Wednesday, October 24, 2012

TOP-News: Farm to Community Conference, Nov. 12

On Monday, November 12, Women for a Healthy Environment will host an all-day Farm to Community Conference at the Regional Learning Alliance Library in Cranberry Woods.


 

 The day will consist of two, VERY important track focuses: Farm-to-Community and Farm-to-School.

 Farm to School:
  • Food Safety 101
  • Getting Farm Food to Students
Farm to Community:
  • Assesing the Southwestern PA Region
  • Connecting the Southwestern PA Region
For a full list of workshops, visit the event website.

Keynote Speakers:

Ms. Judith Dodd, MS, RD, LDN, FADA:

Judy Dodd is a registered dietitian, and assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh.  Academically, her degrees are from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. Along with teaching at the university level, she is a consultant on child nutrition issues. Active in her community and in her profession, she is a past president of the American Dietetic Association, a volunteer leader and spokesperson for the local affiliate of the American Heart Association. Ms. Dodd is a member of the American Dietetic Association, both the Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh affiliates, the Society for Nutrition Education, and the American Association for Family and Consumer Science.
Mr. Rodney Taylor:
Rodney K. Taylor is the Director of Nutrition Services for the Riverside Unified School District in Riverside, California.  A noted pioneer, and expert in farm-to-school salad bars, he is particularly known for establishing the “Farmers’ Market Salad Bar” (FMSB) program in 1997, while working as Director of Food and Nutrition Services in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District in Santa Monica, California.
As a result of this and other programs in the SMMUSD and RUSD, Mr. Taylor is frequently invited to speak at workshops, participate in panels, conduct classes/trainings, and speak directly to governing agencies and officials as well as receiving visits from other district representatives looking for methods to model the program.
He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards. In 2011 he received the California Endowment’s “Health Heroes” Award, Loma Linda University Award for “The Promotion Of Healthy Lifestyles---For Outstanding Commitment To The Public’s Health,” The Riverside Human Relations Commission "Heroes Award" and the  N.A.A.C.P. "Education Award," just to name a few.

The topics on tap for this conference are very important, especially for parents, community stakeholders, educators and educational staff, and farmers. The revised National School Lunch and School Breakfast standards, calling for reduced calories, more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and other changes, has been a lightening rod in schools and around kitchen tables. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released its mapping system of food deserts, confirming that access to fresh foods in urban and rural low-income families is limited.  

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. For more information or to register, visit womenforahealthyenvironment.org.

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