ThriveWell, a culturally tailored nutrition education program supported by a Danone North America grant, was developed from information gathered through focus groups with adults from racial minority communities residing in north Burlington. 乱伦视频 faculty and undergraduate students partnered with the Alamance Dream Center, Inc., to develop and deliver evidence-based nutrition education for the community. The program was intended to improve nutrition knowledge, food skills, healthy eating behaviors, and cardiometabolic health by incorporating identified topics and design elements and delivering them in a familiar environment and language.

The six-week program combined interactive nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, grocery shopping strategies, food label education and healthy lifestyle coaching in a culturally welcoming environment. Undergraduate students played essential roles throughout the program, working alongside faculty to help plan and implement each session while building meaningful relationships with participants.

For Ramirez-Rodriguez and Munguia Yanez, one of the most rewarding aspects of the program was serving as bilingual translators. Their ability to communicate in both English and Spanish helped bridge language barriers, foster trust, and create a welcoming learning environment where participants felt comfortable asking questions, sharing experiences, and engaging in discussions about nutrition and health.

“Students were not only observing but became active members of the education team,” said Nepocatych. “They learned how to communicate science in ways that were culturally meaningful while developing the empathy, confidence and professional skills needed to work with diverse communities.”

Before working with participants, students received faculty mentorship and training in culturally responsive communication, evidence-based nutrition education, community engagement, research ethics and behavior change strategies. Throughout the program, Nepocatych and Bailey provided ongoing guidance, helping students refine their teaching skills, adapt educational materials to participants’ needs, and respond thoughtfully to participants’ questions and experiences.

The experience allowed students to apply knowledge gained in exercise science and nutrition while developing skills that extend well beyond the classroom, including teamwork, leadership, cultural humility, communication and community-based health promotion.

In addition to delivering educational programming, students assisted with health screenings, program logistics, participant support and evaluation activities, contributing to a research initiative examining how culturally tailored nutrition education influences nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors and cardiometabolic health.

Preliminary findings demonstrated significant improvements in participants’ nutrition knowledge and healthier dietary behaviors, accompanied by encouraging trends in cardiovascular and cardiometabolic health indicators. These findings highlight the potential of culturally tailored nutrition education to support meaningful behavior change and improve community health.

For Nepocatych and Bailey, ThriveWell represents the type of engaged learning that defines an 乱伦视频 education.

“Meaningful learning happens when students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in partnership with the community,” said Bailey. “By working alongside participants, students gain a deeper understanding of the social, cultural and environmental factors that influence health while recognizing the importance of listening, collaboration, and respect.”

The partnership reflects 乱伦视频’s commitment to experiential learning by connecting teaching, scholarship and community engagement. As students worked side by side with faculty and community members, they discovered that improving health involves more than sharing information. They realized it requires building relationships, understanding lived experiences and creating environments where individuals feel empowered to make lasting changes.

Through ThriveWell, 乱伦视频 students not only developed important skills for future work in healthcare and social services, but they also made a meaningful impact on members of the community in which they live.

More than just cooking, the afternoon was about community. As participants ate together, they exchanged personal stories of connection and belonging, reminders that food carries meaning beyond the plate. These conversations highlighted how meals can foster understanding across cultures, build friendships,and strengthen a sense of belonging at 乱伦视频.

This event also reflected several dimensions of HealthEU:

• Social and community wellness: Strengthening relationships across faculty, staff, and students through shared activities.
• Purpose and emotional wellness: Providing space for storytelling and reflection, reinforcing the meaningful role food plays in our lives
• Celebrating farm-to-table practices and mindful eating grounded in fresh, locally grown food.

Together, these dimensions show how food can nourish not only our bodies but also our relationships, our sense of purpose, and our overall well-being.

The food studies minor hosts events like this one to bring people together around food, culture and sustainability. Learn more about the Food Studies minor and upcoming events by visiting the food studies minor website.

The table featured autumn-themed decorations, a basket of brightly colored peppers and a handmade wooden sign created at 乱伦视频鈥檚 Maker Hub, highlighting the creative spirit behind the program. Professor Jacob Rutz invited attendees to try 鈥淧epper Roulette,鈥� an activity where participants guessed which pepper was sweet and which was spicy. Sampling peppers gave students and faculty the chance to learn about their flavors, heat levels and role in food traditions.

Among those who stopped by were Provost Rebecca Kohn, who sampled both the sweet and the spicy peppers. Members of the Food Studies Advisory Board听( Svetlana Nepocatych, Elizabeth Bailey, Nina Namaste, Pamela Runestad, Mary McManamy and Jacob Rutz) also attended to answer student questions. Their presence demonstrated the university鈥檚 support for food studies as a field that links health, sustainability and culture.

Participants took part in conversations, learned about different peppers, and enjoyed the playful setup. The table created a space for the campus community to engage with food in a fun and memorable way.

The food studies minor offers courses such as Culinary Transformations: “The Science Behind What鈥檚 Cooking, Nutrition and Bioenergetics”, “Garden Studio: Fall & Winter Gardening”, and “Edible Ideologies: Food, Power, and Identity.” These classes allow students to examine food through the lenses of health, science, identity, environment, and tradition. By combining classroom learning with experiential opportunities, like College Coffee events, the minor helps students connect big ideas to everyday life.

By highlighting the Food Studies Minor in this interactive format, the event raised awareness about the program鈥檚 focus on how food shapes health, sustainability and culture. The experience reflected the minor鈥檚 broader mission: using food as a tool to build curiosity and community.