Jean Eells,
Stephanie Enloe,
Linda Shenk
Micro-Stories Leading to Climate Action
Women, Food and Agriculture Network
About Jean:
Jean Eells operates E Resources Group, LLC from Webster City Iowa. She grew up on an Iowa farm where there were no cockleburs. She conducts research and conservation programs with Women, Food and Agriculture Network and other partners.
About Stephanie:
Stephanie is the Director of Programming for the Women Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN) and a PhD candidate at Cornell University. She recently returned to her home state of Iowa after living for several years in Ithaca, NY. In her role as a graduate student, Stephanie works with a Malawian farming organization called Soils, Food and Healthy Communities (SFHC) to support their ongoing efforts to advance agroecology. She brings her interests in sustainable food systems, social justice, and participatory learning models to her work coordinating WFAN’s Women Caring for the Land and Harvesting Our Potential programs.
Prior to beginning her PhD program or her work with WFAN, Stephanie worked for the Center for Rural Affairs to advance water quality and renewable energy policy in the Midwest. She also completed a Masters of Science from the Iowa State University Sustainable Agriculture program. She has traveled extensively in Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda. In addition to travel, Stephanie enjoys growing and preserving food, knitting, and spending time with her dog, Poplar.
About Linda:
Linda Shenk is a Professor of English at Iowa State University. In her research, she applies her background in storytelling and performance to how researchers and community members can co-create narratives that foster relationship building, action, and resilience. She teaches courses that bring together Shakespeare, Climate Change Theatre Action, community empowerment, and science communication.
From the Women, Food and Agriculture Network:
As an agricultural and majority-white organization, WFAN recognizes that the US food system grew out of Indigenous genocide, the enslaved labor of African Americans, and the continuous exploitation of BIPOC. The control of land -- and the food growing upon it -- have long been weapons of white supremacy and colonialism. Our work in Iowa takes place on the homelands of several Indigenous nations, including the Báxoje, Meskwaki, and Sauk.
Above image: The Community Environment Model developed by Linda Shenk and used in Jean, Stephanie, and Linda's climate action initiatives through the Women, Food and Agriculture Network.
(This image is Figure 3 from "Mind the Gaps!" See linked article.)
Above image: The Community Environment computer simulation model developed by Linda Shenk and used in Jean, Stephanie, and Linda's climate action initiatives through the Women, Food and Agriculture Network.
Connect with Jean, Stephanie, and Linda and learn more about their work:
Linda's email: shenk@iastate.edu
Stephanie's email: stephanie@wfan.org
Stephanie's phone (during work hours): 515-635-3276 extension #5
Jean: Reach out through Linda and Stephanie!