Around CAUSES September 2015

Here's what's been happening around CAUSES!

• Paige Zaitlin Joins CAUSES
• CAUSES featured in the Northwest Current
• Institute of Gerontology participates in AARP Day of Service
• CAUSES exhibits at DC State Fair
• Smithsonian Foods in the Garden

Paige Zaitlin Joins CAUSES

Paige Zaitlin has joined CAUSES as a project specialist with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), in the Center for Nutrition, Diet and Health. Paige is a Registered Dietitian and a Licensed Nutritionist in the District of Columbia, and holds a BS degree in Nutritional Science from Cornell University. She obtained her MS degree in Nutrition from Tufts University, where she also completed her dietetic internship. She has experience working at WIC at Mary’s Center, a nonprofit in DC; and at a skilled nursing facility in Hyattsville, Maryland. She served in the Peace Corps in Uganda, East Africa, in 2013, where she worked on a grant to bring a sustainable water supply to her village. Paige enjoys working with diverse populations and is particularly interested in nutrition programs focusing on meeting the needs of low income people in the District. 

CAUSES featured in the Northwest Current

In addition to two features in the Washington Post, CAUSES also made an appearance in the Northwest Current: "At the University of the District of Columbia’s research farm in Beltsville, Md., farmers are putting the facility’s formal name — the Muirkirk Agricultural Experiment Station — into action to help improve food security in the District and around the world." How's that for a lede?  Visit page 16 of the Sept. 9 edition of the Northwest Current to read the full article!



Smithsonian Foods in the Garden

CAUSES Dean Sabine O'Hara spoke at the Smithsonian's Food in the Garden event on September 17, where the past, present and future of edible garden design was discussed. Dean O'Hara approached the topic of modern garden design from an ecologist's point of view. Her co-panelists were Dean Norton, director of horticulture at Mount Vernon, and Joe Brunetti, lead horticulturist at the Smithsonian Gardens. The panel was moderated by Cindy Brown, manager of horticulture collections management and education, Smithsonian Gardens. Read more about the event at the Thyme Fries blog.


CAUSES exhibits at DC State Fair

CAUSES recently exhibited at the DC State Fair, where we featured ethnic crops and aquaponics, with a hand from the DC 4-Hers. The Fair had a general overall focus on agriculture. Yao Afantchao, ethnic crop specialist, taught a workshop on Growing Traditional Ethnic Crops, where he was assisted by three DC 4-H youth to display crops grown at the UDC Research Farm. 


Arielle Gerstein chatted with fair-goers about aquaponics, the practice of growing fish and produce in a closed loop system. Additional photos are available on our Facebook page. 

Institute of Gerontology participates in AARP Day of Service
On September 11 for the National Day of Service and Remembrance, more than 20 seniors with the UDC Institute of Gerontology participated in the AARP Foundation’s Celebration of Service event, helping to package more than 1.2 million meals to feed the area’s most vulnerable; especially older people, veterans and first responders. Local AARP chapters from the DC Metro joined together on the National Mall in an uplifting event dedicated to the area's often forgotten population. See more photos on Facebook.