Twelve College of Charleston schools, departments and offices worked together to fund and coordinate a campus visit from speaker Will Allen at 7 p.m. on March 19, 2014 in the Sottile Theatre (44 George St.). This event is free and open to the public.
Visiting Assistant Professor Todd Levasseur, who teaches in both the Religious Studies Department and Environmental Studies Program, spearheaded the event. “Everyone I contacted said yes because of the many things he represents,” Levasseur said. “He’s an entrepreneur, he works in environmental and natural sciences, he speaks on social justice issues like race, class and ethics and he is involved in urban planning. He’s a very interdisciplinary speaker and we hope the message our students take home is that they can engage in all these issues in their careers and communities, including their college community.”
[Related: Hear Will Allen explain what he does with Growing Power, Inc.]
Allen’s nonprofit organization, Milwaukee, Wis.-based Growing Power, Inc., strives to “provide equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities.” To bring its mission to life, Growing Power, Inc.’s staff trains community members across the regional Midwest to grow and manage urban farms, making fresh, nutritious food accessible to everyone.
While Allen’s primary talking points will include his urban-environmental and agricultural work, he will also speak about social issues like socioeconomic status and race, and about food ethics.
[Related: Learn more about Growing Power, Inc.]
The Office of Sustainability, Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, Environmental Studies Program, Masters in Environmental Studies Program, Urban Studies Program, First Year Experience Program, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Department of Political Science, Department of African American Studies, Honors College, School of Sciences and Mathematics and School of Humanities and Social Sciences are sponsors of this event. The Coastal Conservation League is also helping to sponsor Allen’s visit.
For more information, contact Todd Levasseur at levasseurt@cofc.edu.
