New Harvest VISTA Member: Welcome, Luca!
17 Nov 2022, by in Harvest Blog, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health BoardLuca serves with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) as the Tribal Food Systems VISTA. NPAIHB is home to the largest Tribal Health Epicenter in the United States, with numerous programs focused on addressing the public health needs of 43 tribes they serve. The non-profits’ goal is to alleviate poverty by increasing access to local fresh produce for tribal communities in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Luca is the first-year service member for NPAIHB through the Harvest VISTA Program, and has the unique opportunity to collaborate and implement new food system projects. Luca will be working remotely until mid-January until she starts her big move out west to Portland!
Luca was born and raised in Baltimore County, Maryland where she recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Environmental Studies. While at her small liberal arts college, she became increasingly aware of the health and environmental disparities present in her community. She put that interest into running the school’s community garden and food co-op where she saw firsthand how productive community growing spaces are. Her long-term goal is to work in environmental policy and utilize the knowledge fostered over her AmeriCorps year of service to eventually create macro-level change for marginalized communities. In her free time, Luca likes to craft, hike at her local reservoir, hang out with friends, and snuggle her pet rabbit Basil!