the people\u27s food project

The architectural design of spaces offering food assistance has received little to no attention since food pantries emerged in the 1970s. Non-profit food initiatives are often sited quickly with limited resources, producing inadequate spaces unable to fully support a food insecure community, prioritize the experience of users, and create a sense of belonging. The current spaces limit services to merely food distribution. They do not take advantage of the opportunity to expand socioeconomic capital through the power of shared food experiences: growing, cooking, eating, and learning. This thesis redefines the traditional food pantry model, responding to explorations in psychological comfort in architecture, food as a connector of people and place, the design of collective spaces, adaptability as a facilitator of user autonomy, and the approachability of the corner store typology. The thesis takes on a “hub and spokes” approach, in which one main food center providing storage, production, and service supports smaller fresh produce markets, community kitchens, and kitchen incubators. The approach is activated and contextualized through the reuse of corner stores in Winooski, Vermont, a food insecure, densely populated city with a large refugee community. In each host structure, empathetic and efficient architecture compensates for limited resources. Through a series of design principles, spaces of necessity are elevated into places of dignity, pride, and inclusion. This thesis utilizes a flexible modular design system—responsive to various needs and adaptable directly by the user—that can be implemented within a broad range of spatial configurations and building typologies. Iterations of the system can be used in both newly adapted spaces and within existing food initiatives. Due to its flexibility and responsiveness, it can be replicated to support food insecure communities across the country

A Statistical Analysis of the Change in Age Distribution of Spawning Hatchery Salmon

Declines in salmon sizes have been reported primarily as a result of younger maturation rates. This change in age distribution poses serious threats to salmon-dependent peoples and ecological systems. We perform a statistical analysis to examine the change in age structure of spawning Alaskan chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta and Chinook salmon O. tshawytscha using 30 years of hatchery data. To highlight the impacts of this change, we investigate the average number of fry/smolt that each age of spawning chum/Chinook salmon produce. Our findings demonstrate an increase in younger hatchery salmon populations returning to spawn, and fewer amounts of fry produced by younger salmon compared to older salmon. These results suggest the potential risks associated with younger spawning salmon and aim to help better understand salmon behavior in order to sustain and protect healthy salmon populations

What does family building mean? A qualitative exploration and a new definition: a UK-based study.

BACKGROUND: The importance of improving men's and women's knowledge of sexual and reproductive health has been emphasised in numerous global health policies. Fertility awareness literature highlights a disproportionately higher number of articles related to pregnancy-prevention compared to pregnancy-planning, which is justifiable in many contexts. However, recent concerted effort to improve fertility-awareness warrants a closer investigation of basic reproductive health terminologies. The objective of this study is to explore participants' views of "family building" and provide a definition. METHODS: We conducted 35 qualitative in-depth interviews on men, women and healthcare professionals who were sampled from a UK cross-sectional survey. We asked participants about terms such as 'family planning' and 'family building' to elicit views and explored the appropriateness of the term "family building." Data were transcribed and analysed via Framework analysis. RESULTS: When asked what 'family planning' meant to them, study participants stated that the term meant the avoidance of pregnancy. They viewed it as an "umbrella term for the use of contraception methods," that "paradoxically, the term family planning almost has a negative connotation regarding having a family," but could not state similar terminology for planning a family. Reasons cited for this perspective include the focus of school education and usage in clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of an explicit definition in literature, we generated a new definition for family building as follows: "Family building refers to the construction or formation of a family, which can include steps or actions taken by an individual towards having children. In contrast to family planning, the intent focuses on pregnancy planning and childbearing rather than pregnancy prevention. However, it can also include actions taken to space the number of children one has." Some balance in the global public health messages, including bridging the gap in reproductive health literature, policies, processes and practices may contribute to the effort to improve fertility knowledge. Use of appropriate terminologies help optimise reproductive health services in order to enable men and women achieve their desired fertility intentions, whatever they may be. Trial registration Not applicable

Kennesaw State University Men\u27s Ensemble, Chorale, and Chamber Singers, Sacred Music of Fauré and Mozart

This KSU School of Music performance by the KSU Men\u27s Ensemble, Chorale, and Chamber Singers led by Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Leslie Blackwell, features Gabriel Fauré\u27s Requiem and Mozart\u27s Vesperae solennes de confessore (K. 339) with guest organist Brian Parks.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2105/thumbnail.jp

The Peterborough Exemplar: a protocol to evaluate the impact and implementation of a new patient-centred, system-wide community mental healthcare model in England.

BACKGROUND: Community mental healthcare has significantly grown since de-institutionalization. Despite progress, service fragmentation and gaps in service provision remain key barriers to effective community care in England. Recent mental healthcare policies highlighted the need to transform service provision by developing patient-centred, joined-up community mental healthcare. In response to policy guidance, a system-wide community mental healthcare model was developed in Peterborough (England). The "Peterborough Exemplar" is based on two main pillars: (1) the creation of knowledge exchange pathways to strengthen interorganizational relationships, and (2) the development of new, accessible community services addressing existing service gaps. This paper presents the protocol developed to evaluate the Peterborough Exemplar. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with an intervention group and a nonequivalent comparator group has been developed to compare service provision provided in Peterborough pre- and post-intervention with services provided in Fenland, a neighbouring area where service users access usual care. Two evaluation methods will be employed to compare service provision between the two groups: (1) outcome measures completed by service users and carers will be analysed to assess quality of life and service satisfaction, and (2) service activity data will be analysed to assess service usage. In addition, qualitative interviews will be conducted with staff members of participating organizations to explore the implementation of the Exemplar in Peterborough and evaluate knowledge exchange processes among local service providers. A matched control approach will be used to compare outcome measures between the two areas. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests, will be used to analyse service activity data and examine differences between the two areas. A thematic analysis will be adopted to analyse qualitative data. DISCUSSION: Outcomes of the evaluation will contribute to understanding the contribution of the Peterborough Exemplar on mental health service provision locally. Evaluation findings and intermediate reporting will be shared with organizations involved in the implementation of the Peterborough Exemplar and with local decision-makers to inform the Exemplar delivery. As the Peterborough Exemplar is an Early Implementer (EI) site funded by NHS England, findings will be shared with policy-makers to inform national policy on community mental healthcare and integrated care

Bridging the Gaps: Building a University Link Tank

This project proposed a University Link Tank as a mechanism by which to build bridges between employees via a network of small groups. Participation in the Link Tank would be voluntary and open to all VCU and Health System employees. The program would be modeled similarly to the Faculty Learning Community (FLC) program, which is administered by the Center for Teaching Excellence, but it would concentrate on issues that are not specifically related to teaching. Topics will be proposed annually. The program would also concentrate on effectively utilizing existing VCU resources to resolve issues

Fall Concert featuring KSU Chorale, Men\u27s Ensemble and Chamber Singers

Kennesaw State University School of Music presents Fall Concert featuring University Chorale, Men\u27s Ensemble and Chamber Singers under the direction of Leslie J. Blackwell.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1665/thumbnail.jp

Choral Ensembles Spring Concert

Kennesaw State University School of Music presents Choral Ensembles Spring Concert.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1363/thumbnail.jp

Reflex Based Interventions For Children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities: An Evidence-Based Practice Project

This research will focus on reflex based interventions, specifically The Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration Method (MNRI Method). Background learning was completed by searching multiple search engines with combinations of keywords. The background information consisted of who the founder of MNRI is, what MNRI is, how it is done, and why the creator believes it works. MNRI was created by Dr. Svetlana Masgutova. Dr. Masgutova has her Doctorate in Developmental Educational Psychology (Dr. Svetlana Masgutova n.d.). Her doctoral work was geared toward the history of reflexes (Dr. Svetlana Masgutova n.d.; Rentschler, 2008). The background information she used came from the work of researchers such as Vygotsky and Piaget (Dr. Svetlana Masgutova n.d.; Rentschler, 2008). She also participated in work with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which eventually became the groundwork for MRNI (Dr. Svetlana Masgutova n.d.). She now works with individuals with multiple disorders and leads the MNRI International Team (Dr. Svetlana Masgutova n.d)

Household Hardships, Public Programs, and Their Associations with the Health and Development of Very Young Children: Insights from Children’s HealthWatch

America’s low-income families struggle to protect their children from multiple threats to their health and growth. Many research and advocacy groups explore the health and educational effects of food insecurity, but less is known about these effects on very young children. Children’s HealthWatch, a group of pediatric clinicians and public health researchers, has continuously collected data on the effects of food insecurity alone and in conjunction with other household hardships since 1998. The group’s peer reviewed research has shown that a number of economic risks at the household level, including food, housing and energy insecurity, tend to be correlated. These insecurities alone or in conjunction increase the risk that a young child will suffer various negative health consequences, including increases in lifetime hospitalizations, parental report of fair or poor health,1 or risk for developmental delays.2 Child food insecurity is an incremental risk indicator above and beyond the risk imposed by household-level food insecurity. The Children’sHealthwatch research also suggests public benefits programs modify some of these effects for families experiencing hardships. This empirical evidence is presented in a variety of public venues outside the usual scientific settings, such as congressional hearings, to support the needs of America’s most vulnerable population through policy change. Children’s HealthWatch research supports legislative solutions to food insecurity, including sustained funding for public programs and re-evaluation of the use of the Thrifty Food Plan as the basis of SNAP benefits calculations. Children’s HealthWatch is one of many models to support the American Academy of Pediatrics’ call to “stand up, speak up, and step up for children.”3 No isolated group or single intervention will solve child poverty or multiple hardships. However, working collaboratively each group has a role to play in supporting the health and well-being of young children and their families. 1. Cook JT, Frank DA, Berkowitz C, et al. Food insecurity is associated with adverse health outcomes among human infants and toddlers. J Nutr. 2004;134:1432-1438. 2. Rose-Jacobs R, Black MM, Casey PH, et al. Household food insecurity: associations with at-risk infant and toddler development. Pediatrics. 2008;121:65-72. 3. AAP leader says to stand up, speak up, and step up for child health [news release]. Boston, MA: American Academy of Pediatrics; October 11, 2008. http://www2.aap.org/pressroom/nce/nce08childhealth.htm. Accessed January 1, 2012