EMAIL NEWSLETTER
Urban Seeds email updates are a great way to keep up with what’s new and tasty in our local-food community.
Amanda transplanted to Evansville from northern Minnesota in 2009. She currently resides on the west side with her husband, three children, and a menagerie of rescued pets. Previous to her move she completed a bachelors of science at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens point, majoring in forest management and minoring in soil science. Decades spent working in the natural resources field helped to shape her view on the importance of food as a way to not only keep our bodies healthy but also our environment. With the addition of children to her family, one with extensive food allergies, the importance of the access to abundant, nourishing food really came into focus for her. She became aware of the barriers that can be present in the pursuit of gathering nutritious food and started doing what she could to help break those down. Amanda is very excited to be on the Urban Seeds team and to serve the community in a much deeper and meaningful way. Please do not hesitate to contact her if she can assist you in any way at aburksurbanseeds@gmail.com or 812-213-7241.
Robin is passionate about food! As a full-time community volunteer, Robin is committed to implementing programs that increase access to fresh, nourishing foods to those who are nutrient-insecure, thereby elevating the Food Justice conversation. Robin loves preparing cooked-from-scratch meals, shared with others around her own dining table or in cooking classes. As well, she is committed to supporting locally-grown and produced food as one of the many opportunities to create a vibrant local foods economy. Her professional experience as a cardiovascular and diabetes nurse provides the platform for her teaching a “Food as Medicine” philosophy. Robin is active the the Healthy Communities Partnership initiative, the Promise Zone Food Access workgroup, and the Mayor’s Food Commission. She sits on the Advisory Committee for the Market on Main and the U of E Public Health Committee.
Tom grew up in Evansville and has recently returned with his wife after living in Bloomington for many years. He is excited and honored to be a part of the Urban Seeds team and to become more involved with the community. Tom’s professional background is largely in the retail world, including working as Store Manager of Bloomingfoods Co-op and Deli for 7 years, but he has long desired to serve others in a deeper and more meaningful way. The opportunity as Nourish Coordinator will allow him to do just that while returning home to be closer to family and old friends. He is a decent cook and due to some recent changes in his health, has become much more aware of the importance of the healing potential of food. He is also an artist (University of Evansville BFA class of 1990) and works in a variety of media, these days focusing primarily on ceramics and drawing. Tom lives with his wife and, currently, no dog, but he hopes to change that once they become more settled. He looks forward to working with and getting to know Nourish members, local food suppliers, and Urban Seeds’ partner organizations in order to help build the bridge to good nutrition and a sustainable and healthy life for all.
Heidi returned to her home state of Indiana in 1997 after living and playing in the great state of Maine and serving as the Education Coordinator for Acadia National Park. She now lives in a 150 year old farm house in northern Vanderburgh county where she and her family tend to an organic garden, a flock of chickens and host concerts in their barn. After graduating from Northland College, in northern Wisconsin, with a degree in Outdoor Education and Biology, Heidi traveled the country working for the National Park Service in Indiana Dunes, Acadia, Everglades, and Yellowstone National Parks. Her years at Northland and with the NPS fostered an intense interest in the natural world and desire to do what is needed to protect the only Earth we will ever have. After the move to Evansville, she worked at Wesselman Woods and Audubon State Park, homeschooled her son and continues today as an Interpreter for Historic New Harmony. She is excited for the opportunity to be involved with Urban Seeds and manage Market on Main.
Anthony is the new Southwest Indiana Director of Local Food Coordination! His focus will be to uplift local and regional farmers and food producers while creating an economic development benefit. Having grown up near the urban environment of Louisville, as well as experiencing rural life and livelihood on a dairy farm, and while as a college student at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, Anthony possesses a unique perspective as an advocate for a strong local and regional food system. He looks forward to positively affecting public health by creating equitable access for under-resourced individuals, as well as local institutions. Anthony has a passion for music, the outdoors, and backyard gardening, which he is pursuing with his fiancé in the Jasper area, after having relocated from Kentucky.
Casey serves as a Community Wellness Coordinator for the Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program, working to improve food access for low income families in Vanderburgh and Warrick County, as well as working to create policy, systems, and environmental change in a variety of healthy eating and active living initiatives. Casey previously worked in tobacco prevention and control with the non-profit Smokefree Communities, working to create smoke-free air policies and educating youth on various tobacco related issues. Casey has lived in Evansville for ten years and holds a B.S. degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Southern Indiana and a Masters degree in Public Service Administration from the University of Evansville.
Tommy is a freelance Visual Communications Specialist and Artist at Tommy Art & Design. He is also the Student Media Advisor for the Crescent Magazine at the University of Evansville, as well as an adjunct Instructor at UE and Ivy Tech. He is passionate about using art and design to make a difference in our community. Evansville has been home his whole life. While attending the University of Evansville he became aware of how serious of an issue access to fresh and healthy food is to some that live in our area. This is also when he discovered the unsustainability of our current food system which inspired him to become vegan in an effort to be more environmentally conscious. Tommy aspires to bring about positive change towards a more sustainable and inclusive food system. “My vision is to project balance, inclusion, social responsibility, empathy, and compassion into the world around me.”
Kathy works part-time as an accountant at the Welborn Baptist Foundation. She is also a very active volunteer in the Evansville, Indiana community. She became acquainted with Urban Seeds through her work at Welborn and thoroughly supports its mission. She loves to plant flowers and was a Master Gardener. Kathy has lived in Evansville for 19 years, and resides on the North side with her husband, son, dog and cat. Kathy is excited to work with the Urban Seeds organization.
Lori was born and raised in Evansville, IN. She is passionate about quality of food, and health and wellness, believing that being in control of one’s health is achieved by being in control of the type and quality of the food we eat. Lori is dedicated to educating the community about food, nutrition, health and wellness, and she is just as passionate about feeding people as she is about education — a goal she successfully accomplished as the Family & Community Outreach Coordinator at Lincoln School until May, 2021. Lori is currently the Administrative Assistant at the Evansville African American Museum. As an avid gardener, she enjoys cooking and sharing her harvest with family and neighbors.
Blythe is a lifelong Evansville resident who currently lives with her husband and house full of rescued dogs and cats. Blythe is a freelance digital storyteller, assisting local businesses and nonprofits in creating their voice through social media, videos, and print graphics. Blythe’s interest in Urban Seeds evolved from her experiences living below the poverty line with a disability; and her calling to turn her past into a way of helping others in similar circumstances.
Serah is an Associate Professor of Nutrition in the Food and Nutrition Program at University of Southern Indiana. She is a Registered Dietitian and a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is also a member of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Her research focuses on food access, chronic disease, nutrition assessment and interventions among underserved populations.
Bryan became acquainted with Urban Seeds volunteer opportunities through participating in a cooking class with friends at Thyme in the Kitchen. As a vegetarian, he loves researching recipes and converting them into tasty and nutritious plant-based meals. Bryan holds a Master of Science from the University of Evansville in Public Service Administration and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Indiana in Advertising and Public Relations. He has served on the Mayor of Evansville’s Substance Use Task Force and is a member of the Evansville-Area Human Resource Association. Bryan also has worked closely with organizations like Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Whole Plant Foundation through Whole Foods Market.
Alyssa is the 2021-22 High School Story Challenge Scholarship Recipient. She was born in Florida, and moved to Evansville when she was 3 months old. She is currently 14 and a sophomore at Central High School. Over the last few years, Alyssa has learned how to cook from scratch, following her mother’s lead. She is always on the lookout for new recipes to try–now her collection of recipe books surpasses her mom’s! For the last 6 years, Alyssa has helped her mom in the garden, planting some of her favorite fruits and vegetables. Alyssa’s other interests include playing the viola in Central’s Orchestra and singing in Central’s Choir. Alyssa is excited and honored to be part of Urban Seeds to help teach others about healthy eating habits and to hopefully teach other high school students how to cook healthy meals from scratch. After high school, Alyssa is planning on going to college to major in pre-med and psychology with a minor in music.
Urban Seeds email updates are a great way to keep up with what’s new and tasty in our local-food community.