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Image by Hannah Busing

Our VISTA Cohort

Nourish Iowa VISTA members serve with one of 7 organizations with a shared goal of equitable food access for all. We serve at the intersections of public health, agronomy, urban planning, community organizing, and economic justice, creating an abundance of nourishing, affordable, and culturally relevant foods for all Iowans.

Our 40+ former members have gone on to become policy associates, PhD candidates & university faculty, public health community program coordinators, program managers, founders of their own food justice nonprofits, and much more.

Meet Our VISTA Cohort

Nourish Iowa VISTA members are motivated change-makers, passionate problem-solvers, and inspired community members who believe in a more equitable future for Iowa, in which all people are empowered and able to grow, source, and eat the foods they need and want.

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Local Food System Development Coordinator

Marianna Cota

Host Site: Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development

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Communications and Fund Development VISTA

Jessica Young

Host Site: We Arose Co-op

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Communications Strategist VISTA

Jada McDonald

Host Site: Table to Table

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Iowa Farm to School and Early Care VISTA

Brandy Bryson

Host Site: ISU Farm to School and Early Care Coalition

Food Rescue Coordination VISTA

Lauren Bodtke

Host Site: North Iowa Mutual Aid

Local Food System Access and Operations

Ellie Lamar

Host Site: Field to Family

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Local Food System Education and Outreach

Coy Jackson

Host Site: Field to Family

Food Access Coordinator VISTA

A.J. Mortale

Host Site: Feed Iowa First

Social Media and Marketing VISTA

Briana Wagner

Host Site: Feed Iowa First

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Farmer's Market VISTA

Ana Rodgers

Host Site: Center for Energy & Environmental Education

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Incubator Farm VISTA

Eden Rowland

Host Site: Center for Energy & Environmental Education

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Garden Resource VISTA

Emerson Slomka

Host Site: Center for Energy & Environmental Education

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VISTA Leader

Lauren Luerkens

Host Site: Center for Energy & Environmental Education

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VISTA Program Coordinator

Sarah Steinmeyer

Contact: sarah.steinmeyer@uni.edu

Nourish Iowa Alumni

Sophie Sheeder

Public Outreach & Fundraising VISTA (Jan '22 - '23)

Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT)

Laura Cleaver

Local Food Coordinator VISTA (Aug. '20 - Sep. '21)

Northeast Iowa Food Bank & UNI-CEEE

Alex Delworth

Incubator Farm Development VISTA (Jan '21 - '22)

UNI-CEEE

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Mira Evans

Garden Resource VISTA (Oct. '21-'22)

UNI-CEEE

Melody Rosche

Community Garden and Food Bank Volunteer Coordinator (May '20 - '21),

Northeast Iowa Food Bank

Peoples Clinic Garden & Home Delivery Coordinator VISTA (May '21 - '22), UNI-CEEE

Savannah Schultz

Healthy Behaviors VISTA; Involving Clinics in Good Food Access VISTA (Jan '21-'22)

Northeast Iowa Food Bank; UNI-CEEE

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