CAUSES in Action | October 2021

EXCLUSIVE: The University of the District of Columbia's Commercial Kitchen is Licensed and Certified!

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The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is excited to announce that the Van Ness commercial kitchen has met the requirements of the DC Department of Health (Health Regulation and Licensing Administration; Food Safety & Hygiene Inspection Services Division) and is officially CERTIFIED!


Yes, we are a licensed commercial space that is certified for FOOD PRODUCTION.


Yes, we can officially operate as a kitchen incubator, catering, training, and education facility. 


The commercial kitchen will accommodate a wide range of clients, from food trucks, agricultural producers, food product companies, entrepreneurs, farmers launching or expanding a food business, and foodservice companies (such as meal delivery services). UDC looks forward to working with under-resourced food entrepreneurs, small, not-for-profit start-ups, and small- and mid-size local farms who want to expand. Our commercial facility can serve as a space for food production, distribution, and training.


Stay tuned for information on our other commercial, food production spaces:


  • Commercial kitchen, UDC Community College, Bertie Backus campus, Ward 5.
  • Commercial kitchen, Firebird Research Farm, Beltsville, MD.
  • Smoke house and cannery, Firebird Research Farm, Beltsville, MD.


UDC will act as a food business incubator, and will address the main barriers to success for emerging food businesses.

 

Dr. Crockett thanks all who have assisted him, and UDC-CAUSES, in the certification process.

A CAUSE FOR A CAUSE

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Your contribution helps UDC-CAUSES arm its students with the skills and knowledge needed to face global challenges, find solutions to community problems, and meet the industry's talent demands. 


Your support is needed to advance faculty research and to continue our legacy of academic excellence and innovation.

Click to Donate 

CAUSES NEWS

NEW Employment Opportunities here at UDC-CAUSES

Whether you are a recent graduate or a skilled industry professional, we welcome you to share your expertise and skills at CAUSES, as we work to recruit and grow our next generation of talent!


We are committed to building a diverse group of leaders and experts within our organization. We aim to create a culture for professionals to thrive.


Our college provides an opportunity to leverage the power of your degree with real career momentum. We offer web-based, on-the-job training, mentor support, and extensive networking opportunities to help you achieve success.

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We invite you to apply for an opportunity best suited for you and your future.

Apply Now
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Young Lambsquarters

Near Campus


For more information please contact Mamtha Hanumappa at mamatha.hanumappa@udc.edu.

Read More

In Development: Mission LQ, Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science in Urban Agriculture using Lambsquarters

Dr. Mamatha Hanumappa and collaborators at Virginia Tech and the University of Florida published a 3rd article on developing a mobile application for crowdsourcing and citizen science in agriculture. In the article titled “Design and Evaluation of a Crowdsourcing Precision Agriculture Mobile Application for Lambsquarters, Mission LQ“, the authors report testing the application by crowdsourcing growth data for lambsquarters in the DMV region. Lambsquarters is a common, edible weed in home gardens and farmlands. It is highly nutritious, albeit less popular than its cousin quinoa. The study was designed to collect information on the distribution of the plant and to see if users can correctly identify it. Dr. Hanumappa is a project specialist in CURES, and her work is focused on specialty and ethnic crops.

Study Highlights:

• The application, Mission LQ, taught people how to classify certain characteristics of lambsquarters and allowed them to submit ground truth data. 


• The classification rate of lambsquarters was 72%, which is comparable to expert classification, demonstrating that a crowdsourcing mobile application can be used to collect high-quality ground truth data for use in precision agriculture.


• One of the primary motivators to participating in crowdsourcing activities is social affiliation and community building with other users, and the comfort of being amongst, and learning from, like-minded people.

NEWLY RELEASED

Proud to Announce the Recent Publication of "Working Methods for Knowledge Management: Learning Organizations"

 

This book is one of a series of books on Working Methods for Knowledge Management. The series is designed for business and knowledge management practitioners to address each, and all methods required to establish and sustain an organization-wide knowledge management function. The book is intended to support practical application and foster a broader discussion of practice.

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Get Your Copy

Authors: 


Malva Daniel Reid

Jyldyz Bekbalaeva

Denise Bedford

Alexeis Garcia-Perez

Dwane Jones


Emerald Publishing Limited,

UK, First edition 2021

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UDC's Harris Trobman Featured in US Environmental Protection's Published Science Matters Article


In this well-known publication, Harris, who now serves as a panel judge, recalls his past experience as a student in Campus RainWorks and Building the Environmental Workforce.

“While I was always interested in stormwater, the competition provided a forum to explore the intersectionality of green infrastructure practices with other systems,” said Trobman. “Winning the competition was a monumental achievement, which has helped me in my career in Green Infrastructure.”

View Article
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NEW Article: Variation of Phytochemicals in Leaves of Seven Accessions of Hibiscus sabdariffa Grown Under Field, Green Roof, and High Tunnel Conditions Featured in ACS Publications


CAUSES very own, Caitlin Arlotta and Matthew Richardson, in the Center for Urban Research, Engagement, and Scholarship, grew seven types of edible hibiscus on UDC’s green roof and Firebird Farm. In collaboration with nutrition scientists at the USDA-ARS, they analyzed nutrients in the hibiscus leaves and found their nutrients comparable with other familiar greens, such as lettuce, spinach, and cabbage. The results of their work were recently published in the peer-reviewed journal ACS Food Science and Technology.

View Article

CAUSES RECAP: The National Latino Farmers & Ranchers (NLFRTA) Honored Dr. Sabine O’Hara to their Board of Directors

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In June 2008, the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association co-founded the NLFRTA/UDC Farmers Market, in partnership with the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), which is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., from May to the week before Thanksgiving.

 

The NLFRTA/UDC Farmers Market is the only farmers market in the Washington Metro Area that features Latino farmers as its core. The market is multi-ethnic and features artisans and food vendors who are from Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Ethiopia, and Colombia, with organic coffee from Honduras, and Hemp C. 


The farmers/vendors are former Mexican farmworkers who transitioned into farm ownership. They sell their produce locally (Westmoreland County, Virginia), and regionally, in the Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland metropolitan areas.

 

The NLFRTA/UDC partnership established a strong anchor, merging the desire by urban dwellers to savor the benefits of healthy and locally grown food. The neighborhood embraced it and the market is thriving. This is our thirteenth season.


Dr. O’Hara has been a mentor, ally, supporter, and partner since she founded the new College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) of UDC in 2010.

 

Dr. O’Hara was a keynote speaker at the Second Annual National Latino Farm and Ranch Congress, October 28-30, 2021, at Isleta Resort and Casino, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Check NLFRTA

UPCOMING EVENTS

CAUSES Research Seminar Series Continues

An Introduction: What do Archetypes Have To Do With Land Use

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The CAUSES Research Seminar offers opportunities for the community to learn about research underway at CAUSES, UDC, and partner organizations across the United States and globally.

All seminars are held on selected Fridays from 12:00 to 1:30 PM EST via Zoom.


Meet the Speaker:

Dr. Klaus Eisenack is the head of Resource Economics Group at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. His work on environmental and resource economies deals with the economics of climate change, in particular, climate adaptation. He was head of the Oldenburg Center for Sustainability Economics and Management (Centos) from 2012 until 2016. He led the Chameleon Research Group on adapting infrastructure to climate change (2008-2014). From 2001-2008, he worked at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), and holds a PhD in mathematics from the Free University Berlin (2006). He consults organizations on the European level and in Germany, and is active in the public understanding of science (e.g., with the climate change game, Keep Cool). His research focuses on long-term institutional games with natural and technological resources. Research areas are polycentric climate governance, adaptation to climate change, the energy transition, modeling of institutional arrangements, and natural resource management.



12th Annual International Conference on Stigma

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The 12th Annual International Conference on Stigma was held November 15-19, 2021, as a VIRTUAL Event.


The stigma associated with health conditions, such as HIV infection, is a major public health problem that impedes treatment and prevention efforts. The International Conference on Stigma will bring together researchers, the community, academia, policymakers, faith leaders, and youth to discuss the impact of health-related stigma and ongoing research on interventions to eliminate stigma. The conference will include plenary sessions; advocacy leadership training sessions; scientific poster presentations; networking opportunities; and art, with a theme of “Trauma…Recovery…Healing.”



Phronie Jackson, Ph.D., MPH, was a speaker. Dr. Jackson is a Certified Mental Health First Aid Facilitator, Executive Director, WALK/Ward 5 Health Coalition, and Assistant Professor of Health Education at the University of the District of Columbia. 

Tune In

Yard Waste Mulch Video is LIVE on YouTube

The Center for Urban Research, Engagement, and Scholarship (CURES) at UDC is partnering with urban and small-scale farms to study the effects of locally sourced yard waste mulch on the production of sweet potatoes and hot peppers. We measure the impact of this agricultural method on crop yield and nutrient quality, soil environmental conditions and nutrient content, and weed pressure. This project is funded by the Fulbright Program and a Specialty Crop Block Grant from USDA-AMS and implemented, in collaboration, with the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados.

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Check It Out!
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Check it out below!

Watch Here

A Must-Watch: Episode #5 of the Deep Dive Series Is Now LIVE! Watch Now!

A "Deep Dive with CAUSES" provides real-time and current updates on land-grant and academic programs, student opportunities, live events, and campus news.

What's Trending...

See What's Happening in CAUSES!

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Have Questions? Need Assistance?

Contact Marshelle Hailstock, Project Coordinator, Outreach & Recruitment, at mhailstock@udc.edu

For financial aid resources, see below:


Financial Aid for Minority Students


Nursing Scholarships & Grants

Pursue your Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing at UDC!

LOCATION

Zoom link will be provided with event registration.

DATE AND TIME

12/01/21 5:00pm - 12/01/21 6:00pm US/Eastern
This event will cover the program curriculum, credits, costs, funding opportunities, and career possibilities.
I'll Be There!
Maybe
I Can't Make It
Register Now
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Get Certified

Back by Popular Demand: Certified Professional Food Manager Course


The course is designed to teach the principles of food safety management and how to use those principles to create a food safe culture. Additionally, the course emphasizes and provides information to students about identifying and avoiding food contaminants, proper employee health and hygiene, cleaning and sanitation principles, and safe food handling practices. 


Course Instructor: Paul Brown, Jr., Food Safety Coordinator

"Quick Tips to Understanding the Nutrition Facts Label" Returns


This one-hour presentation is designed to provide all participants with information and easy tips on reading and understanding nutrition facts labels.


Also, participants will learn what nutrients and ingredients are required on the nutrition facts label by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Course Instructor:

Tiffany N. Johnson-Largent, Ph.D., RDN, LD For further information, please contact

Dr. Johnson-Largent at 202-274-6708 or tiffany.johnsonlarge@udc.edu.

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Sign-Up!
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Register Here

Telework 15: Nutrition Tips To Avoid Weight Gain While Working From Home


This workshop will provide helpful nutrition tips to those working from home to prevent weight gain that can occur from the consumption of food and drinks that are high in calories, fats, sodium, and sugar.

Course Instructor:

Tiffany N. Johnson-Largent, Ph.D., RDN, LD For further information, please contact

Dr. Johnson-Largent at 202-274-6708 or tiffany.johnsonlarge@udc.edu.

Announcements

CAUSES Graduate Presents Research at Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America

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Megan Thompson, a 2021 graduate of the PSM Program in Urban Agriculture, presented graduate research that she conducted with Dr. Matthew Richardson (Acting Director, CURES), Dr. Mamatha Hanumappa (Project Specialist, CURES), Dr. Andrew Carson (Data and Assessment Manager, CAUSES) and collaborators at land-grant institutions throughout the Northeast Region at the Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America.

Thompson's presentation was titled "The Current State of Urban Agriculture and Extension and Research Needs in the Northeast U.S." and highlighted survey responses from urban growers. Also, Dr. Richardson presented research conducted in collaboration with Dr. Mamatha, the University of Rhode Island, and The Trust for Public Land titled "The Social, Environmental, and Economic Benefits of Green Infrastructure in Washington, DC." 

See Presentation

Student Spotlight

Meet Shanna White, a second year PSM-Urban Agriculture student, who presented at the Mid-Atlantic Urban Agriculture Summit

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Shanna White, a second-year PSM-Urban Agriculture student, presented at the Mid-Atlantic Urban Agriculture Summit on October 12, 2021. Shanna works with Dr. Mamatha Hanumappa (Project Specialist, CURES) and gave a virtual talk about their ongoing research on lambsquarters and Malabar spinach. The summit was well attended and the talk sparked interest from local farmers and foodies who would like to grow and try these ethnic crops in recipes. Both lambsquarters and Malabar spinach can help to build resilient and sustainable food systems and provide new income streams for growers while meeting the nutritional needs of our culturally diverse region. The title of the talk was “Lambsquarters and Malabar spinach, two underutilized crops that can help mitigate the effects of climate change while creating new income streams for farmers and foodies”.

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For more information please contact Mamtha Hanumappa

at mamatha.hanumappa@udc.edu.

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MEET UDC-CAUSES

Welcome to the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). UDC is the only urban, land-grant university in the nation. CAUSES was formed, in 2010, as the university’s land-grant college.


We engage in applied teaching and research that helps to improve the quality of life and economic opportunity for residents of the District of Columbia and others around the world through traditional academic degrees, and through the non-degree, non-credit bearing, skills-building programs, such as green infrastructure and urban agriculture.


CAUSES is unique in its organizational structure and its mission: an interdisciplinary college, where academic programs, such as architecture, urban sustainability, health education, nutrition and dietetics, and nursing, train a forward-thinking generation of professionals who will ensure that the world has “Healthy Cities–Healthy People.” The college houses the only doctoral-level program in the nation that focuses on urban leadership and entrepreneurship.


For more information or inquiries, feel free to contact us at causes@udc.edu.

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About the University of the District of Columbia

University of the District of Columbia is an HBCU, urban land-grant, and the only public university in the nation's capital, The University of the District of Columbia is committed to a broad mission of education, research, and community service. Established by abolitionist Myrtilla Miner in 1851, the University of DC offers Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Degrees and a host of workplace development services designed to create opportunities for student success. The University is comprised of the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Public Administration, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, a Community College, and the David A. Clarke School of Law. To learn more, visit www.udc.edu. The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a full version of the University's EO Policy Statement, please visit http://www.udc.edu/equal_opportunity. The University of the District of Columbia is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education - 3624 Market Street - Philadelphia, PA 19104 - 267.284.5000.


The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, familial/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, this information is available in languages other than English. To file a complaint alleging discrimination, please complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to US Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. Submit your completed letter or form to USDA via fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.


The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action institution. The University prohibits discrimination or harassment against any person on the basis of the actual or perceived actual race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, marital status, personal appearance, genetic information, familial status, source of income, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, place of residence or business, or status as a covered veteran, as provided for and to the extent required by District and Federal statutes and regulations. This policy covers all programs, services policies, and procedures of the University, including admission to educational programs and employment. The University emphasizes the recruitment of minorities, women, disabled individuals, disabled veterans, Vietnam-era veterans, and other eligible veterans.


El Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. (USDA) prohíbe la discriminación en todos sus programas y actividades por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, religión, sexo, identidad de género (incluida la expresión de género), orientación sexual, discapacidad, edad, estado civil, estado familiar / parental, ingresos derivados de un programa de asistencia pública, creencias políticas, represalias o represalias por actividades previas de derechos civiles. (No todas las bases prohibidas se aplican a todos los programas.) Las personas con discapacidades que requieren medios de comunicación alternativos para obtener información sobre el programa. (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas estadounidense, etc.) debe comunicarse con la Agencia responsable o con el TARGET Center de USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o comunicarse con el USDA a través del Federal Relay Service al (800) 877-8339. Además, esta información está disponible en otros idiomas además del inglés. Para presentar una queja alegando discriminación, por favor complete el Formulario de Queja por Discriminación del Programa del USDA, AD-3027, que se encuentra en línea en http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, o en cualquier oficina del USDA o escriba una carta dirigida a Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos, Oficina del Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 y proporcionar en la carta toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Envíe su carta o formulario completado al USDA por fax: (202) 690-7442; o correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de queja, llame al (866) 632-9992. USDA es un proveedor, empleador y prestamista con igualdad de oportunidades para todos.


La Universidad del Distrito de Columbia es una institución de Acción Afirmativa en Igualdad de Oportunidades. La Universidad prohíbe la discriminación o el acoso contra cualquier persona sobre la base de la raza, color, religión, nacionalidad, sexo, edad, discapacidad, orientación sexual, identidad o expresión de género reales o percibidos, responsabilidades familiares, matrícula, afiliación política, estado marital, apariencia personal, información genética, estado familiar, fuente de ingresos, estado como víctima de una ofensa intrafamiliar, lugar de residencia o negocio, o estado como veterano, según lo dispuesto y en la medida requerida por los estatutos del Distrito y Federal y regulaciones. Esta política cubre todos los programas, políticas de servicios y procedimientos de la Universidad, incluida la admisión a programas educativos y empleo. La Universidad enfatiza el reclutamiento de minorías, mujeres, personas discapacitadas, veteranos discapacitados, veteranos de la era de Vietnam y otros veteranos elegibles.