This quarterly regional planners’ forum offers continuing professional development through advanced-level presentations on timely and relevant planning subjects.
The 2022 Summer northwest Washington Planners Forum includes sessions focused on food systems planning.
First, the Skagit Population Health Trust will present on growing healthy communities with their 2022 Covid Recovery Plan. The Population Health Trust (PHT) was underway with their 2020 Community Health Assessment when COVID hit the community. Early impacts led the PHT down different paths and highlighted health disparities in new and different ways. Hear about the process employed by the Trust to understand the impacts of COVID on the community and how they planned for recovery from the pandemic
Whatcom County Health Department will present on the history of food system planning in Whatcom County, focusing on Community Food Assessments and the development of a Food System Plan. An ideal food system plan is community led and addresses the most pressing (and sometimes controversial) issues in the food system.
The final presentation is on celebrating 50 years of organic farming and sustainable food systems at Western Washington University’s Outback Farm. The Outback Farm is a 5-acre farm on the Western Washington University campus. Started in 1972, the Outback is a place of experimentation, learning, reflection, advocacy, and agriculture.
Terri Kempton
Terri Kempton blends experience with organic and biodynamic farming together with conservation biology and permaculture design. She works half-time year round supporting students, overseeing farm logistics, and handling the administrative pieces of the Outback. Terri is also an instructor at the College of the Environment and Fairhaven College, teaching classes …
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Terri Kempton blends experience with organic and biodynamic farming together with conservation biology and permaculture design. She works half-time year round supporting students, overseeing farm logistics, and handling the administrative pieces of the Outback. Terri is also an instructor at the College of the Environment and Fairhaven College, teaching classes on food, ecogastronomy, farming, agroecology, and community building.
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Ali Jensen
Ali Jensen, MPH, is a Program Specialist at the Whatcom County Health Department supporting the Whatcom County Food System Committee. She works directly with community partners to plan for a more equitable and sustainable food system and co-creates solutions to food insecurity. She is a PNW native and is passionate …
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Ali Jensen, MPH, is a Program Specialist at the Whatcom County Health Department supporting the Whatcom County Food System Committee. She works directly with community partners to plan for a more equitable and sustainable food system and co-creates solutions to food insecurity. She is a PNW native and is passionate about the intersection of food, housing security, and transportation and using really good data to tell community stories and measure how well we are doing.
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Kristen Ekstran
Kristen Ekstran is the Facilitator of Skagit County’s Population Health Trust Community Advisory Board and manager of Public Health’s Assessment and Planning Division. She has a background in higher Ed. Administration and is a certified Mediator and Facilitator. Consulting in mediation, group facilitation and strategic planning connected her with Public …
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Kristen Ekstran is the Facilitator of Skagit County’s Population Health Trust Community Advisory Board and manager of Public Health’s Assessment and Planning Division. She has a background in higher Ed. Administration and is a certified Mediator and Facilitator. Consulting in mediation, group facilitation and strategic planning connected her with Public Health 15 years ago, and she’s been combining her interests in group process, community health and a love of learning ever since.
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