriculture and Gardening Education. She obtained her PhD. from the University of California, Riverside, where she conducted research on why are people planting certain species versus others. Her research areas of interest include urban agriculture and urban ecology, specifically on biodiversity and urban systems – the idea that people plant and manage biodiversity to fulfill certain needs. She is excited to be of the CAUSES team, in her dual role of outreach and teaching. She can be reached at lorraine.clarke@udc.edu.

Nutrition student Leah Fahey: from China to Boston

A participant in the Nutrition and Dietetics Program, Leah Fahey worked in Shanghai, China at an international medical center called JJ Premier Medical Services, where she worked with the kitchen and analyzing the food that they were giving to their patients. She also attended seminars and meetings with nutrition groups throughout Shanghai learning about different diets and how it all affects the growing chronic illness rate in China, and studied the change in diet from when Americans move to Shanghai. But Shanghai was not her only adventure. Leah also worked in Boston in the wellness and prevention unit of the Department of Public Health under a registered dietitian where she is researching school wellness policies in Massachusetts and the models that are given by the National Alliance for Nutrition Activity, Massachusetts Association for School Committees and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Her research will be used to formulate a tool and/or training for school officials in Massachusetts so that they can implement, evaluate and monitor the school wellness policy. Keep up the good work, Leah!

Yao Afantchao Honored by the Cameroon American Council
Mr. Yao Afantchao, Specialty and Ethnic Crop Specialist, was honored last month by the Cameroon American Council (CAC) in collaboration with the DC Public Library and the Congressional African Immigrant Caucus Institute at the DC African BazaarFest. Each fall, African immigrants are recognized as part of National African Immigrant Heritage Month, where this month's theme was Africans and Agriculture: Careers, Conservation, Culture and Cuisine. Mr. Afantchao was bestowed with the "George Washington Carver Award for African Food & Agriculture Justice," recognized  for his collaboration with the CAC on various African food and agriculture programs, as well as your stellar work experience getting African food into the greater D.C. community.

Prof. Ralph Belton Selected Professor of Architecture of the Year 

Congratulations to UDC Prof. of Architecture and Community Planning, Ralph Belton, for being named Professor of Architecture of the Year by the DC Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (DCNOMA). DCNOMA is an organization comprised of architects, designers, preservationists, students, teachers and concerned individuals who believe in using the built environment as a medium for inspiration and change. For the past six years DCNOMA has held The Lankford-Giles-Vaughn Minority Architect Awards to showcase to recognize individuals in the DC-area whose accomplishments have significantly reflected their mission.  

Chef T honored by Marguerite's Place 

CAUSES Center for Nutrition, Diet and Health Tyrome "Chef T" Henson was honored at a Volunteers and Donor Appreciation Brunch hosted by SOME Family Services Department at their Marguerite's Place located in Ward 8. Chef T was recognized for his role as Culinary Instructor during a six week Cooking Matters workshop at SOME Fendall Heights, a housing facility for military veterans and their families in Ward 8.

City Orchard Celebrates first Harvest
Congratulations to Bread for the City for celebrating their first City Orchard Harvest. Photos of the event are available here. If you're interested in getting your hands dirty, contact volunteer@breadforthecity.org to volunteer.  

Dean Sabine O'Hara participates in Leipzig, Germany's Degrowth Conference
Dean O'Hara served as a featured speaker at the Degrowth Conference in Leipzig, Germany, which focused on concrete steps towards a society beyond the imperative of growth. She served on the "Degrowth? A Feminist Perspective" panel with: Adelheid Biesecker (University of Bremen), Christa Wichterich (University of Kassel) and Karin Schönpflug (The Economist). Watch Dean O'Hara's presentation starting at 6:44: