One student had this to say: “I’m so glad I attended APA this year. It was very inspiring to see over 5,000 planners from across the country in one place discussing relevant issues. The educational sessions were very informative and showcased how what we are learning in the planning program is applied to the “real world.” Plenty of networking opportunities as well!”

Susan Elliott and Jessie Ray, both second year graduate students in the Urban and Environmental Planning Program, presented work developed in the fall of 2009 at the Conference as part of the poster session.

Susan presented a poster developed by herself and Stuart Andreason (also a second year graduate student in the UEP Program). Their poster discussed University-Community Engagement vs. University-Community Service. The key distinguishing points included 1) the types of activities, 2) the end goal, and 3) the integration into the University’s structure. Although Charlottesville and UVa have a unique historical legacy, similar issues are faced by universities and students across the country. The opportunity for universities to contribute long-lasting community partnerships of engaged service is greatly affected by the potential length of involvement. A single semester or graduate thesis project is insufficient to address the larger societal challenges.

Jessie presented on the Food Policy Audit: a tool for local governments and community members to use to evaluate the policy infrastructure necessary to support a sustainable food system. She received a great response from attendees, including a dozen or so business cards from individuals interested in learning more and using the audit on their own projects. She is currently in touch with Kimberly Hodgson, APA Staff, on where and how she can make the tool available to the broader public. Jessie and Tanya Denckla Cobb, from the Institute for Environmental Negotiation, are hoping to refine the tool this summer and develop a report for publication.

Please click here to set up your profile and gain access:

http://my.preservationnation.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=7182&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&s_parent_id=2354939

Once you complete the online form, you will have access with your own username and password.
If you already have a login for PreservationNation.org, you should log in first, and then click on the link.

Thanks!

Please join me in congratulating undergraduate planning student Ben Chrisinger who has just been awarded a substantial three year National Science Foundation fellowship for graduate school to study Food Systems’ Role in Community Development and Urban Revitalization for non-Majority Populations.

NSF awarded 2000 fellowships in the hard sciences but Ben’s award is one of only five nationally in planning. Quite an accomplishment!

Ben will be receiving his Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning degree in May and will then continue at UVA in the Masters degree program while launching his research.
Nice work Ben.
–
A. Bruce Dotson

Statement from Ben:
I’m hoping to specifically research the role of community food projects in minority communities of the United States. These food projects often end up performing a very wide spectrum of neighborhood services that would typically be performed by a formal planning department. Projects with a foundation in food are also branching out into workforce training, economic development, and health advocacy, and youth programs. I feel like there is a unique planning function to food projects, especially in underserved and minority communities, and my research goal is to document that in a relevant way for planners. I will spend much of this summer further focusing my research project, and working with advisors to create a formal plan.

Congratulations Ben!

The Forum is being held on Tuesday April 27, at the School of Architecture, Room 205, from 11:00 AM to 1:45 PM. Light refreshments will be offered. There will be two panels of local food leaders, as follows:

Ø11:00-12:15 Food Production and Distribution
o Kate Collier, food entrepreneur, UVa alumna, Owner of Feast! Director and founder of the Local Food Hub
o Rex Linville, Albemarle & Greene County Land Conservation Officer, Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC)
o Joe Cloud, a Landscape Architect turned food entrepreneur, owner of True & Essential Meats, in Harrisonburg, a boutique slaughterhouse and processor serving local farmers and restaurants.
o Wendy Harrison, owner of The Farm at Red Hill

Ø12:15-12:30 Break

Ø12:30 – 1:45 Food Access, Food Justice, and Food System Development
o Gordon Walker, CEO of Jefferson Area Board of Aging (JABA)
o Karen Waters, Executive Director, Quality Community Council, organizers of the first public urban farm in Charlottesville
o Megan Bucknum, UVa alumna, is currently working for the Wallace Center at Winrock International as well as FamilyFarmed.org
o Jeanette Abi-Nader, Evaluation Program Director, Community Food Security Coalition

Join us, and invite your friends and organizations!

Naturally we picked the busiest time of year for our next Expert Visitor.
Despite that, I think you will find Rob Puentes talk tomorrow interesting, partly because he holds a Master of Planning degree from UVA and his talk will be timely in terms of where the economy is going and what the context for urban and environmental planning will be in the next few years.

Rob is the Brookings expert on transportation policy and has both a public (author of Taking the High Road among others) and a behind the scenes role in influencing what happens.

His talk is entitled: Recharge and Recalibrate: Transportation, Infrastructure, and the Next Economy.

I hope to see you Wednesday, 12:30 p.m., April 21, Room 160.

Best wishes,

Bill Lucy

Following the film screening, a local panel of community garden advocates will engage the audience in an open forum discussion regarding the future of community gardening in Charlottesville.

This film event, hosted by Whole Foods Market in Charlottesville, is just one of 150 films being screened across the country as part of a nationwide effort to trigger awareness and action to remedy the problems facing the U.S. food system. The grocer hopes to inspire change by encouraging and educating consumers to take charge and understand how their food choices have an impact on their environment and health.

WHAT: FILM SCREENING FUNDRAISER HOSTED BY WHOLE FOODS MARKET TO BENEFIT PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL AND THE HAVEN

WHERE: THE HAVEN AT FIRST & MARKET

WHEN: SUNDAY, APRIL 25th

TIME: 6PM LOCAL WINE AND FOOD TASTING
7PM FILM SCREENING OF ‘THE GARDEN’
8:30PM PANEL DISCUSSION

EVENT MODERATOR: STEVE RUSSELL, EDIBLE BLUE RIDGE MAGAZINE

PANELESTS SCHEDULED TO ATTEND:
Adrienne Young — Backyard Revolution founder, musician, and Buy Fresh Buy Local spokesperson
Lena Zentgraf — The Haven Community Garden
Linda Winecoff — Buford Middle School Garden
Dana Smith — University of Virginia Community Garden

Seating is limited and tickets will be sold at the door only if available. Advance tickets are available at Whole Foods Market, New Dominion Book Shop, and PEC’s office.

$12 ticket donation and $5 wine & food sampling donation to benefit PEC and The Haven.

For more information, please contact Piedmont Environmental Council at 434-977-2033 or visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Cate Wyatt, President and Founder
Of
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground

Room 305, 12:30PM, Campbell Hall

Ms. Wyatt will discuss the history of JTHG, its recent successes, including the establishment of the corridor as a National Heritage Area, and what it means for designers, planners, and historians in practice.

Cate Magennis Wyatt is the founder and president of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, a four state non-profit corporation dedicated to sharing the heritage in the 180-mile corridor from Gettysburg, PA to Monticello, VA. Previously Cate served in the public sector as the Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia within Governor Wilder’s Cabinet and in the private sector as President of Remington International, Vice President of Xerox Development and Vice President of Weston Capital Corporation. She has specialized in developing strategic plans for troubled investments followed by directing the successful implementation of those strategies. In this capacity she led the creation of businesses in London, Moscow and Kazakhstan.
 She serves or has served on many Boards, including: George Mason University, Board of Visitors; the University of Richmond Board of Trustees, the George C. Marshall International Center, The Center for Innovative Technology, the Waterford Foundation, Oatlands Plantation, The Women’s Center, Wolf Trap National Performing Arts Center, The British American Project, the Colonial Board George Washington University and Waterford Elementary School PTO. 
 Cate, her husband and two children reside in Waterford, Virginia.

SPA KICKBALL Extravaganza and POTLUCK event, Saturday, April 17th 3:30pm at Washington Park

This will be an epic game – GRADS vs. UNDERGRADS – come get your game on!!!

Faculty members have also been invited and will be divided evenly among teams (several have already expressed interest, so encourage them to attend!)

We’ll play a game first and then enjoy a potluck picnic.

A reminder and super cool invitation will follow next week, but wanted to be sure you had advance notice to start practicing

See you on the 17th!