[FIG-ALL] LAS 195

[Heather L McIlvaine-Newsad]

Hi Althea! 

Good to know that you will be working on this project. I have always been an advocate community service projects. I think that they are one way in which to have the students learn by doing. 

I am glad that you are considering having your students work on a community garden project. A group of local folks interested in promoting local sustainable foods, FIG, is considering undertaking just such a project. I have copied this email to Dan Barclay, a history professor at Monmouth, who is coordinating this subcommittee. It would be great if you could coordinate with Dan and FIG. I think that having the students do a lot of the groundwork, is a wonderful idea. As for whether or not this project could be accomplished in one semester or not, I am not sure, but I do know that the this is a project that interests a lot of people and would be of great benefit to the community. 

I have had Kylie as a student in the past and she is great to work with. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. I hope that you contact Dan and are able to begin a conversation with him soon. Keep me posted! 

cheers, heather 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Althea K Alton" <AK-Alton1 at wiu.edu> 
To: "Heather L McIlvaine-Newsad" <H-Mcilvaine-newsad at wiu.edu> 
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 8:20:37 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central 
Subject: LAS 195 

Hi Heather, 

I will be coordinating the community projects for the Macomb group of LAS students. I had originally planned to have the students work with Loaves and Fishes to develop a plan whereby student could be more involved in our food pantry. 
It looks like we'll have 4 students and that's really more than can work on the project. 

One project I would be excited about is having students develop a plan for a community garden somewhere in Macomb or at WIU. I envision students making arrangements for a site, writing the guidelines for the garden, planning the advertising to the community and looking for sources to help fund the project-- perhaps writing a small grant proposal. I think that this project could provide enough work/challenge for all 4 students to work together although 1 or 2 students might still want to work with the food pantry 

I know you have experience with CSA and local food initiatives. Do you think this project is feasible and that I could get it going this semester? Would you be willing to lend your advice to the project. 

At least one of the students is a Macomb resident- Kiley Davenport- and might be interested in seeing the project through the summer. 

Thanks in advance for your input. 

Best regards, 

Althea 




Althea K. Alton Ph.D. 
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences 
Coordinator, 
Baccalaureate Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) 
Western Illinois University 
1 University Circle 
Macomb, IL 61455 
Tel. 309-298-3025 


-- 
Dr. Heather McIlvaine-Newsad 
Associate Professor of Anthropology 
Department of Sociology & Anthropology 
Western Illinois University 
Macomb, IL 61455 

Tel. 309.298.1264 
h-mcilvaine-newsad at wiu.edu 
www.drmcilvaine.com 

"If you're really listening, if you're awake to the poignant beauty of the 
world, your heart breaks regularly. In fact, your heart is made to break; its 
purpose is to burst open again and again so that it can hold ever-more 
wonders." Andrew Harvey, *The Return of the Mother* 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed 
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that 
ever has." -Margaret Mead 
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