Organizations Fighting Hunger

Description:

The ISU Community Design Lab partners with communities and organizations to combine local knowledge and design research expertise to create equity and resilience through inclusive, transferable, innovative strategies and tactics.  They are a partnership between Iowa State University College of Design and the Office of Extension and Outreach.  The Lab encompasses many fields of expertise including landscape architecture, architecture, sustainable agriculture, community and regional planning and community engagement.  Their primary areas of focus include: health and wellness, infrastructure and prototypes and community revitalization. 

Partnership with communities is the foundation of their work; while they bring professional expertise and research-driven methodology to the table, the local knowledge and decision-making provided by their community partners is essential. 

The Agricultural Urbanism Toolkit is a program that was created through a Leopold Center Grant in 2014 at the Community Design Lab.  Currently, they are developing local and regional food system plans in three Iowa communities: Cedar Rapids, Cresco and Des Moines.  The toolkit process was created to assist in decision making and design for local and regional food systems using agricultural best management practices or tactics. The toolkit promotes public interest design through engagement and networking with community leaders in efforts to build a holistic food system that is uniquely designed for each community. This toolkit uses agricultural urbanism tactics (i.e. school gardens, farmers markets, and food hubs) as a strategy to promote local food system revitalization in communities.

How to Help:

Communities or organizations who are interested in participating in the process of the Agricultural Urbanism Toolkit can contact the ISU Community Design Lab to learn more: isucdl@iastate.edu.

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