by Beckie Lies is a Community Wellness Coordinator (CWC) with Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program (NEP). The Purdue Extension NEP is the primary State Implementing Agency (SIA) for SNAP-Ed in Indiana, which is the nutrition education program associated with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP-Ed is designed to help Hoosiers who are eligible for SNAP make the healthy and easy choice when it comes to buying and cooking food. As the primary SIA, Purdue Extension employs and manages staff to conduct SNAP-Ed programming. SNAP-Ed programming involves both direct nutrition education and policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change efforts. The PSE efforts are driven by Community Wellness Coordinators.
Describe your organization and role
I am a Community Wellness Coordinator in Marshall and St. Joseph Counties in Northern Indiana. I have been in this role for 7 years! In this role, I work with community partners to understand the needs of the community and use policy, systems, and environmental change (PSE) solutions to address the health and well-being of disproportionately served communities or populations. This involves identifying needs alongside disproportionately served communities and tailoring solutions to address those needs.
What are two projects and/or partnerships that have been impactful in the work you do?
- Partnership with WIC: The partnership that we have with our local WIC office has been very fruitful. We work with the WIC office to provide a Double Up program at farmers markets for their clients so they can receive more fruits and vegetables during the summer. The WIC staff are on site at the farmers market and serve as a guide and a familiar face to the clients. The clients are so appreciative of having nutritious snacks and meals for their kids. We are also able to build partnerships with local farmers and markets that might not have otherwise been built outside the farmers market space. This partnership is impactful for me personally because I started my career as a WIC nutritionist. I have a passion for the WIC program, and I love seeing clients have access to nutritious foods.
- Assisting on grants with community partners: Another aspect of my job that has been impactful is the opportunity to bring grant funding proposals to my community partners. Our community partners are embedded so deeply in the work they do that applying for and managing grants can seem very daunting. In my role, I can help make the process more manageable by collecting data and researching projects and ideas that have worked well in the past. I love being able to lean on my fellow CWCs and statewide networks like SNAC to make connections and get ideas to make community partners’ dreams become realities!
What is the most interesting/intriguing part of your role?
The most interesting part of my role is learning how to navigate the role of community coach. I love cheering local communities and community organizations on as they learn more about how to provide safe and healthy environments for their neighbors. One thing that you might not know about Community Wellness Coordinators is that we must keep different pairs of shoes in our cars/mobile offices! Often, we meet with community partners who might need assistance in a garden or doing a walk audit on different trails and sidewalks. I’ve been caught in heels when I needed to go help in a garden and learned quickly that I needed to always keep spare shoes with me. Having a mobile office is a must when you are out and about as much as we are in local communities.
What is the “why” behind what you do?
I have always had a passion for helping others and for the field of public health. Within my work, I build connections and work with organizations to turn dreams for their communities, neighbors, family and friends into a reality. In the long-term, I do this work to create a better future for my children. Helping craft a community that I would want my children to grow up in is a large part of my “why”.
Is there anything I haven’t asked that would be helpful for SNAC members to know or any questions you have for the larger group?
- Always assess and accept an organization’s readiness for change – We need to meet organizations where they are at and not where we expect them to be related to outcomes or programming. We are a guide for the community organizations, if they express a need for our services.
- This work is all about relationships and showing up – Being reliable and presenting yourself as a trustworthy person goes a long way.
- Always evaluate your work- Involve the evaluation of a project or plan at the beginning of the process and circle back to that process at the end. I like to meet with communities after projects and ask them what went well, what didn’t go well, and what would you change in the future?