Welcoming our new volunteer interns!
Posted: October 8, 2013
Categories: News from Sustain Ontario
Thank you to our summer interns for all of your work! Our Intern Appreciation event was held at McVean Farm Picnic in September.
We would like to officially welcome a new crew of volunteer interns and students to the Sustain Ontario team! Less than one month into their roles, these new interns have already impressed us with their work.
Sustain Ontario’s part-time internship program is designed to bring on volunteers for 4-month commitments and assign them with more meaningful projects that they can be immersed in, building working relationships with food system leaders from Ontario’s communities small and large. These internships provide opportunities to learn about many initiatives and groups pursuing a healthier provincial food system, while allowing these volunteers to use organizational tools and resources to develop professional skills in order to meet the needs of these networks.
Volunteers contribute 10 hours a week to various projects and tasks, such as survey analysis, working group facilitation, and policy research. We are especially grateful to have these hands on board to help coordinate the Bring Food Home conference and maintain our core programming.
A special extended thank you to our returning volunteers whose dedication is deeply appreciated: Ravi Singh, who continues to support our government relations portfolio; Josie Difelice, who maintains the engaging communications and outreach tools for the Ontario Edible Education Network; Shannon Oletic, who continues in her strategic development role by organizing the Advisory Council nominations process; and Jolene Cushman, who has turned her attention to Bring Food Home outreach and media relations.
Meet the new interns
Alicia Cartaginese is a MSc Food Science Graduate interested in developing and maintaining adequate food systems for our increasing population. She will help organize a Grassfed Beef Conference, as well as participate in research for the Ontario Food & Nutrition Strategy.
Andreea Nicoara recently graduated with an MA in Sociology. She is currently working with the Ontario Edible Education Network, analyzing the results of the Needs Assessment survey.
Brittany Bruce is a second year Master’s student at the University of Waterloo in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, under the direction of Dr. Steffanie Scott. She will be working with the Evaluations team to analyze the soon-to-be released membership survey, as well as develop content for the different reports to be published this year.
Danielle Lewis loves everything about food. Growing up in a fishing village in Newfoundland, attending University in Toronto, and travelling extensively in Southeast Asia inspired her studies in Food Security. Danielle has experience as an educator, has volunteered with several child-focused non-profits, and aspires to drive change in our food systems.
Grace Alexander is graduating from the University of Toronto this year (Hon. BA) with a major in Environmental Studies and double minor in Political Science and Human Geography. As part of Sustain Ontario’s intern team, Grace is working on sponsorship for the Bring Food Home Conference. She is excited to be at Sustain Ontario for her Professional Experience Course and is already enjoying the perks of internship in the form of fresh cherry tomatoes!
Jennifer Cao is currently studying Environmental Science at the University of Toronto. She is working with Sustain Ontario and the Ontario Edible Education Network to build her experience working with food policy and its effects on vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Karen Cronin is working toward Ryerson’s Food Security certification and a professional development award in Urban Agriculture. Interested in learning more about policy, Karen is looking forward to working on Flocking Options, the Meat and Abattoirs Working Group and the Ontario Edible Education Network, while assisting with some logistics for the Bring Food Home conference.
Kat Rendek comes to Sustain Ontario from York University, where she is working to finish her Master’s degree in Health Policy and Equity. Driven by a passion for food and a budding interest for multi-level policy development, Kat will be helping coordinate the Municipal/Regional Food Policy Working Group members, web-content, reports, and several sessions for Bring Food Home.
Kelly Henderson is in her final year of a masters degree at the University of Guelph in the Rural Planning and Development program. She will be examining the definition of “local” food, as well as helping to organize the Feast of Local Flavours at the Bring Food Home conference.
Madeleine Lavin is a graduate of York University’s Bachelor of Environmental Studies program. She has a keen interest in honey bees, as well as other pollinator species, and the importance of these creatures to our food systems. Madeleine will be helping with the development of Sustain Ontario’s Bring Food Home Conference this year.
Sera Weafer-Schiarizza is a recently graduated Health Promoter interested in food security and healthy public policy. She will be working with the Ontario Community Garden Network to identify areas where there are successful municipal policies for community food production, while helping develop Bring Food Home sessions involving community gardens.