URBANA, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension celebrated the launch of a new Center focused on food, nutrition, and health at an event that brought partners together from across campus and Illinois.
The Center for Food Systems, Nutrition Security, and Health Integration is a statewide strategic hub within Illinois Extension and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
The Center’s mission is to connect farmers, partners, and communities with research, training, and practical solutions to strengthen Illinois food systems by improving nutrition security, protecting environmental quality, and enhancing the health and well-being of people and ecosystems across Illinois and beyond.
“Our soft launch of the Center was in July, and we have hit the ground running. The current initiatives use resources and strengths we have built upon for the last several years,” said Jennifer McCaffrey, executive director, Center for Food Systems, Nutrition Security, and Health Integration, and assistant dean, University of Illinois Extension.
Initial projects include the Find Food IL Navigator training program, focused on helping individuals and families explore and access food resources; ABCs of School Nutrition, a successful project that provides free training to school nutrition professionals across Illinois through a partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education; and coordination of local food supply chain mapping and resource development.
“This is only the beginning. A center is not defined by its name. It is not defined by a website, or an organizational chart, or even a physical space. It will be defined by the partnerships it creates, the questions it helps answer, and the lives and communities it improves,” said Dr. Matthew Vann, director, University of Illinois Extension.
For more information, visit the Center’s website.
SOURCE: Jennifer McCaffrey, executive director, Center for Food Systems, Nutrition Security, and Health Integration, and assistant dean, Illinois Extension
WRITER: Beth Peralta, assistant director, digital education strategy, Illinois Extension
EDITOR: Herbert Chavez, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.