Kaycee Morison:
I am a third year UBC, Food, Nutrition and Health Major student with an interest in sports nutrition. I am originally from Bragg Creek: a small town located on the outskirts of Calgary, Alberta. Growing up, sports played a major role in my life, whether it was when I was running cross-country, track or playing soccer. As a result, good health and nutrition were critical in ensuring optimal performance. This sparked an interest in foods that are beneficial for muscle growth and retention. In the past I have worked for Nutrikids, a Vancouver-based organization that implements food and nutrition related lessons to elementary students in the Vancouver area. I have also attended Eat2Run training and workshops that demonstrate meal planning and dietary choices specifically targeted for athletes. I enjoy working with others and believe that by working with the Hastings Sunrise community I will be able to strengthen my connections to the Vancouver area. Outside of school, I enjoy running, playing soccer, cooking and snowboarding during the winter months.

Kasha Foster:
I am in my third year studying in the Global Resource Systems program within the Land and Food Systems (LFS) faculty with a focus on sustainable agriculture and food systems. I grew up in North Vancouver and agriculture has always been an important part of my life. LFS has helped me appreciate the importance of all aspects that influence our complex world food system, and as a result, I have been able to expand my ability to understand the foundations of our food system from multiple disciplinary angles. In the past I have worked with the Strathcona Community Center’s Garden Project to improve children’s education of gardens and nature during the after-school programs offered at the center. I have also worked with the North Shore Neighbourhood House (through the Edible Garden Project) with the weekly Food Hub and the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (BCFMNCP). I thoroughly enjoy working with members of communities across Vancouver and cannot wait to learn more about the Hastings Sunrise community. Apart from learning about the food system, I enjoy gardening, cooking, jogging, volleyball, playing with my dogs, and just being outside.

Mitra Nowroozi:
I am a 3rd year Food, Nutrition and Health student at UBC. My main interests lie within maternal, fetal, and pediatric nutrition both in Canada and internationally. The Land, Food & Community Series courses have helped me branch out from my predominantly lecture-based major into the world of interdisciplinary systems and community engagement. It has broadened the context around food and nutrition to include food security, sovereignty and access – important concepts I had not considered prior to the series. I have held many work and volunteer positions surrounding food and cooking. One example is through SFU Enactus, developing and presenting nutrition workshops and hands-on cooking tutorials to low-income, often single mothers at Kiwassa Neighbourhood House and The Salvation Army. I have also had the privilege to teach and cook with children through The Dirty Apron Cooking School. Outside of school, I love spending time with my family, going hiking, rock climbing, watching space movies and learning the piano.

Sarah Bond:
This is my 3rd year as a student in Land and Food Systems at UBC, and I am focusing my studies on nutrition and food security. I am originally from a small farming town in eastern Ontario, where I have previously worked with community food initiatives, including an internship with Nourish Project. I have organized and ran food literacy workshops aimed at populations vulnerable to food insecurity, volunteered frequently at a student run non-profit café, and most recently worked at the UBC Centre for Sustainable Food Systems with the children’s programming. I hope that this project will strengthen my knowledge in food system issues that are relevant to Vancouverites, and explore techniques to better utilize the assets within the communities we work with. Aside from schoolwork, I am often found practicing or performing with my dance team, soaking up any hint of sunshine, or reading a good book.

Grace Tan:
I am a 3rd year Nutritional Sciences student and was born and raised in Vancouver. My passion has always been in community work and I have been fortunate enough to spend the past few years enjoying opportunities that combined my interest in nutrition with my love of people. I have worked closely with the West 1 Community Schools Team leading after school cooking programs aimed at supporting vulnerable children, and acting as Kitchen Coordinator at their Healthy Eaters and Leaders Summer Camp where the campers gain nutrition education through experiential learning opportunities such as cooking and gardening. I believe it is important to build positive relationships with food at an early age so that we are nurturing healthy, happy, and responsible food citizens for the future. When I am not doing any of these previously mentioned activities, I like to fill my time trying new restaurants, cooking, and spending time with my loved ones.