Author Archive
Meet the Backyard Initiative staff from Allina Health!
Ruth Hampton Olkon, Lovel Trahan, and Dimpho Orionzi are the team here to support the work happening in the Backyard. Ruth Hampton Olkon Name: Ruth Hampton Olkon Hometown: Minneapolis, MN Heritage: Jewish Family: Husband, three kids, one sister, one brother-in law, one niece, parents, in-laws, and close friends What brought you to the Backyard Initiative? I wanted to be involved in what I believe is the most important work in the world What is your role with the project? Provide support and facilitate connections between and amongst Allina Health and the community. How long have you been with the project? One year What is your favorite restaurant in the Backyard? Maria”'s Cafe Name: Lovel Trahan Name: Lovel Trahan Hometown: Lafayette, LO Heritage: Cajun and Creole Family: Two parents, one brother, three grandparents, six aunts, three uncles, seven cousins, and one partner What brought you to the Backyard Initiative? A desire to be [...]
Growing the Backyard CHAT-25 families and growing!
In the last two years, Growing the Backyard CHAT assisted 25 families to establish gardens and grow their own food. This CHAT empowers Backyard residents to produce their own healthy foods, increase connections to the local food system, and to increase each family”'s understanding about how the food system works. Families participating in the project will actively take responsibility for creating and maintaining a series of gardens throughout the Backyard. These activities will also increase a sense of belonging and community for each family. The CHAT team members help to provide supplies and connections to gardening resources and the local food system. The work of this CHAT team ties into overarching goals that were identified by the Assessment process conducted in 2009 by Backyard Initiative. Two specific points that related to the work of this CHAT include: Families expressed a lack of access to affordable healthy food for their family 97% of Backyard assessment [...]
Phillips Community Center Pool: Sometimes miracles do happen
One of the neat things about following the same story over a matter of years is that you get to find out what happens. I”'ve been writing for the Daily Planet since 2008, and over that time, I”'ve covered all sorts of different topics. Sometimes there will be an issue that I write a number of articles about, and then it will pop back up again a year or two later. This can be depressing, as I watch neighbors fighting over and over again about the same thing, for example. But it can also be satisfying, as it was a week ago when I wrote about the Phillips Community Center Pool. Read the rest of the story on TC Daily Planet
