OhioMBE Business Profile: Coalescence
OhioMBE – December 15, 2014
When you think of food, what do you think about? Probably how good it tastes, or how is smells, and maybe how good the food looks. But, have you considered how the food got to your plate from where it was grown or processed? Or, what is the science behind the food? That’s where the George Washington Carver Food Research Institute steps in.
Co-Founded in 2012 by the CEO of Coalescence, Angela Cauley and Coalescence Senior Manager, Allyson Sharp, the non-profit was launched to providing educational training to children and their families, in the areas of sustainable food production and food science research, STEM education and agriculture, leadership and entrepreneurship/ job creation. Working via “Community Webs,” GWCFRI partners with other like-minded corporations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations to weave strong “threads” as a foundational support around youth.
Beyond providing instructional coaching and co-teaching in schools, GWCFRI facilitates a Future Food Pro Entrepreneurship camp. This 8-week immersion session was designed to identify educational “gaps” and to provide additional re-inforcement in the areas of science and technical writing in order to enrich students for the rigors of content area reading, as well as higher level mathematics and science classes in high school and beyond. Since its inception, GWCFRI also instructs ongardening techniques and the overall design, implementation and sustainability of school and community gardens.
Within the Linden community, students from Linden McKinley STEM Academy applied what they learned in the classroom to various food growing platforms, utilizing traditional nursery beds at Saint Stephen’s Community House, and spending one week at Fresh Harvest Farms, and Aquaponics Farm located in Richwood, Ohio. Aquaponics is a method used to grow fish and plants in eco-friendly, sustainable eco-system. Run-off water taken from fish growing in tanks is used as a food source for plants. Plants then act as natural filters to produce clean water that is recycled back to the fish tanks. The LMSA students built a model-scale Aquaponics system that was exhibited for two weeks during the 2013 Ohio State Fair. Students also participated in the 2014 Ohio State Fair demontrating their knowledge with visitors at the Agricultural & Horticultural Building. This also served as a platform to highlight their professionalism and work ethic.
We are thrilled that our partners have joined GWCFRI’s efforts to help empower the next generation of food professionals,” said Cauley. “It is an honor to play a role in sparking a food revolution and interest in agriculture. Sharp added, “The programs GWCFRI offer prepare students for academic, entrepreneurship and gainful careers in food science. More so, this exposure has the potential to break down generational poverty cycles and transform whole communities.”
For more information visit www.coalescencellc.com or call
(614)861-3639
