New School Resource Contacts
Posted: October 27, 2011
There are five fresh, new faces in school cafeterias and gardens this year. Five young women have joined the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative (FFI) as resource contacts for area school districts. There are two FoodCorps and three Iowa AmeriCorps State of Promise positions for the 2011-2012 school year.
Resource contacts link FFI and school wellness outreach with twenty school districts. Members assist the school wellness teams as they work together to deepen student, teacher and staff understanding about the benefits of growing and consuming local, healthy food and being physically active.
For example, FoodCorps and AmeriCorps members assist with Farm to School cross-age teaching activities which involve training high school students to deliver lessons about local foods to younger students. They also support school-community events that showcase Farm to School/Safe Routes to School programs and develop partnerships in the community.
These resource contacts work hard to be in each school district every week. They are based out of Luther College and work closely with the other FFI core partners, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission.
The Food & Fitness family extends a warm welcome to these new members.
Sonja Arneson-Ecklund is an AmeriCorps member serving Central, N. Winneshiek, MFL MarMac and Clayton Ridge schools. She is a graduate of Luther College in health and psychology.
Leah Chapman is a FoodCorps member serving Howard-Winneshiek, N. Fayette and West Central Schools. She is a graduate of the University of Florida in political science, religion and sustainable studies.
Stephanie Conant is a FoodCorps member serving Turkey Valley, S. Winneshiek and Oelwein schools. She is a graduate of Luther College in environmental studies.
Elizabeth Makarewicz is an AmeriCorps member serving Postville, Starmont and Valley schools. She is a graduate of Beloit College (WI) in anthropology and Spanish.
Melanie Stewart is an AmeriCorps member serving New Hampton, St. Joseph's and Riceville schools. She is a graduate of Grinnell College in biology. She also assists Decorah schools with cross-age teaching.
In addition, Maren Stumme-Diers is serving as a community liaison for the Allamakee schools and working with the NE IA Food & Farm Coalition on institutional outreach.
The school outreach team is supervised by Emily Neal, Director of School Outreach at Luther College. Neal is also is serving as the resource contact for the Decorah school district.
