Chatham University Center for Regional Agriculture, Foodways, and Transformation Collection

The Center for Regional Agriculture, Foodways, and Transformation (CRAFT) was established at Chatham University in 2017 in specific association with the university’s Falk School of Sustainability and Food Studies Program.  Founded in 1869, Chatham University is a fully coeducational institution with graduate and undergraduate programs in sustainability, health & wellness, business & communications, and the arts & sciences.  The Falk School of Sustainability was founded in 2010 and is based at Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus. CRAFT provides resources, learning opportunities, and technical assistance on food systems, regional food cultures, and sustainable economies to individuals, organizations, and businesses. CRAFT collects and shares research on regional food systems; provides resources for advocates, practitioners, and policy makers; communicates information supporting global recognition of regional food systems; coordinates and supports collaborative stakeholder activities and outreach; and educates, trains, and supports skilled workers necessary for a transformative food system. In addition to leading community events focused on regional foodways and food systems, CRAFT provides support for local farmers, food businesses, and entrepreneurs through the Food and Agriculture Innovation Lab; collects and makes available data grounding food system analysis and regional food and agriculture programming through The Pittsburgh Food Shed; and collects and makes available oral history interviews through the Western Pennsylvania Foodways Collection.  CRAFT is staffed by Alice Julier, Director, Cassandra Malis, Project Manager, Cynthia Caul, Outreach Coordinator who coordinate among additional staff and graduate students from Chatham’s Falk School of Sustainability.

Note written by Molly Tighe