ASD has a new website! Visit: www.asdevelop.org and tell us what you think. 

 asdlogo

Look for the FREE 2016 Local Food Guide at farmers markets, local health food stores, restaurants and more at the end of February!!

 ASD plans for a collaborative year, announces new board members and officers

With a commitment to cross-sector partnerships that deepen collective impact in the region, ASD names new chair and vice-chair to its 2016 board of directors and adds public health care professional and local college student.

Kathlyn Terry, ASD Executive Director explains, “Because of our regional footprint and the challenges we address (creating jobs in agriculture to fight poverty and increase food access to improve health and wellness), a board of directors that consists of a consortium of health care, university, corporate, governmental and local business partners allows all interested parties to have a voice and really work together, to be able to invest and benefit from the results.”

Jake Harris, Citizen’s Bank Vice President, has been nominated as 2016 Board Chair. Dr. Theresa Burriss, Director of the Appalachian Regional & Rural Studies Center at Radford University, has been nominated as Vice-Chair. Both will serve one year terms.

Harris comments, “In my opinion, preserving and reviving an overall culture that values local farmers and local food might be the most important thing we do for the next generation. I want to be sure that we’re creating a sustainable working model for ASD so that we can be confident that our good work continues.”  Burriss adds, “I’m fortunate to be part of an organization dedicated to improving east TN and southwest VA in thoughtful, sensitive ways. As ASD continues to evolve, grow, and respond to the needs of our communities, I hope to contribute to the visioning process and collaborate with both the staff and board to strengthen and further our mission.”

Deborah L. Slawson, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.N, Associate Professor & Chair of the ETSU College of Public Health, DrPH Program Coordinator, Department of Community and Behavioral Health will join the board for a three-year term. Bree Cassidy, a junior at King University with an interest in environmental law, will serve an honorary one-year term.

Appalachian Sustainable Development is dedicated to its mission to grow food, communities and opportunities to build a thriving Appalachia. For over 21 years, ASD has served: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wise counties in southwest Virginia and Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Sullivan, and Washington counties in northeast Tennessee.  ASD operates 10 programs in 3 sectors: sustainable agriculture/food system development, sustainable forestry and food access.  For more information, visit www.asdevelop.org, facebook or twitter.