Walmart Grant
Handwashing Activity - Fruits
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 Labatory. 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.
Our Center of Excellence partnered with the Scotlandville CDC, LSU Black Women's Empowerment Initiative, LSU AKAs , and midcity 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.
Photos from the event are available here.
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.
Photos from the event are available here.
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.
Photos from the event are available here.
On April 22, for Earth Day the Center of Excellence collaborated with the North Foster 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.
Photos from the event are available here.
On October 8th, the Center of Excellence held their first Community Garden Day in the Scotlandville community and added new produce to the garden. With the joint help of our Jags in Ag recipients and Chris and Camille’s Family Farm, we are ready for the fall season. Please join us for our next Garden Day on October 22nd from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Photos from the event are available here.
On February 23, our Center of Excellence 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 Marlin Ford. COE team members Cornelius Jackson and Mike Diego Walker also gave a hands-on demonstration to the students.
Photos from the event are available here.
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
The videos 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.
Photos from the event are available here.
On Monday, May 15th The Center of Excellence and Westdale middle school celebrated their first harvest. Students were able to harvest bell peppers and tomatoes. The harvested produce was incorporated into a salad. We held a mini party for the students to celebrate a semester well spent.
Photos from the event are available here.