UW-Stevens Point: MacArthur Fellow Will Allen 2009 Willett lecturer at UWSP

Nationally renowned Will Allen, founder and CEO of Growing Power, Inc. in Milwaukee, will deliver the 2009 K.B. Willett Lectureship Presentation at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Allen’s lecture will be held in the Dreyfus University Center Theater at 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the campus and community.

Named a 2008 MacArthur Fellow for his work in reconnecting the urban environment with the emerging local foods movement, Allen is an urban farmer seeking to transform the growing, production and delivery of healthy foods to underserved urban populations. In 1995 he began helping neighborhood children in Milwaukee with a local gardening project. It was here Allen developed the farming methods and educational programs that are now the foundation of his nonprofit organization, Growing Power (http://www.growingpower.org).

Allen is at the forefront of sustainable urban community-based food production and will share his experiences and expertise on changing the 21st century urban landscape. His visit will demonstrate the opportunities available for an urban university and its surrounding community to better understand the growing importance of local, sustainable foods and the increasing opportunities of urban agriculture.

“UWSP is honored to have Will Allen as this year’s Willett Lectureship,” said College of Natural Resources Dean Christine Thomas. “Allen’s message resonates here in Central Wisconsin with people and local organizations already putting into practice many of his principles that reconnect the city landscape with local homegrown food initiatives.”

The Willett Lectureship Endowment rotates each year between UWSP’s four colleges. Distinguished scholars, speakers and persons of renown in various fields of endeavor are invited to the campus each year. The lecture next year is scheduled to be organized and presented by the College of Professional Studies.

Allen’s visit is open to media coverage, including the following activities:

Monday, Oct. 26

* 10 a.m. Meet CNR leadership and tour the CNR

* 11 a.m. Meet with Bobbi Kubish, CNR, and Student Involvement and Employment Office

* 11:45 a.m. Lunch at UWSP DeBot Center with student and UWSP leadership

* 1 p.m. Attend Meghan Buckley’s “Soils 373” class in TNR Room 255

* 1:30 p.m. Tour aquaculture facility (Science Building)

* 2:15 p.m. Tour UWSP’s campus garden (near UW Credit Union)

* 7 p.m. Screening of “Fresh” at Dreyfus University Center Theater

For Monday’s visits, contact Jeremy Solin, director of LEAF (Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education Program), 715-346-4907 or jsolin@uwsp.edu