Faculty and Research Initiatives

Tween Power

4-H Educators Karen Barshefsky and Angelica Paredes are working with Professors and Principal Investigators Jean Anliker and Elena Carbone, Department of Nutrition, and Shirley Mietlicki, Department of Public Health, to implement “Tween Power: Preventing Obesity through Wise Expenditures of Resources,” a four year study funded by USDA. This research project will examine the thinking and spending patterns of 11 to 14 year olds in their selection of food and beverages. The final product will be the development of a curriculum that will promote wiser food choices for “tweens.” 4-H staff will work with the local schools and out-of-school programs in Holyoke and North Adams to identify “tweens” for this study.

Boston Urban Stewards

4-H Educator Rita Renee Toll-Dubois is working with Professors Paige Warren and Brian Kane in the Department of Natural Resources Conservation to prepare youth participants of the Boston Urban Stewards to become youth researchers in identifying birds in various tree habitats.

Five College Collaborative through the HUD Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) Grant

Through the HUD COPC grant, Karen Barshefsky, 4-H Educator, is working with faculty from the Five Colleges and Holyoke Community College, the Holyoke Planning Network and many local collaborators to implement this three-year grant. Its specific goal is to provide the city of Holyoke’s Latino and lower-income populations a variety of outreach and research activities that address specific community-identified needs in education, economic development, capacity building and fair housing.