Walmart Grant
Handwashing Activity
As we are in the middle of the holidays, handwashing a great lesson to introduce to our youth. Washing your hands is the first level of defense when fighting against illnesses. The student scholars of North Carolina A&T State University successfully held a handwashing and fruit activity with the children in the Child Development Laboratory. The importance of handwashing was emphasized throughout the class, especially when handling food. The scholars also exposed kids to a variety of different fruits and taught them the difference between eating healthy foods and junk foods.
Black Girl Service Day
Our Center of Excellence partnered with the Scotlandville CDC, LSU Black Women's Empowerment Initiative, LSU AKAs, and Mid City redevelopment for Black Girl Day of Service. They harvested the remainder of the winter crops including greens, cabbage, green onions, chives, thyme and oregano. All crops were bagged and brought to the center for community members to get at their convenience.
Scotlandville Meet Your Neighbor Event
On Saturday, April 1st, the Center of Excellence participated in the Scotlandville Meet your Neighbor. During the event, Extension agent Cornelius Jackson led Garden day and Project Manager Brittany Howard helped participants create make-your-own parfaits. A special thanks to Walmart Foundation Center for Racial Equity and the 1890 Universities Foundation through the COENHQL for their funding towards the newly built sidewalk located at the Scotlandville Garden.
Westdale Middle School Garden Program
The Center of Excellence has been partnering with Westdale Middle School to create an after-school gardening program. On Monday, April 24, students learned how to stake tomatoes and transplant watermelons to the rows. The students are successfully growing corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, eggplants, watermelon, and various herbs.
Earth Day
On April 22, for Earth Day the Center of Excellence collaborated with the NorthFoster community to add a variety of citrus trees to the garden and tend to the current plants. The next garden day set for April 29 at the Scotlandville Garden from 10am -12pm.
Trees Planted at Westdale Middle School
On February 23, our Center ofExcellence team planted a variety of fruit trees with students at Westdale Middle School. The trees were donated by Senator Regina Barrow and grant led by Dr. Calvin Reuben Walker and Dr. Marlin Ford. COE team members CorneliusJackson and Mike Diego Walker also gave a hands-on demonstration to the students.
Informational Videos For Nursing Mothers
This spring semester, the Walmart Health Disparity Scholars at N.C. A&T worked collaboratively with the NCAT Pathway 2 Human Lactation Training Program and clinic on creating informational videos to educate nursing mothers as they complete their intake forms. The videos addressed the following topics:
· Key Vitamins and Minerals for Breastfeeding
· Breastfeeding Benefits for Babies
· Breastfeeding Benefits for Mothers
· Nutritional Considerations for Breastfeeding Mothers
· Nutrition during pregnancy
Thevideos have been submitted for further review and should be updated on nursing mothers’ intake forms sometime during the summer. Meanwhile, the group prepared educational flyers that focused on nutrition for nursing mothers. The scholars also toured the clinic and gained insight into its operation.
Additionally, the scholars met with the director of the Greensboro Urban Ministry Partnership Village, a transitional housing community for individuals and families rebuilding self-sufficiency after experiencing homelessness (www.greensborourbanministry.org), to develop ways in which the team can promote healthy eating patterns in their residents.The scholars led a presentation that gave an overview of functional foods and their benefits to the village residents on the day that they received food from the distribution center. Nursing students from Elon University were also there to provide blood pressure and blood sugar checks for the residents, coordinating with the scholars so more residents were reached.
Progress of North Foster's Garden
Progress of the North Foster garden with cucumbers, bell peppers, eggplants, corn, tomatoes and okra growing in this summer harvest.
Gardening Education & Tutoring Program
Through a collaboration with Southern Universities COE, Scottlandville CDC, and the SULC Children and Family Law Society, students in the Scotlandville community are now able to take part in a free gardening education and tutoring program.
We completed our first official day on August 19th. Students assisted with park cleanup and bed clearance at Scotlandville CDC. Additionally, the kids participated in icebreaker activities and had a discussion with the parents about what to anticipate going forward. Join us on Saturday, September 2 from 10am-12pm at 1920 Goudchaux Street!
Scotlandville's Garden Day
Students in the Scotlandville neighborhood participated in our second annual garden day in partnership with Southern University's COE, Scotlandville CDC, and the SULC Children and Family Law Society. The students discussed the differences between fruits and vegetables. They also painted their own pots and planted tomatoes and bell peppers. We will plant the produce in the ground at out upcoming garden day on September 23.
