PEKIN, Ill - It is hard to comprehend how many people’s lives have been positively impacted by Rebecca Crumrine since 2017 when she was hired by University of Illinois Extension as an instructor to teach Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education (SNAP-Education). In five short years Rebecca worked her way up from instructor to program coordinator and now Extension educator.

In January 2023, Rebecca was promoted into her new position that serves Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties. She provides leadership to the unit SNAP-Education team and collaborates with partners, such as food pantries, schools, and health departments.

“I like to describe what I do as facilitating changes that help impact families where they eat, learn, live, shop, and play so the healthier choice can become the easier choice to make,” explained Rebecca.

While she makes it sound simple, the issues and approaches can be complex as she helps to improve policies, systems, and environments (PSE) that influence healthy eating and physical activity.

“With our SNAP-Ed direct education we are reaching individuals and households,” Rebecca explained. “My work with partners is important because even if everyone in the household understands what they need to do to be healthy, if the community, organizations, and policies don't support it then the people can’t make the changes they need to be healthy.”

To help make a larger impact in our communities, Rebecca also is a part of many local collaborative teams and coalitions working alongside multiple organizations to create change. One example is the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) - Food Systems Partners (FSP) collaboration. The team working on this initiative is comprised of 17 different organizations stepping out of their silos to improve our charitable food system through increasing healthy food access, advancing community education, and creating agricultural and community development opportunities. The team was just awarded their fifth year of funding from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois to continue to address these important issues and is actively seeking other funding opportunities to expand the work happening.

“Helping solve complex issues for our families like food access is an impossible task to take on alone,”  stated Rebecca. “By being a part of local coalitions and collaborative teams, we all can make a much larger impact and create long term changes.”

Before beginning her career with Illinois Extension Rebecca earned a Bachelor of Music Vocal Performance from Bradley University & Master of Music Vocal Performance from Illinois State University. She is working on her second master’s degree, Masters of Public Health General, currently at University of Illinois Springfield.

Outside of work, Rebecca spends her time with her husband and their little boy. She enjoys singing, bike riding, baking, and going on fun adventures with their family and friends.

PHOTO CAPTION

Rebecca Crumrine recently received a promotion to Extension SNAP-Education educator serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties. Rebecca began her Extension career as a SNAP-Education instructor in Peoria County and then worked as unit program coordinator before becoming educator in January.