Hello St. Louis!

That's right Toto, I'm not in California anymore...

The new year is bringing with it several "new" things: a new job, a new city, a new place to call home! I officially moved to the Kirkwood area of St. Louis last weekend and began a job with HopeBUILD, a non-profit organization in St. Louis proper that has established five urban community gardens (What is that? Click here.) throughout the city and manages their upkeep through partnerships with other organizations - schools, churches, the St. Louis Rams, etc. HopeBUILD runs a farmers' market using the produce from these gardens that can be sold at lower prices for community members (buzz word translation: "urban agriculture"). Additionally, they provide nutritional education for groups that encourages the use of fresh produce to improve wellness and health.

I will be developing nutrition curriculum for community presentations in St. Louis communities. HopeBUILD has done nutrition education in the past, but is wanting to make it a more prominent and engaging part of the organization's offerings. Though I just started, I have some great connections with Saint Louis University's School of Public Health, as well as Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, that I will be able to utilize in programming development.

I am eager to work with this organization and pour myself into its mission work!

Another fun part about living in St. Louis is the opportunity to live with/close to my dear friends from Truman State University days! Heidi Fuhrman is my first friend from freshman year at Truman and provides a resounding wisdom in the house, as well as great taste in music. She works at Mercy Ministries. Julie Brandewiede is another dear one from Truman that I traveled to Italy with and offers her love of chocolate chip cookies to everyone who enters our door. She is teaching at Lindbergh District Schools. Heidi, Julie and I live in a house together, while our other friend, Katie Rueckert, lives closer to downtown and works with the Lift For Life Academy. She teaches foreign languages and is a great advocate for the culture of St. Louis and...the Cardinals.

I am hoping to post pictures soon - just wanted to give everyone a brief update! Love, Jilly