Anna Bandfield
I grew up in Marion, Iowa, and recently graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Public Health. During my studies, I took a class about food systems and agriculture in Iowa which led me to my current VISTA position. Over the summer I was the manager for a community garden at Peoples Community Health Clinic in Waterloo, Iowa, and also oversaw the Veggie Voucher Program. Both of these projects help to increase food access and I’ve loved my experience as a VISTA member so far! One of my favorite parts of the position is getting to see the positive impact our work has on our community.
People's Clinic Garden, CEEE
DaQuan Campbell
DaQuan Campbell is currently serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member for the UNI Local Food Program working to improve food insecurity in underserved communities. Born and raised in Waterloo, DaQuan is a graduate of Waterloo East High and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership from the University of Northern Iowa. He became interested in VISTA work as it aligned with his passion to help members of his community develop and maintain healthy lifestyles. DaQuan has worked to improve local farmers' markets, mobile produce stands, and the urban farming movement. DaQuan enjoys building relationships with local food producers and connecting members of the community with resources that are available to help improve their level of access to affordable, locally grown foods.
Outside of work, DaQuan enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing/watching sports, and traveling.
Greens to Go, CEEE
Laura Cleaver
I am Laura Cleaver. I am currently working as a VISTA at the North East Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo Iowa. Here at the food bank, I operate as the Local Foods Coordinator. I have been tasked with procuring more local foods for the Northeast Iowa Food bank. During the growing season I worked towards this goal by coordinating food rescue at local farmers markets. My volunteers and I collected, sorted, and distributed fresh produce to the food banks clients. I am now tasked with expanding this food rescue program to our agency partners within our sixteen-county service area. By the end of my service year, I hope to facilitate food rescue at farmers markets all over Northeast Iowa. I am excited to help develop and support local food systems here in the beautiful state of Iowa!
Local Foods Coordinator, Northeast Iowa Food Bank
Alex Delworth
I grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana and decided to stay in my hometown for college. I graduated from Purdue University in 2020 with a B.S. in Agricultural Economics and minor in Business Management. During my time there, I developed a passion for economic development while creating different business models centered around water treatment systems in the Dominican Republic designed and implemented by Purdue engineers.
I have been tasked with developing an Incubator Farm for the community of Waterloo/ Cedar Falls. The goals of this project are to both empower aspiring Agricultural business owners while also providing more access to fresh produce within the communities.
Incubator Farm VISTA, CEEE
Karen Everling
I am an Iowa native and grew up on an acreage in Benton County. While my parents never farmed corn or soy, we raised chickens, horses & pigs and had a fruit orchard and a large vegetable garden. I have owned my own business, I am a marketing consultant, and I am ISSA Certified in Fitness Nutrition.
Today, I still love to garden. I began as an AmeriCorps VISTA in January 2020 for EMBARC, Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy Resource Center. Our project raises culturally specific foods for the refugee community in Waterloo and provides a safe space for the project members to gain workforce skills.
Food security and healthy food access are at the heartbeat of my soul, and I plan to continue work in this area for years to come.
Currently, I am working with the Cedar Valley Regional Food Farm Network to help the coalition organize better communication methods for working with the network participants. This includes updated branding, newsletter, and Facebook communications.
Local Foods VISTA, CEEE
Dani Havel
Dani is from Mount Prospect, Illinois and graduated from The University of Iowa in May 2020. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Global Health Studies with minors in Psychology and American Sign Language. Throughout her time at Iowa, Dani held leadership positions in student organizations, such as Dance Marathon, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, and GIVE Volunteers. She also volunteered abroad in Thailand, Laos, and Nepal. Starting June 2020, she is excited to facilitate methods to engage volunteers and assist with organizational event planning throughout her service.
Volunteer Coordinator, Feed Iowa First
Kit Kirby
Kit planted roots in Cedar Rapids at the age of three and has considered it “home” ever since. She graduated from Kirkwood Community College with a degree in Culinary Arts and began working in various local restaurants. With a passion for food and a curiosity about where her food was coming from, she left the kitchen scene and started working as a farmhand at a local farm. There, her love of farming, service to others, and community became very apparent.
“I first heard of Feed Iowa First a few years ago while working with some friends of Sonia. The concept was simple yet one-of-a-kind — growing and distributing REAL food straight to those in need. What could be better?” she says. “I am so thrilled to be a part of this wonderful organization.”
In her free time, Kit enjoys spending time in the garden, doing yoga, cooking, and of course, snuggling her cats.
Farm Coordinator, Feed Iowa First
Melody Rosche
Hometown: Marion IA (Originally from Solon IA)
Hobbies: Cooking, crafting, reading, organizing.
Responsibilities: Plan and maintain the NEIFB Garden, Recruit and lead volunteers, Find and raise money for projects in the Garden.
What I like: I love working with kids at the food bank, teaching them about the garden and how things grow. They always have so much energy and vigor in the garden. I also enjoy working with my fellow VISTA Laura.
Education: Degree in Industrial Design and Minors in Philosophy and Human Development and Family Science from Iowa State University
Previous experience: Design Research Assistant at ISU, Secretary and Vice President of Gamma Rho Lambda Omicron Chapter, Secretary and Workshare member of student run CSA at ISU Good Earth Student Farm, Summer Internship with disabled children at Courage League Sports, Volunteer for Small Talk at the Ames Library, a program that teaches parents to help increase the literacy of their young children and babies.
Garden Coordinator, Northeast Iowa
Food Bank
Savannah Schultz
My hometown is on the East side of St. Paul, Minnesota. I was back there for the past nine months during the COVID-19 pandemic to complete the dietetic internship and become a Registered Dietitian. Prior in May 2020, I graduated with a Bachelors and
Masters in Diet and Exercise from Iowa State University. My thesis focused on improving participation at local congregate meal sites in Polk County, IA using the Social Marketing
Theory. I am passionate about understanding communities to help build stronger, sustainable, and healthy food systems that reflect their specific needs and preferences.
My position with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank will be establishing partnerships and expanding existing ones to improve access to healthy foods and promote nutrition education. The food bank is collaborating with the Department of Public Health on this project to meet the goals and objectives outlined in the 2020 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) for Black Hawk County.
When I am not working at the food bank you can find me hiking with my dog, reading a book on sustainability, the environment, history, or world hunger, cooking new recipes,
doing yoga, or painting!
Northeast Iowa Food Bank/Black Hawk County Health Department
Emily Dvorak
Emily has a background in Public Health. She manages Good Neighbor Iowa, a statewide initiative to reduce pesticides in urban areas; she is also involved in local food systems initiative, "Putting Public Health Science to Work."
Environmental Health ProgramAssociate/Staff, CEEE
Kamyar Enshayan
Kamyar works to turn science into action in energy conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. He has taught environmental studies at UNI since 1993.
CEEE Director
Jodie Huegerich
Jodie is a registered and licensed dietitian working to strengthen the local food economy by working with producers and buyers.
UNI Local Food Program Manager
Mica Magtoto
Mica is from Ames, Iowa and graduated with a B.S. in nutritional science, international agriculture, and Spanish. She grew up in the Philippines where she enjoyed all her favorite tropical fruits (star apples and mangos!) She spent a year in Brazil learning about the country's vast food culture and language. She also studied abroad in Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and the Netherlands. Previously, she worked as a FoodCorps service member in Des Moines Public Schools. She loves working with children and their families on school gardens and teaching culturally responsive nutrition lessons. Mica also enjoys serving up a strong cup of joe at a local coffee shop. Now, she works to recruit new AmeriCorps members, assists in the onboarding process, and finds funding opportunities.
AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
Join us today!
Contact Mica at mica.magtoto@gmail for more information. We look forward to connecting with you!
