COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPACT
CONFERENCE
CONFERENCE
Food Sustainability in Low Resource Communities
June 5, 2025
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Venue at Westwind
7318 Windsong Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72113
Please register today!
About
The Center for Research, Health, and Social Justice is pleased to host the 2025 Community Health Impact Conference.
The theme, Food Sustainability in Low Resource Communities
focuses on strengthening community assets, talents partnerships and networks that help communities disproportionately impacted by food insecurity develop novel and sustainable models that help solve food insecurity and increase healthy eating. Regular access to healthy foods and adequate amounts of healthy food can reduce the risk for chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular diseases in Black and rural communities. Unfortunately, Black and rural communities suffer disproportionate deaths from cancer and cardiovascular diseases and food insecurity.
Our MISSION is to strengthen community assets, partnerships and networks that support communities in the use of evidence-based and novel models to implement sustainable healthy food programs; use of evidence-based business models; use of alternative energy sources; and broad-based.
Our VISION is to create equitable opportunities for low resource communities to develop sustainable food systems that promote healthy eating and that then eliminates food insecurity, and ultimately the disproportionate burden of chronic diseases.
Our MISSION is to strengthen community assets, partnerships and networks that support communities in the use of evidence-based and novel models to implement sustainable healthy food programs; use of evidence-based business models; use of alternative energy sources; and broad-based.
Our VISION is to create equitable opportunities for low resource communities to develop sustainable food systems that promote healthy eating and that then eliminates food insecurity, and ultimately the disproportionate burden of chronic diseases.
Agenda
| Thursday June 5, 2025 8:00am - 5:00pm CST | ||
| Time | Agenda Items | Objective(s) |
| 7:30am | Vendor Registration and Set-up | Increase networking and foster connections with community-based organizations and support of small businesses. |
| 7:30am | Poster Presentation Set-up | Increase awareness of center-related projects that aim to reduce chronic diseases in low resource communities. |
| 8:00am – 8:45am | Additional Presentations: Elnora Wesley(The Glow via Arkansas PBS) Benito Lubazibwa (The Glow via Arkansas PBS) | Educate attendees of the successes of community gardens and videos of our speakers |
| 8:00am – 8:45am | Participants Registration, Networking, and Continental Breakfast in the Café | Increase networking among participants |
| 8:45am - 9:00am | Welcome and Land Acknowledgment Reverend Willie Wade Jr., CHIC Co-chair, Community Engagement Core Advisory Board Member, Founder of Difference Makers – Hot Springs | Welcome participants to the meeting and increase understanding of goals and objectives of the training |
| 9:00am-9:45am | Keynote Presentation: Heir Property and Economic Mobility Dr. Karama Neal, PhD Principal, Neal Firm and Founder of the Heirs Property Information Project | Increase knowledge of partnerships for community progress, including heirs’ property, and topics like health and healthy food and capacity building |
| 9:45am-10:00am | Q&A Session | |
| 10:00am-10:20am | Setting the Stage for Eliminating Chronic Disease Disparities in Low Resource Communities Pebbles Fagan, PhD, MPH | Provide an overview of the disparities in chronic disease related to food access and nutrition in Arkansas |
| 10:20am-10:35am | Food Policy and Chronic Diseases Loretta Alexander, Community Engagement Core Advisory Board Member, Retired Director of Health Policy, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families | Promote and expand awareness of informed food choices, including advocacy for and support of local food systems |
| 10:40am-11:00am | Break and Visit with Vendors | Increase networking |
| 11:00am-11:15am | Cultivating Capacity: Nonprofit Management in Underserved Communities Victoria Mays, CEO/Chief Editor of Print Editing and Publishing | Provide strategies to enhance management skills critical to building and sustaining effective nonprofit organizations supporting food security and community health initiatives. |
| 11:15am-11:25am | Q&A Session | |
| 11:30am-11:55am | Support for Sustainable Food Systems: Building Resilience in a Time of Uncertainty Kelly Nuckolls, Assistant Director and Assistant Professor of Practice at LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law | Provide an overview of how food law can enhance resilience for local farmers and food producers in the face of climate change. |
| 11:55am-12:00pm | Q&A Session | |
| 12:00pm- 1:00pm | Networking Lunch with Round Table Conversations | Discuss innovative community-driven solutions to improve food sustainable systems |
| 1:00pm-1:30pm | Panel Discussion: The Food Incubator Project Moderator: Jessica McDaniel, MPA, Community Liaison, Central Arkansas Library Systems Panelists: Benito Lubazibwa, CEO and Founder of ReMix Ideas and Advancing Black Entrepreneurship (ABE) Kirstie Kelly, Owner, Island Girl Vibes LLC | Educate people about the food incubator project and need to develop businesses in all parts of the food chain |
| 1:30pm-1:45pm | Q&A Session | |
| 1:45pm-2:15pm | Panel Discussion: Current Issues that Impact Food Security and Sustainability Moderator: Sylvia Blain, CEO AR Hunger Relief Alliance Panelists: Food Waste Mitigation - Chris Wyman, Executive Director of Potluck Food Rescue Strengthening Communities through Food Pantries - Lascelles Lyn-Cook, Ph.D. | Discuss current and urgent that impact food security and sustainability |
| 2:15pm- 2:25pm | Q&A Session | |
| 2:25pm-2:55pm | Innovative Technology for Food Production Trey Rosenbaum, Owner of Natural State Land Consulting and Greenhouse Manager, ACCESS Group, Inc. | Increase knowledge about innovative technology for food production |
| 2:55pm-3:05pm | Q&A Session | |
| 3:05pm-3:30pm | Break and Visit with Vendors | Increase networking |
| 3:30pm – 4:45pm | Breakout Sessions Breakout Session I / Room A: Grandparenting: The Power of Cross-Generational Community Gardening for Health and Sustainability Speaker: Dr. Karleah Harris, Associate Professor, Department of Human Sciences, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Breakout Session II / Room B: Identifying the determinants and multilevel factors that contribute to food insecurity. Speaker: Dr. Nina Lyon Bennett, Assistant Dean for Academics, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, School of Agriculture, Fisheries, & Human Sciences Breakout Session III / Auditorium: Alternative Energy Sources Speaker: Dr. Kimberly Haynie, Associate Professor, Nutrition and Food Science Program, Department of Human Sciences, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Breakout Session IV / Kitchen: Healthy Cooking Lesson and Demonstration Class/ Kitchen Speaker: Elnora Wesley, Owner, H.O.M.E. Vegan Restaurant | Session I: Increase knowledge of how cross-generational community gardening can cultivate healthy relationships and provide sustainable, healthy food solutions and improving food access in underserved communities. Session II: Identify barriers and facilitating factors that contribute to food insecurities in rural Arkansas. Participants will identify factors on multi levels such as national and local policy. Session III: Increase knowledge on the value of alternative energy sources for agriculture Session IV: Educate participants on the nutritional benefits of plant-based cooking through a hands-on demonstration |
| 4:45pm-5:00pm | Closing remarks Reverend Willie Wade Jr., CHIC Co-chair, Community Engagement Core Advisory Board Member, Founder of Difference Makers – Hot Springs | |
Meet our Co-Chair
Reverend Willie Wade Jr. is the Founding Pastor of A Walk of Faith Ministries and Founder of Difference Makers of Hot Springs in Hot Springs, Arkansas. A long-time community activist and passionate advocate for social justice, Rev. Wade remains deeply engaged in addressing the concerns of his community. He firmly believes in the power and responsibility of using one’s voice to inspire meaningful change.
For nearly a decade, Rev. Wade has served as a valued Community Partner of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). His extensive involvement includes serving on the Community Engagement Core Advisory Board (AR Cancer Coalition), the Committee Garden Health Block Steering Committee, the Center for Research, Health, and Social Justice Community Advisory Board, the Community Partners Educated as Research Leaders Advisory Board, and the Translational Research Institute Community Advisory Board, where he also serves as a Faith Academic Network Ambassador. Additionally, he contributes to the Arkansas Community Health Worker Association (ARCHWA) Stakeholder Advisory Committee, the Garland County/Hot Springs Community Health Needs Assessment Committee, and serves as a Community Health Assessor with Human Impact Partners (HIP). He is committed to ongoing learning and the application of innovative approaches in community-based participatory research, aiming to improve lives and advance social change.
A native of Holly Grove, Arkansas, Rev. Wade studied Psychology at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He is a proud U.S. Navy veteran, retiring after 20 years of service, and later retired as the State Outreach Program Manager for the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs. His professional background also includes roles within the Arkansas Department of Human Services, where he worked in Juvenile Justice, Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, and Child Welfare Social Work, including service as a Critical Care Behavior Analyst for Pulaski County DCFS Area VI.
For nearly a decade, Rev. Wade has served as a valued Community Partner of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). His extensive involvement includes serving on the Community Engagement Core Advisory Board (AR Cancer Coalition), the Committee Garden Health Block Steering Committee, the Center for Research, Health, and Social Justice Community Advisory Board, the Community Partners Educated as Research Leaders Advisory Board, and the Translational Research Institute Community Advisory Board, where he also serves as a Faith Academic Network Ambassador. Additionally, he contributes to the Arkansas Community Health Worker Association (ARCHWA) Stakeholder Advisory Committee, the Garland County/Hot Springs Community Health Needs Assessment Committee, and serves as a Community Health Assessor with Human Impact Partners (HIP). He is committed to ongoing learning and the application of innovative approaches in community-based participatory research, aiming to improve lives and advance social change.
A native of Holly Grove, Arkansas, Rev. Wade studied Psychology at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He is a proud U.S. Navy veteran, retiring after 20 years of service, and later retired as the State Outreach Program Manager for the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs. His professional background also includes roles within the Arkansas Department of Human Services, where he worked in Juvenile Justice, Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, and Child Welfare Social Work, including service as a Critical Care Behavior Analyst for Pulaski County DCFS Area VI.
Arkansas has the highest rate of food insecurity in the nation, with nearly 19% of households experiencing food insecurity.
Keynote Speaker
Karma Neal, PhD
Heirs Property Information Project
Karama Neal, PhD, is the principal for the Neal Firm which provides consulting and mediation services, and founder of the Heirs Property Information Project, which provides resources and support to family landowners. She has 15 years of experience in personal and rural development finance, most recently as the Administrator of the USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service, to which she was appointed by President Biden. Dr. Neal’s first career was in the basic biosciences. After graduating from the historic Little Rock Central High School, She earned a BA in biology at Swarthmore College and later a doctorate in genetics from Emory University and a master's in bioethics from Loyola University Chicago. She also completed executive education in impact investing at the University of Oxford Said School of Business.
For more information:
http://www.karamaneal.com/
For more information:
http://www.karamaneal.com/
Speakers
Benito Lubazibwa
ReMix Ideas
Business Academy (RIBA)
Benito Lubazibwa is a visionary leader dedicated to empowering underestimated communities through entrepreneurship. As CEO of ReMix Ideas and Founder of Advancing Black Entrepreneurship (ABE), he leads initiatives that drive economic mobility and community growth. Benito has launched transformative programs like the ReMix Ideas Pitch Competition, offering 3,000+ hours of coaching, and the ReMix Ideas Business Academy (RIBA), which has graduated over 200 entrepreneurs. In 2020, he founded the Black Founders Summit and co-founded the Rock It! Lab with the Central Arkansas Library System to support diverse entrepreneurs. To elevate Black-owned businesses, he created the Arkansas Black in Business Directory and the Black in Business Networking event. In 2024, he launched the 1899 Project and helped establish the Pine Bluff Black Chamber of Commerce. In 2025, he debuted the Pine Bluff Tech Summit, positioning the city as a hub for Delta innovation. Benito’s work has earned him numerous honors, including the Advancing Equity Award, Humanitarian of the Year, and the John H. Johnson Business and Entrepreneur Award. A Common Future Bridge Fellow and Magna Cum Laude graduate of UCA.
Dr. Karleah Harris Ph.D.
Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Dr. Karleah Harris is an Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University and a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Dr. Harris has worked in several college settings as well as with PreK-12 students, teachers, principals, stakeholders, and grandparents raising grandchildren in the community. Her research interests include using inquiry-based science learning to study kindergarten students’ explanations, the types of discourse strategies teachers use during classroom science discourse, children with learning disabilities, culturally responsive teaching, horticulture therapy, grandparenting, food deserts, food insecurity, and gardening. Dr. Harris has delivered several presentations at the local, national, and international levels, and has published multiple articles. Dr. Harris received the Chancellor’s 2023 University Outreach and Engagement Award and the 2025 American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Leader Award.
Jessica McDaniel
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
LIFESTYLE INFLUENCER
MODERATOR
FREELANCE WRITER
LIFESTYLE INFLUENCER
MODERATOR
FREELANCE WRITER
Jessica McDaniel is a Community Engagement Coordinator for the Central
Arkansas Library System, a freelance Creative Writer, Social Media Influencer, and
Networking Strategist. She has a B.S. in Communications focusing in Public
Relations from Jackson State University and a Masters of Public Administration from
the University of Arkansas- Little Rock.Jessica specializes in networking and grassroots outreach initiatives. She has
spoken to countless young adult groups, organization interns, and employees about
leveraging their talents and using connections to exceed organizational and
personal goals. Working within the CALS’ Communication department, she is an
integral part of framing the organization’s image and branding in print. media and
in the public areas the system serves. Jessica shares life with her 6-year-old son, DJ
in the city of Little Rock.
Loretta Alexander
community partner
retired
retired
Loretta Alexander has over 40 years of experience in healthcare policy and management. Now retired from full-time work, she provides consulting services, drawing on her expertise in executive leadership, advocacy, research, program administration, policy development, and clinical services. Her career spans government, nonprofit, and private sectors with a focus on healthcare delivery, reimbursement, and systems development.
She holds a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a B.A. in Biology from Henderson State University. She also completed a hospital administration fellowship at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ms. Alexander serves on the Community Advisory Board for the Center for Research Health and Social Justice and participates in national health equity initiatives with UCSF. Her many honors include the 2022 Delta Population Health Institute Excellence in Policy Award, the Hezekiah Stewart Diamond Award, and Arkansas Business's 40 Under 40.
She has held leadership roles with numerous organizations, including Birthing Project USA, Global Ties Arkansas, the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission, and the Arkansas Public Health Association.
She holds a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a B.A. in Biology from Henderson State University. She also completed a hospital administration fellowship at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ms. Alexander serves on the Community Advisory Board for the Center for Research Health and Social Justice and participates in national health equity initiatives with UCSF. Her many honors include the 2022 Delta Population Health Institute Excellence in Policy Award, the Hezekiah Stewart Diamond Award, and Arkansas Business's 40 Under 40.
She has held leadership roles with numerous organizations, including Birthing Project USA, Global Ties Arkansas, the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission, and the Arkansas Public Health Association.
Victoria Mays
Chief Technical Assistance Officer, The Connection hub
Victoria Mays is a writer, editor, researcher, and nonprofit consultant who brings a storyteller’s heart to strategic problem-solving. With an MFA in Creative Writing and a background in education, Victoria Bridges the worlds of creativity and community impact.
Currently, she serves as Chief Technical Assistance Officer at The Connection Hub where she works alongside nonprofits to increase their organizational capacity and competitiveness for federal funding. She is also a ghost writer who has penned several philanthropic research reports and memoirs.
Victoria’s editorial voice can be found in The Daily Record, Et Alia Press, Post Hill Press, and Arkansas Magazine where she contributed as both an editor and writer who helped to shape the publications. Beyond the page, she is an advocate for community service and expanding access and opportunity. Whether leading grant strategy sessions, curating powerful stories, or uncovering new ideas, Victoria is committed to helping organizations and individuals elevate their voice and expand their impact.
Kirstie Kelly
Owner, island girl vibes, llc
Kirstie Kelly is the visionary founder behind a dynamic meal prep service dedicated to delivering flavorful, healing meals that cater to diverse dietary lifestyles—including vegan, keto, paleo, and pescatarian. With a strong focus on living foods and functional ingredients, Kelly’s approach shows that healthy eating can be both nourishing and delicious.
Her passion for wellness and food equity is rooted in her personal journey as a three-time cancer survivor.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer twice—once while pregnant—she made the powerful decision to pursue a holistic healing path, turning to nutrient-rich foods, vitamins, and teas rather than chemotherapy or radiation. This life-changing experience not only restored her health but fueled her mission to help others heal through food.
Today, her business provides chef-prepared, ready-to-eat meals and raw vegan options designed to combat chronic health issues such as inflammation, fatigue, and weight gain. Driven by the belief that food is medicine, she is committed to making access to healing, whole foods a right—not a privilege.
Her passion for wellness and food equity is rooted in her personal journey as a three-time cancer survivor.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer twice—once while pregnant—she made the powerful decision to pursue a holistic healing path, turning to nutrient-rich foods, vitamins, and teas rather than chemotherapy or radiation. This life-changing experience not only restored her health but fueled her mission to help others heal through food.
Today, her business provides chef-prepared, ready-to-eat meals and raw vegan options designed to combat chronic health issues such as inflammation, fatigue, and weight gain. Driven by the belief that food is medicine, she is committed to making access to healing, whole foods a right—not a privilege.
Slyvia Blain
CEO Arkansas hunger relief alliance
For the last 22 years, Sylvia Blain’s professional experience has spanned both the non-profit and government sectors, where she has led numerous initiatives to combat food insecurity. As the executive director of Potluck Food Rescue, the Arkansas Local Foods Initiative, and the Dunbar Garden, Sylvia spearheaded the implementation of community gardens and farmers markets in underserved neighborhoods, providing fresh produce to thousands of families annually. As the Executive Director of Potluck Food Rescue, Sylvia increased the organization's impact by 500% in the 7 years she was at the helm, serving hunger relief agencies in 6 counties. Additionally, Sylvia and a group of non-profit and governmental partners established the first Arkansas Food Policy Council.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Sylvia is deeply committed to building resilient food systems, advocating for policy improvements that center our most vulnerable citizens, and building community engagement around these issues. She serves on several boards and committees with a focus on food access statewide.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Sylvia is deeply committed to building resilient food systems, advocating for policy improvements that center our most vulnerable citizens, and building community engagement around these issues. She serves on several boards and committees with a focus on food access statewide.
Dr. Nina Lyon Bennett
Assistant Dean for Academics, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, School of agriculture, fisheries, & human sciences
Nina Lyon-Bennett is assistant dean for academics in the School of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Human Sciences at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). In this position, she supports faculty and department chairs in managing various aspects of academic programming, including curriculum and program development and assessment, student enrollment, and persistence to graduation. Dr. Lyon-Bennett fosters a spirit of excellence in fulfilling the school’s academic mission, assists the dean/director in developing and implementing policies and procedures, and provides training and professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students. She focuses on a holistic approach to student success, academic excellence, and creating a culturally inclusive environment where diversity of thought and a sense of belonging facilitates full participation in teaching, learning, community outreach, and social engagement. Dr. Lyon-Bennett earned her Ph.D. in human development/family studies from the University of Georgia, and her B.S. & M.S. degrees in sociology from Clark College and Atlanta University, respectively, and completed three graduate certificates in Social Gerontology, Women’s Studies, and Family Financial Planning. Over the course of her 30+-year career in higher education, Dr. Lyon-Bennett has served in both faculty and administrative leadership roles, demonstrating a commitment to student success, understanding the intersectionality of race, class, and gender on student recruitment, enrollment, retention, and persistence to graduation, promotion, and tenure. She is an advocate of DEI and for the advancement of women of color to leadership roles. Dr. Lyon-Bennett is a 2023 Fellow in the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute, a mentor for the 2022 Leadership Fellows Program with the Board on Health & Human Sciences, serves on the board of LEAD21, is a 2014 graduate of the Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI), and has secured over $6mil in external funding. In addition to her administrative duties, she currently serves as a Co-PD on the 1890 Centers of Excellence for Student Success and Workforce Development (SSWD Center), housed at North Carolina A&T University, where she is leading the effort on a formalized mentoring program for first-year students in schools of agriculture at eight 1890 land-grant institutions (LGIs). Dr. Lyon-Bennett serves as a facilitator for the Coming Together for Racial Understanding, is a published author, and serves on several committees to advance the mission of 1890 LGIs to support innovative programming and effective delivery of academic, research, Extension, and other outreach programs that benefit socially-disadvantaged individuals, families, and economically distressed communities.
Dr. Kimberly Haynie
Associate Professor, Nutrition and food science program, department of human sciences university of arkansas of pine bluff
Kimberly R. Haynie has joined the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's Department of Human Sciences as an assistant professor, according to Marilyn Bailey, interim chair of the department.
In this position, Haynie will teach courses in nutrition and food science, which includes nutrition and wellness, sensory evaluation of foods, experimental food science and nutrition through the life cycle. She will supervise internships and participate in the recruitment, retention, advisement and mentoring of students.
Haynie will also conduct research, participate in scholarly activities, serve on departmental and university committees and provide service to the community and in the profession.
Prior to coming to UAPB, Haynie served as a regulatory team leader for Registrar Corp. in Hampton, Va. While there, she served as a consultant to international and national firms to provide strategic and tactical regulatory guidance on FDA and USDA policy pertaining to food products and food labeling.
Additionally, she served in a management position where she supported a team of regulatory specialists to ensure that they were adequately training, completing projects within established deadlines and adhering to corporate policy and procedures.
Haynie also worked as an adjunct professor in the Virginia Community College System for more than a decade. She facilitated various nutrition courses at Rappahannock Community College and Virginia Peninsula Community College.
She has a doctoral degree and a master's degree in human nutrition, foods and exercise and a bachelor's degree in biology, all from Virginia Tech.
In this position, Haynie will teach courses in nutrition and food science, which includes nutrition and wellness, sensory evaluation of foods, experimental food science and nutrition through the life cycle. She will supervise internships and participate in the recruitment, retention, advisement and mentoring of students.
Haynie will also conduct research, participate in scholarly activities, serve on departmental and university committees and provide service to the community and in the profession.
Prior to coming to UAPB, Haynie served as a regulatory team leader for Registrar Corp. in Hampton, Va. While there, she served as a consultant to international and national firms to provide strategic and tactical regulatory guidance on FDA and USDA policy pertaining to food products and food labeling.
Additionally, she served in a management position where she supported a team of regulatory specialists to ensure that they were adequately training, completing projects within established deadlines and adhering to corporate policy and procedures.
Haynie also worked as an adjunct professor in the Virginia Community College System for more than a decade. She facilitated various nutrition courses at Rappahannock Community College and Virginia Peninsula Community College.
She has a doctoral degree and a master's degree in human nutrition, foods and exercise and a bachelor's degree in biology, all from Virginia Tech.
Chris Wyman
Executive Director at Potluck Food Rescue
Chris Wyman has 17 years of experience in food systems, focusing on urban agriculture, food security, and sustainable farming. His passion for community food access led him to work with urban farms and farmer cooperatives. As Executive Director at Potluck Food Rescue, Chris champions food equity, zero-waste practices, and regenerative agriculture, with a strong commitment to reducing food waste and strengthening local food systems.
Trey Rosenbaum
Greenhouse Manager at ACCESS
Trey Rosenbaum has been the Greenhouse Manager at ACCESS since the summer of 2023. With 18 years of experience in landscape and horticulture, and 7 years of professional experience in the field, Trey finds being the greenhouse manager one of the most rewarding and enjoyable roles of his career. He loves teaching students and adults vocational skills they can carry with them into their homes and the workforce.
Trey’s primary goal is to be a positive role model for the boys and young men at ACCESS, showing them that they can overcome any challenges they face.
Kelly Nuckolls
Assistant Director & Professor of Practice at LL.M. Program in Agricultural and Food Law, University of Arkansas
Kelly Nuckolls is the Assistant Director and Assistant Professor of Practice for the LL.M. Program in Agricultural and Food Law. She directs the Food and Agriculture Impact Project, which provides the next generation of food and agriculture lawyers with hands-on experience in policy and legal research, analysis, and education.
Kelly received her LL.M. in Food and Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law, her J.D. from Drake Law School, and her B.A. in Political Science from Fort Hays State University. Kelly previously worked in Washington, D.C. as a senior policy specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), where she advocated for federal policies related to sustainable agriculture, including the farm bill, food safety, and food labeling laws. Prior to NSAC, she worked at the University of Maryland Agricultural Law Education Initiative, where she provided legal education on a variety of agricultural law topics to farmers in Maryland and Delaware.
Kelly received her LL.M. in Food and Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law, her J.D. from Drake Law School, and her B.A. in Political Science from Fort Hays State University. Kelly previously worked in Washington, D.C. as a senior policy specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), where she advocated for federal policies related to sustainable agriculture, including the farm bill, food safety, and food labeling laws. Prior to NSAC, she worked at the University of Maryland Agricultural Law Education Initiative, where she provided legal education on a variety of agricultural law topics to farmers in Maryland and Delaware.
Elnora Wesley
founder of H.O.M.E. Vegan Restaurant,
Elnora Wesley is the founder and visionary behind H.O.M.E. Vegan Restaurant, formerly House of Mental Eatery, now located at Arkansas Baptist College. A lifelong student of African-centered holistic health and vegan since the age of 15, Wesley has built a beloved soul food brand rooted in healing, culture, and community. Known for her cauliflower wings, Southern greens, and commitment to "food as medicine," she uses her restaurant not only to nourish but to educate and uplift. With roots in grassroots food justice and a powerful presence in the local entrepreneurial scene, Wesley is a proud pitch competition winner and community builder whose work reflects the deep connections between wellness, tradition, and empowerment.
Food insecurity increases the risk for chronic diseases. In households with very low food security (the most food insecure), nearly 53% are likely to have a chronic disease. The prevalence of chronic diseases is 18% higher in very low food secure than in high food secure households.
Public Gardens
Hudson Valley Seed Company
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Featured Garden Stories
Communities around the United States have developed community gardens to address food insecurity. Click on one of the videos to learn more about their stories.
Conference Location
The Venue at Westwind
7318 Windsong Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72113
Hotels and Restaurants
CHIC 2023
Sponsors
