Gardening for Good: Shantell Bingham

Gardening for Good: Shantell Bingham

Madison House Alumna Discusses Food Justice

Shantell Bingham is Program Director of the Charlottesville Food Justice Network at City Schoolyard Garden, sits on the board of the Charlottesville Alliance for Black Male Achievement, chairs the Human Rights Commission and is a Dalai Lama Fellowship recipient.  That list is just a few of her achievements. The UVa graduate and North Carolina native goes to work every day with one goal in mind: end food inequality and make sure everyone in the community has access to healthy and nutritious food.

“Right now that’s not the case,” Bingham said. “People of low income and of color have less access to healthy food options than others, for a number of reasons. That needs to change. I’m part of a collaborative movement that can make that happen.”

RECORD NUMBER OF UVA SCHOLARS RECEIVE FULBRIGHTS

RECORD NUMBER OF UVA SCHOLARS RECEIVE FULBRIGHTS

Eight Madison House Volunteers Receive Fulbright Scholarships:

Shree Baphna

“I think of it as a way for me to understand the power and value behind immersion,” Baphna said. “My future career in public health may involve attempting to understand the experience of other people so that I can figure out what is the best way to help them access the resources they need. For that, I need to have knowledge on how to best communicate with them. More so than that, I must learn how to understand the people I am working with so as to respect who they are and where they come from.”

CLASS AWARDS PRESENTED AT VALEDICTORY EXERCISES FRIDAY

CLASS AWARDS PRESENTED AT VALEDICTORY EXERCISES FRIDAY

Corinne Singh, an anthropology major, received the Community Service Award. Early in her undergraduate career, Singh learned that the Charlottesville Free Clinic lacked clinicians to draw blood samples. In response, Singh trained for and earned a phlebotomy certificate and began volunteering weekly at the clinic, serving a critical need. She also has inspired fellow students to become involved with Madison House’s Special Olympics program and with the emergency department at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital.

“The Charlottesville community is healthier and better off thanks to her service,” [trustee Mariana Brazao] stated.