- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
VP Glenda Humiston has appointed 11 ANR people to an initial two-year term as founding members of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Council for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. This appointment is effective retroactively from Nov. 1, 2020, through Oct. 31, 2022.
In a Jan. 29 ANR Update, Humiston wrote:
I am convening this advisory council to support DEI efforts that UC ANR staff and academics have undertaken to improve working environments within UC ANR, as well as to improve quality of life for marginalized populations living in the state of California. Diversity is one of our core values and developing an equitable and inclusive society is one of our public values. This Council is a commitment by UC ANR leadership to take division-wide action on the existence and impact of longstanding discrimination within our Division, as well as in our efforts throughout the state.
I am asking the founding members to recommend a formal charter to document the objectives, organization and functions of the council. While the initial appointment for all founding members is two years, the intent is for members to have staggered appointments to allow for turnover and continuity. I ask that the Council work to develop the Charter and an agenda for an initial meeting with myself, AVP Powers and AVP Tran by June 30, 2021.
Council members include
- Elaine Lander
- Esther Mosase
- Fadzayi Mashiri
- Gail Feenstra
- Katherine Soule
- Keith Nathaniel
- Laura Snell
- LeChé McGill
- Mohammed Yagmour
- Ricardo Vela
- Ron Walker
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Dustin Blakey and Dani Lee showed off their photography skills by winning the ANR photo contest.
Photos were solicited for five categories based on UC ANR's Strategic Initiatives:
- Endemic and invasive pests and diseases (EIPD)
- Healthy families and communities (HFC)
- Sustainable food systems (SFS)
- Sustainable natural ecosystems (SNE)
- Water quality, quantity and security (WATER)
Blakey, UCCE director and farm advisor in Inyo and Mono counties, won in the EIPD, HFD and WATER categories. Lee, Nutrition Policy Institute policy analyst, won in the SFS and SNE categories. See the winning photos below.
All photos submitted to the contest will be stored on UC ANR's WebDam at https://ucop.webdamdb.com and made available for UC ANR presentations, websites, social media, etc., with credit to the photographers.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The Make Every Day Healthy Snack Day initiative is a statewide movement to inspire Californians to make healthier snack choices.
Coraima Linares, Melissa Mabuchi and Vanity Campbell of the UC ANR Staff Assembly Wellness Committee Planning Subcommittee have organized a series of virtual potlucks following the monthly UC ANR town halls.
Focused on healthy snacking habits and nutrition education, this health promotion effort will provide an opportunity for UC ANR employees to share and extend healthy snack ideas with one another through a virtual potluck. The goal of the event is to encourage everyone to Make Every Day Healthy Snack Day while engaging and connecting with colleagues across the state.
Each session will be scheduled for about 15 minutes at the end of UC ANR town hall meetings. Employees are invited to share one of their favorite snacks as a recipe presentation, live demonstration or TikTok video to present during monthly sessions to help all of us discover new ingredients and flavors, enjoy fun recipes, and make easy everyday simple and healthy snacks.
At the January virtual potluck, Marina Aguilera, community education specialist II in UCCE Tulare County, and Eldon Bueno, community education specialist II in UCCE Kings County, presented their snack ideas. Watch their healthy pita snack video: https://youtu.be/tttrE1jubMY.
Sign up to contribute a recipe of your own.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
The Intermountain Research and Extension Center is soliciting proposals from researchers for new and continuing research projects in 2021-22.
IREC is a 140-acre research facility located at 4,000 feet elevation near the Oregon border. The Center specializes in crops grown in Northeast California including potato, small grain, onion, peppermint, forage grasses and alfalfa; however, most cool season field and vegetable crops can be accommodated and grown at the center.
Research topics of interest include variety development, integrated pest management, irrigation management, plant nutrition and agriculture-wildlife interactions. Available facilities and equipment include a greenhouse, controlled post-harvest facility, drying ovens, an automated potato grading line, a mini-still for essential oil extraction, clean and dirty laboratory spaces, specialized small plot pressurized irrigation equipment, research-adapted small plot planters and harvesters, and a full line of commercial farm equipment for field and vegetable crop production.
IREC also has a multi-purpose conference and laboratory building for extension events with high-speed internet connection, wifi, and audio-visual equipment for video conferencing. Technical assistance is available for all farming practices, field instrumentation and equipment operation, data collection, and data entry and analysis.
The center's Research Advisory Committee will evaluate proposed research for scientific merit and regional need. Approved projects will be eligible for center-provided support, which includes land, labor, technical assistance, equipment and facilities.
Questions about the research proposal process or about research opportunities at IREC should be directed to Rob Wilson, center director, or Darrin Culp, center superintendent at (530) 667-5117.
Proposals may be submitted into the REC Manage System via the IREC website at IREC Proposal Submission http://irec.ucanr.edu/Research/Submitting_a_Proposal beginning Jan. 21 and are due no later than March 1, 2021.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.
Celebrate with ANR colleagues on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in February. UC ANR Black and Allied Staff in collaboration with the UC ANR Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Alliance will host the activities.
Feb. 3, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Sonia Lewis, founder of ASCRIBE Educational Consulting, will speak on “The Black lived experience is a matter of history.”
After nearly 20 years in the traditional classroom teaching history and social studies and managing a small magnet program, Lewis founded ASCRIBE Educational Consulting. Their focus has always been geared towards educational/racial equity and resource distribution. Since 2009, ASCRIBE Educational Consulting has centered on the development of programs and writing of curriculum for marginalized and vulnerable student populations. In addition, Lewis' work involves speaking and training around the topics of equity, race relations and social justice.
The California native holds degrees from Spelman College in Atlanta in history and psychology, a secondary teaching credential in social studies and a master's degree in education from San Francisco State University.
Feb. 10, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Virtual tour of the National Museum of African American Culture & History
Feb. 17, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Virtual tour of Yisrael Family Farms
Feb. 24, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Black Farmers Panel Discussion with Q&A
Register at https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=32671.
For more information or to offer suggestions, contact Esther Mosase, climate smart educator based in San Diego County, at enmosase@ucanr.edu.