Hunger awareness activities at both campuses
MCC students transplanting plants.
MESA, Arizona -- Oct. 8, 2015 – Mesa Community College invites community members to learn about hunger and contribute to its abolishment during the weeks surrounding its Empty Bowls art charity events, Oct. 19-23 at Southern and Dobson (1833 W. Southern Ave.), and Nov. 2-6 at Red Mountain (7110 E. McKellips Rd.).
“At MCC, we stress helping students make connections between learning and community issues. We have been, and will continue to be engaged in discussions on tough issues, encouraging our students to work together to propose viable solutions to local and global problems such as hunger,” said Dr. Shouan Pan, MCC President.
Duane Oakes, Director of MCC Center for Community & Civic Engagement reiterates, “MCC has a commitment to civic engagement as part of its long-term dedication to its local and global community. Hunger has been identified as an important issue needing to be immediately addressed.”
The community is encouraged to participate in a number of MCC anti-hunger events at MCC in the coming weeks, the day preceding each MCC Empty Bowls event, Oct. 20 at MCC’s Southern and Dobson campus (1833 W. Southern, Ave.), and Nov. 2 at the Red Mountain campus (7110 E. McKellips Rd.).
Food Box Cooking Competition, Panel Discussion & Garden Market
Oct. 20, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., MCC at Southern and Dobson
Nov. 2, 10 a.m. – 2 pm, MCC at Red Mountain
- Creative Food Box Cooking will commence at 10 a.m. This event is a twist on the popular Iron Chef television show. Local Chefs will be paired with MCC faculty, students, and Mesa civic and organizational leaders. Teams will be tasked to prepare a nutritious and savory meal with ingredients commonly found in a local food box.
- Hunger Awareness Panel Discussion -- Immediately following the cooking completion, at approximately 11 a.m., local experts will assemble a panel to discuss hunger, its root causes, access to nutrition, the scarcity myth, water as it relates to crops, hydration, and survival. Presentations will be followed by a Question and Answer session.
- A unique Garden Market will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. near the Cooking Competition and Panel Discussions. This Garden Market will offer for sale hand-crafted ceramic containers of different sizes and shapes made by the students in the ceramics classes. They will be filled with locally-grown plants provided by MCC’s Center for Urban Agriculture. All proceeds from this event will benefit Paz de Cristo.
“It is a natural fit to expand upon the fighting hunger message of our very successful Empty Bowls events,” said Linda Speranza, MCC Art Faculty, and long-time anti-hunger advocate. “Our community has come together annually for more than 20 years to support Empty Bowls, raising thousands of dollars to help feed our hungry neighbors. "We realize our students might also need sustenance support. Many also want to engage in the ongoing fight to help make adequate nutrition available to those in need.”
This year’s MCC Empty Bowls art charity events, a collaboration with local businesses, schools and community groups will again be offered during both lunch (10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.) and dinner (5-8 p.m.) hours at both MCC campuses. The first event will be held on Oct. 21 at MCC’s Southern and Dobson campus (1833 W. Southern, Ave.), and the second on Nov. 3 at the Red Mountain campus (7110 E. McKellips Rd.). For a $10 donation, Empty Bowls patrons may select a one-of-a-kind handcrafted ceramic bowl and receive a modest yet delicious meal of soup and bread. All proceeds (over $17,000 was raised last year) from MCC Empty Bowls events directly benefit those served by Paz de Cristo Community Center, the nonprofit providing anti-hunger and empowerment support for the East Valley's homeless, unemployed, working poor and their families.
On Oct. 21, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., MCC will host a Town Hall/Future Leaders Town Hall, Keeping Arizona’s Water Glass Full in the Library of its Southern and Dobson campus (1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa 85202). Kelly Mott Lacroix, Senior Research Analyst, WRRC’s Water Research & Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems (RAPIDS) will be the keynote speaker. Though this is a free event participants are encouraged to register online at http://www.aztownhall.org/event-1995219/Registration.
An Oxfam American Hunger Banquet will be hosted by the Latter Day Saints Student Association, as their weekly Friday Forum at the Mesa LDS Institute (1310 S. Dobson Rd.) at noon on Friday, Oct. 23. The Banquet is a memorable, interactive event that brings hunger and poverty issues to life. After 40 years, this volunteer-led effort has changed hundreds of thousands of lives. Attendees draw a ticket to be assigned their place in society in this interactive activity about Hunger and poverty. Seating is limited. Please call Duane Oakes 480-461-7214 to make a reservation to this free event.
Beginning Oct. 19 and continuing through Nov. 30, MCC will collect non-perishable food items to benefit United Food Bank and the Associated Students of Mesa Community College (ASMCC) Food Pantry.
In addition, MCC faculty, staff and students will continue to serve meals at Paz de Cristo, MCC’s Empty Bowls beneficiary, providing a hands-on giving experiences for students, faculty and staff.
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Contacts
Dawn Zimmer, 480-461-7892, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu
Sally Mesarosh, 480-461-7283, sally.mesarosh@mesacc.edu
About Paz de Cristo Community Center
Paz de Cristo empowers its guests to reach their full potential by removing barriers so they may become more self-sufficient. Paz de Cristo exists to help them achieve self-reliance, pride and self-respect. In turn, this leads to improved economic standing, respect for others, and citizenship participation. Learn more online at http://pazdecristo.org.
About Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for its service-learning, civic engagement and innovative educational programs, which include university transfer, career and technical, workforce development, and life-long learning. Host to 40,000 students annually, MCC offers more than 195 degrees and certificate programs at its two campuses and additional locations. MCC’s student body hails predominantly from the East Valley of Phoenix and includes Veteran, American Indian and International students who enrich the learning experience. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to compete locally and globally. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, MCC is one of 10 colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. The District also includes the Maricopa Corporate College and two skill centers. For additional information, visit mesacc.edu.
About Mesa Community College’s Art Program
Learning to create effective art and design can be challenging in a variety of different ways. The fully accredited MCC Art Department has highly qualified professors who understand these challenges and inspires students to reach their greatest creative potential and sharpen their artistic skill set. Whether a student is seeking a degree, planning to transfer to a university, or taking classes for personal or professional enrichment, the Art Department can help students reach their goals. MCC features degree tracks, certificates, and courses in drawing, painting, ceramics, design, art history, computer graphics, and photography. For more information, visithttps://www.mesacc.edu/departments/art.
About the Center for Urban Agriculture
The Mesa Community College Center for Urban Agriculture (CUA) is designed to promote education and public awareness of healthy eating and living through sustainable urban agriculture, aquaponics, and local food production. Learn more online at mesacc.edu/cua.
Mesa Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) http://www.ncahlc.org, 800-621-7440.
The Maricopa County Community College District is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.