National Office Blog

Logan Couce, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, first became curious about Nourish International when he saw students serving the weekly 'Hunger Lunch', UNC's most popular Nourish business venture. After speaking with a friend who had participated in Nourish's summer project in Latin America, Logan decided to become involved.

Logan with Sindhura Citineni, Founder of Nourish International, at Nourish's 2011 Summer Institute

Two things about Nourish International really sparked Logan's interest. First, the organization is totally run by the students. Students take the drivers seat in planning and implementing everything from on-campus ventures to summer projects abroad, allowing them to grow both professionally and personally. Second, is Nourish's capacity to be self-critical within the organization. Logan says, "As an undergraduate I saw many student organizations that, while possessing the best of intentions, frequently ran full steam ahead without ever stopping to question what unintended negative impacts were possible."  Logan feels it is important that the culture at Nourish promotes development of future leaders who have the experience and skills to think critically about the projects and their impacts.

Nourish International provided Logan with the opportunity to gain experience in developing and leading projects and organizations from the ground level up. In working through the process of taking something from idea to reality, Logan became skilled in everything from public speaking to partnership building, from writing to simply understanding how to effectively run a meeting. "The skills learned through my time with Nourish International were easily the most professionally valuable thing about my experience in college, and have served as a strong foundation in the working world," remarked Logan.

He also had the chance to work with dozens of passionate, hard-working and like-minded people, including both fellow students and our partners abroad. Logan says of his time working with Nourish on UNC's campus, "Lifelong bonds were formed, and those friendships and experiences played a big part in shaping who I am today."

Logan is currently splitting his time between developing and leading online fundraising campaigns for a youth development foundation in New Mexico, researching a few potential business and social ventures, and exploring options for graduate school. He would encourage students considering working with Nourish to jump in wholeheartedly. "The opportunity exists to learn and grow an incredible amount, and the bonds built in the process will be with you for life. You won't regret jumping in with both feet."

This week, NINO would like to recognize two of our wonderful Ventures Directors:  Hetali Lodaya from UNC and Kayla Gogarty from UCLA.

Kayla Gogarty – UCLA

What passions drives you and your work with Nourish International?
My passion for Nourish and the social entrepreneurship movement is rooted in the fact that it works. It's as simple as that. It is sustainable in every sense of the word, and there is no better feeling than knowing that every long hour of work you put in now, is building a strong foundation for future growth. Nourish makes it possible to connect with people and transform communities in a real and lasting way. Living in Guatemala this past summer to implement our project made me even more passionately dedicated to Nourish International because I saw our movement in action, and it really does work.

What is one of your favorite memories of working with Nourish?
Last year's thrift sale! Working closely with each member of our team to put together a big, brand new event was an amazing feeling as Venture Director. I was so proud of our team's organization and confidence! It was the first time we were able to engage hundreds of UCLA students into one venture, and every person who walked away from our event with recycled clothing and awareness of our project in Guatemala became part of the Nourish movement. The support we received from the national office and other Nourish Chapters was astounding, and it really inspired us to continue innovating new ideas as a chapter.

What career path are you interested in? How do you think Nourish will prepare you for that possible career?
I am currently applying to graduate schools to receive a master’s degree in Speech Pathology & Audiology. Eventually I will become a Speech & Language Therapist and work with children who have communicative disorders. In the future I hope to merge my intellectual interests with my passion for international development and bring comprehensive learning therapy centers to schools in developing countries. Nourish has shown me that leadership, resilience, creativity, and boundless energy are essential to creating lasting change in the world, and that is a lesson I will take with me in all of my future endeavors.

Hetali Lodaya – UNC

What passions drive you and your work with Nourish International?
Two passions drive my work with Nourish – the people and the model. Everyone at Nourish UNC is full of new ideas, enthusiasm, and a new perspective on the world. I have grown so much from knowing all of them thus far, and I love working with them each week! The model of Nourish – working through small communities instead of big top-down charities to drive change – is what initially attracted me to the organization. I think it is a step towards positive, powerful change, and I have really seen the potential that it has to succeed. With the combination of stellar people driving an impactful model, I think Nourish can have a huge voice in the conversation around sustainable development.

What is one of your favorite memories of working with Nourish?
Selling waffles in downtown Chapel Hill on a Friday night is a strange way to spend your time… but in Nourish, anything is possible. We ran the “Midnight Munch” Venture last fall and had a GREAT time talking to people walking up and down Franklin. I got to practice and perfect an elevator pitch that catered to a different audience than normal – and apparently it worked! When our waffle makers were struggling to keep up with demand, one couple walking by actually went back home and brought us their griddle to make pancakes with – they really appreciated what we were doing and were happy to support something innovative and impactful. What did YOU do last Friday night?

What career path are you interested in? How do you think Nourish will prepare you for that possible career?
I am interested in science policy, particularly the interaction between those developing the technologies for public health and safety – scientists, researchers, and engineers – and those with access to funding and responsibility for distribution – NGOs, businesspeople, governments, policy workers. I think that there is a HUGE communication gap that exists between these two groups – there’s not a lack of ideas in the world, only a struggle to implement them in the most effective ways. Nourish is a place where people of all academic backgrounds work together and really discuss the tough questions that need to guide both science research and policy analysis – I can practice those communication skills at every meeting!

Here at the Nourish International National Office we are excited to start off the year with several new interns! As we continue to grow as an organization interns play an integral role in helping us achieve our goals. Read on to learn more about the newest members of the Nourish team!

Laura Brush is a junior Public Policy and Global Studies major concentrating in Environmental Policy, Global Health & Environment, and Africa. At Nourish, she is a part of the Chapter Founders team and is working to establish new Nourish International chapters at colleges around the nation. She plans to get a Master's degree in Environmental Policy or Management and would love to work for an international governmental organization, specifically within the realm of food policy and sustainability.

Nandini Dhullipalla, a senior at UNC majoring in business administration with a focus in international business, serves as the business consultant team leader this spring. Her job involves managing a three-member team that works to analyze past, current and future revenue streams. Specifically, the team is exploring alternate revenue streams as well as more sustainable revenue streams for the Nourish headquarters. After she graduates in May, Nandini will be working for Deloitte Consulting in Washington D.C. as a business analyst and eventually would like to pursue a career in non-profit consulting or emerging markets consulting.

Ali Bathgate, a Colorado native, is a senior at UNC. She is an International Studies and Spanish double major with a minor in Entrepreneurship and has had the opportunity to study abroad in both Spain and Italy. Last summer she was one of 6 students selected by the Minor in Entrepreneurship Program to be a part of the NY Innovation Fellowship. She worked at an event planning firm and participated in weekly activities immersing her in the professional, cultural and social life of New York City. Ali enjoys skiing, nature, traveling and spending time with friends. Last fall, Ali was the event planning intern at Nourish International and worked on the successful 2^nd annual Masquerade Ball. Ali is continuing in the position for the spring, primarily focusing on the LoneRider Showdown scheduled for March 24th. 

Megan Koilparampil is a junior International Studies Major at UNC with a focus in international politics.  Megan is also joining the Nourish Team for her second semester as the Chapter Support Intern and could not be more excited to continue being a part of this organization of change makers.  Megan hopes to use the skills she learns at Nourish to continue on to graduate school in International Relations, and later hopes to make a difference in policy by using grassroots development as her foundation.  In her spare time, Megan enjoys traveling, watching films, making music, and reading.

Ashley Horne is a senior at UNC studying Global Studies and Spanish with a minor in Environmental Studies. She joined the Nourish International team this spring as the public relations intern and works to compile the monthly newsletter and post weekly to the National Office blog, among other tasks. After spending a summer in Kenya with the Amani Children’s Foundation and studying abroad in Spain, Ashley hopes to pursue a career that allows her to utilize her educational background and first-hand experience in international affairs and global politics. In her free time Ashley enjoys exploring new restaurants, traveling anywhere and just hanging out with friends!

Manchen Hao, a senior at UNC Chapel Hill, is interning with our business consulting team this spring. She is majoring in Economics with a double minor in Entrepreneurship and Mathematical Decision Science. Manchen was drawn to working with Nourish because of its goal to eradicate global poverty, an issue she feels passionate about. As an international student who has experience of living in and traveling to different places in the US, China, and Brazil, Manchen pays great attention to international economic development and inequality. In her spare time, Manchen enjoys watching movies, reading books, playing piano, and swimming.

 Minh Tang, a junior at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School, is currently studying abroad in Chapel Hill from his native Vietnam. He joined the Nourish International team this semester as a business consulting intern. Minh is pursuing his goal to work in the business side of the hospital industry and hopes to join a healthcare consulting firm after graduation. “My favorite reading list is about public health, especially how people track the sources of a health problem for a community,” he remarks. In his spare time, Minh enjoys reading, shopping for food and traveling, most recently visiting South Africa, Germany and Austria.

Gayatri Surendranathan is a sophomore Global Studies and Economics double major from Cary, North Carolina. She first got excited about Nourish when she joined the Ventures Committee last fall, and was inspired to do more within the organization. She is the Chapter Founders Team Leader this spring, and hopes to spread the movement to colleges all over America! She will spend her days at Nourish making calls, writing e-mails and encouraging college students to start Nourish International chapters on their campus. When she's not at Nourish, Gayatri will be working with Order of the Bell Tower as the Future Students Committee Chair. She will also continue to write articles for the Daily Tar Heel, read, write, and relax with friends.

Nourish students around the country have spent the past few months researching and selecting local, grassroots non-profits who are sustainably addressing poverty in their communities. Over the next few months the Nourish Chapters and international partners will work to develop appropriate projects for the students' skill level and time frame spent in-country. Nourish International is excited to announce a number of our upcoming summer 2012 projects!

The University of New Mexico - Project Amazonas

Project Amazonas works to provide basic health care and health education to Amazonian Communities, as well as to conserve the Amazon Rainforest.  The University of New Mexico Chapter will be teaming up with Project Amazonas to construct a health clinic and to educate the community on basic health information.  "It is the responsibility of the world to help", says Project Amazonas Doctor Garcia Meza.

http://www.projectamazonas.org/

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - FIPAH

FIPAH uses agro-ecology as a tool for development and conservation of resources.  In addition, by researching organic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and participatory plant-breeding, FIPAH is building resistance to climate change and developing farmer's food sovereignty.  The UNC chapter will be partnering with FIPAH to provide education and minor infrastructure construction services to communities in Honduras.

http://www.fipah.org/

Duke University - Fundación Runa

Fundación Runa focuses on three core areas: social empowerment, community development, and environmental management, by providing tools and resources to indigenous communities and farmers' associations working towards their vision of sustainable development in the Ecuadorian Amazon.  The Duke University Chapter is planning a project that touches all three of these core concepts.  The students will be teaching environmental workshops at the local elementary schools, and planting Guayasa in nurseries and plantations to later sell for a profit in order to boost the community's economic development.

http://www.fundacionruna.org/

Miami University of Ohio - Rural Agency for Sustainable Development (RASD)

In coordination with local government and other motivated organizations, RASD strives to alleviate poverty in the Buikwe, Mukono and Kayunga districts by improving the health and economic opportunities of these Ugandan communities.  Students will be expanding an internet café and teaching computer classes to primary school teachers to provide them with basic computer knowledge and skills.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rural_Agency_for_Sustainable_Development

Clear your calendars for March 24th and plan on attending the Lonerider Showdown benefiting Nourish International! Lonerider Brewing Company in Raleigh, NC is hosting a Western-themed party in Moore Square featuring great bands, craft beers, rare beers, a cornhole tournament, and a photo-booth. The best part is profits will support Nourish International in our mission to eradicate poverty by engaging students and empowering communities. Get ready to sport those cowboy boots!

Tickets go on sale January 20th. Don't wait until the last minute to purchase! Click here for more event details.

The University of Georgia's Alumni Association recently printed an article about the successes of the UGA Nourish Chapter.  "We were so excited to hear the recent news concerning the Nourish International Chapter here at the University of Georgia.  We have shared this exciting story through our blog on the UGA Alumni Association website", says UGA Alumni Association worker Kaelin Caldwell.  Keep up the good work UGA!

The article can be viewed here: http://www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/index.php/site/blog/12664

Chapters have the opportunity each month to compete to win a $50 prize for their Chapter that they may use for venture start-up capital, project finance, or something fun or special for their Chapter.  The challenges feature Ventures, Projects, awareness, marketing and more!

For December, individual Chapter members were invited to submit a blog post responding to the prompt "Why do you Nourish?".

December's winner is the University of New Mexico for the following blog post written by Felicia Alexander, co-Chapter Leader.

Recently, a promising young leader within our chapter organized a screening of the documentary The End of Poverty?. Following the film, a panel was set to lead a discussion about the injustices of global poverty and possible solutions to this complex problem. The panel was comprised of university faculty from various departments and—representing Nourish International—myself and my Co-Director Sam Waggoner. The talk was a great opportunity to spread awareness of both the stark reality of global poverty and of our organization’s approach to sustainable development as a poverty alleviation tool. Overall, I felt that, as student leaders, our message was well-received and encouraged students to educate themselves about this pressing issue and take action. Still, one girl, seated in the back row of the theater and hidden in shadow, called out, “Can anything we do really make a difference?" Having spent the past two years working with Nourish, my answer to her was a resounding “Yes”.

Nourish is unlike any other student organization I have ever come across in that its members are so actively engaged in bringing about change. It challenges students to develop, fund, and implement a sustainable development project in a year’s time, exposing them to the real-life challenges that anyone in the field must face. It calls for students to inform themselves, their universities, and their communities about global poverty and to encourage others to support their mission and other like-minded endeavors. Moreover, its approach is unique in that its projects are community-based and collaborative, ensuring that our efforts address the needs of impoverished communities while not imposing any undue harm.

I Nourish because I am action-oriented and I can see the product of my work in the impact of our projects. These initiatives transform the abstract notion of “making a difference” into a reality for student participants. The “community we will help” becomes a list of names, faces, memories—life stories that can take a turn for the better through our projects. “Global poverty” itself becomes humanized, no longer an abstraction. Over the past two years, my measure of success in terms of poverty alleviation has changed. Powerful change can come from small victories. Every dollar donated to our projects represents the potential for a greater impact and one more convert to our cause. I Nourish for what we do and the way we do it. I Nourish for those small victories.

This week, NINO would like to recognize three of our fantastic International Project Directors: Merek Kesser from the UC Davis Chapter, Jenna Greve from the University of Miami Chapter, and Elizabeth Sherril from the University of Tennessee Chapter.

Merek Kesser  

What makes you passionate about Nourish? Developing sustainable projects in conjunction with a community abroad makes me very excited and passionate about Nourish.  I think that Nourish has a great and important cause and  I really enjoy the student and community aspect and involvement with Nourish.

What is one of your favorite memories of working with Nourish? One of my favorite memories is the fist Strides For Change 5K race that the UCD chapter put on in Spring 2010. We had a great turnout and a lot of fun as a chapter at the event.

What career path are you interested in? How do you think Nourish will prepare you for that possible career? I am interested in a career path related to sustainable development and I think that Nourish really embodies the ideals of sustainable development. Therefore I think it is a great stepping stone and source of experience for my career interests in the future.

Jenna Greve

What makes you passionate about Nourish?  I am passionate about helping and interacting with people. I love that I can take so much from these experiences and still be giving at the same time. I am dedicated to trying my best to influence everyone I meet in a positive way and gain a positive influence from them. I love the balance of interactive relationships which you see so much of in Nourish.

What is one of your favorite memories of working with Nourish?  I think my favorite experience in Nourish was when I was actually in El Salvador to implement our project last year. It was really great seeing all the hard work come together. The experience and awareness of living with a group of people that were so different and yet fundamentally similar to myself was one of the most eye opening experiences I have had.

What career path are you interested in? How do you think Nourish will prepare you for that possible career?  I am pursuing a career in medicine. Nourish has and still is developing leadership skills and cultural experiences that diversify my understanding of the world. This will help me understand a wide range of patients views which will lead to better patient care. I also plan on working abroad and my experience working with foreign organizations is invaluable to my future work in sustainable health care abroad. Nourish has helped me develop into a more well rounded individual which is essential to any career path that will be highly interactive like a career in medicine is.

Elizabeth Sherril

What passions drive you and your work with Nourish International?  Basic health is a fundamental key to a happy, successful life. I am passionate about eliminating disparities and assisting others in reaching this attainable level of health through service done in a sustainable, responsible way. Nourish International allows me the opportunity to practice this passion and be a part of a global service movement with a lasting, empowering impact.

What is one of your favorite memories of working with Nourish?  At the start of this school year, current members of the UTK chapter gathered together at a local, environmentally-conscious restaurant to discuss the past summer's project and our plans for the coming year. As founding members of our young chapter, we had worked together for the past year to understand and carry out Nourish's mission. As group members around the table recounted stories of their summer working in Uganda and their experience at the summer institute, the excitement in the air was almost tangible. The progress we had made was inspiring us to have an even greater impact in the year to come. We were all grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of such a positive mission.

What career path are you interested in? How do you think Nourish will prepare you for that possible career?  My undergraduate major is nutrition with the intent to pursue medicine and public health. I wish to become a physician with skills not only for treating individual patients but also for being involved in the development and application of health solutions for the population as a whole. Nourish has helped prepare me for this by bringing my humanitarian awareness to a greater level and giving me the opportunity to lead through service and cooperation.

Chapters have the opportunity each month to compete to win a $50 prize for their Chapter that they may use for venture start-up capital, project finance, or something fun or special for their Chapter.  The challenges feature Ventures, Projects, awareness, marketing and more!

For November, Chapters submitted a short paragraph on a marketing campaign implemented by their Chapter during this semester.  Entries were judged on aesthetics, the effectiveness of the campaign, use of campus resources, and the campaign’s innovative tactics.

November's Winner is The University of Kansas Chapter for "Gorilla Marketing"!

To promote our “Hunger is Scary Costume Sale” for Halloween, two of our Exec Board members walked around campus in Gorilla suits, handing out fliers about our costume sale. We got a lot of attention from those who otherwise may not have heard about Nourish. One of our Gorillas actually wore a Nourish International T-Shirt, so we got our name out even more.  The gorillas started out in front of the Union and walked down the main boulevard until they got to Wescoe Beach, a major gathering place on campus. On the way, many people stopped to take pictures with the gorillas, resulting in an unknown number of pictures being posted to Facebook with a Nourish International T-Shirt. This was a highly innovative and visible tactic. It’s hard to ignore a pair of gorillas on campus.

Congratulations to the University of Kansas!  For December's Chapter Challenge, individual chapter members are invited to submit a blog post responding to the prompt: "Why do you Nourish?"

One of the core skills of an entrepreneur is drawing from his or her unique surroundings to create a marketable opportunity.  Some of our chapters have taken full advantage of this concept by participating in school traditions and using them as a platform to execute ventures and spread awareness about Nourish.

Krispy Kreme Tailgate
Taking advantage not only of the tailgating tradition at Wake Forest, but also the appetite for the delicious glazed doughnuts, the Wake Forest Chapter sold Krispy Kreme Doughnuts to tailgaters before football games this semester. This venture further tapped into the local culture as Wake Forest is located in Winston-Salem, the birthplace of Krispy Kreme.

Naked for Nourish
In it's first year, the Rice University Nourish chapter tapped into an old school tradition in which students cover their naked bodies with shaving cream and run around campus.  This new Nourish Chapter harnessed this eccentric and amusing tradition into their first fundraiser.  The Chapter created a donation competition within the colleges of Rice in which the colleges nominated people to do the naked run and competed to raise the most money.

The Last Dinner
The University of Texas and Texas A&M have a legendary rivalry for which the University of Texas hosts annual pep rallies before games.  On the day of their last conference football game against Texas A&M this semester, the University of Texas Chapter sold food at a booth at the pep rally. In addition, the Chapter amusingly dressed someone up as an Aggie, and pep rally attendees paid money to throw pies at the "Texas A&M Aggie".

Nourish thrives on expressions of entrepreneurial spirit such as these. We encourage all of our chapters to take advantage of the local cultures of their universities and integrate Nourish's work into their timeless college traditions.