Carlyn is a rising Junior (2016) English major at Middlebury College from Saint Louis, Missouri. She is very excited to share her love of food and dirt this summer at Bernheim Arboretum in Kentucky. She is looking forward to helping with Bernheim’s Edible Garden and understanding what Louisville is doing as a leader in the local food movement.
My name is Beam. I’m from Thailand. Right now, I am majoring in Environmental Studies with a Policy focus. This summer, I will work in St. Francis School’s school garden. Through my position I hope to learn more about farming and teaching kids in this area. I also hope to learn more about how produces go through the process and eventually get on our plates.
Hi! My name is Abby Cheskis, and over the past two years I have started to learn about and question the current industrial food system. I’m from Westchester, New York and I’m studying environmental studies and psychology, with the hope that this link will enable me to gain a new perspective in regards to the food system, particularly in relation to climate change. Although I’m technically in the class of 2016, I just took a gap year and am transferring colleges, so I will be graduating in 2017. When I heard about FoodWorks, I knew that it would be a great way for me to further my academic learning about the food system, as well as gain experience working with organizations which are promoting change. I’m really looking forward to learning about and becoming a part of Louisville’s food community, as well as getting to know the other interns. It’s going to be an awesome summer!
Mission Statement: Bernheim will be a nationally treasured leader in ecological stewardship that inspires the exploration of our deep connections with nature.
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is designing an innovative sustainable community garden which highlights the relationships of plants and people, demonstrates sustainable design and ecosystem gardening techniques, sparks and expands the imagination, and enlightens the principles of science and nature in living systems. The Edible Garden project is an applicant to the Living Building Challenge (www.living-future.org), a rigorous design challenge that requires consideration of all aspects of design as they relate to the long-term ecological footprint.
FoodWorks Intern: Masha Lafen
Supervisor: Claude Stephens, Facilitator of Outreach and Regenerative Design
Theresa Zawacki has been with the Louisville Metro Department of Economic Growth and Innovation since September 2011. Ms. Zawacki is the city’s Food Policy Advisor, and coordinates Louisville’s Brownfields Program. Previously, Ms. Zawacki was an Assistant County Attorney with the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office where she represented the Louisville Metro Planning Commission, the Louisville Metro Board of Zoning Adjustment, the Louisville Metro Landmarks Commission, and the Louisville/Jefferson County Environmental Trust, as well as all Louisville Metro staff involved with land use, planning and zoning. She also advised and represented the Louisville Metro Council in planning and zoning matters. Ms. Zawacki began her legal career as an associate at the law firm of Greenebaum, Doll & McDonald (now Greenebaum Bingham Doll), where she practiced in both the land use and environmental practice groups.
Ms. Zawacki serves as the Chair of the Green Convene of Louisville and the Vice-Chair of the Environmental Law Section of the Louisville Bar Association. She is a frequent speaker and writer on issues involving local food and brownfields.
Ms. Zawacki received her BA from Transylvania University in 1998, and both her JD and Masters of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati in 2003. She lives in Louisville and has both children and chickens.