July SNAC Spotlight- Marcia Sweet, Marketing and Communications Specialist, Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program (NEP)

The Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program is the largest implementing agency for the Indiana SNAP-Ed program. Nutrition Education Program Advisors (NEPAs) provide nutrition education in SNAP-eligible communities and Community Wellness Coordinators (CWCs) support healthy living initiatives in counties across Indiana.

Marcia Sweet (sweet10@purdue.edu) came across her position at Purdue Extension through a winding road of opportunities. With degrees in journalism, English, and Human Services, Marcia worked as a reporter for many years before becoming a stay-at-home-mom. Once her kids entered school, Marcia worked as a librarian and then a local credit union representative. The credit union position was the worst job she ever had, but it revealed her passion for providing education and presenting information.

Describe your organization and role.

I joined Purdue Extension in 2016 as a NEPA. I taught nutrition education to kids and adults in northwest Indiana. In 2021, I was blessed with this position, which leverages all of my skills and experiences. I use these skills to tell my team’s story.

I am the Marketing and Communications Specialist with Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program. I consider myself the megaphone for my team. I tell stories about how Purdue Extension works in a variety of communities. I do this by creating content for all of our social media accounts, writing weekly newsletters, and submitting success stories to whoever will read them! I also put a lot of energy into sharing our stories within our own agency. Since we serve all 92 counties, our team members might not know what other team members across the state are doing.

What are projects and/or partnerships that have been impactful in the work you do?

There is not one specific partnership that I can point to because we are involved in so many communities across the state. It is like trying to identify which is the most important artery in the body – they are all needed! The goal of NEP is to improve health, spark curiosity, share knowledge, and develop vision within communities. Communities then embrace the ideas they identified and take ownership of the initiative. For example, I visited a community garden in Tippecanoe County that has been sustained by the neighborhood years after the CWC who started the initiative relocated. It was then that I discovered the long-term impact of our program. They realized the value of that garden and nurtured it. Ultimately, we don’t want it to be about NEP. We want it to be about those communities

What is the most interesting part of your role?

I love going into communities and talking to our participants. My position is very theoretical. I create marketing materials, imagining how our program will impact lives. But, when I go into communities, I see our program’s impact for myself. For example, I interviewed a woman who participated in our maternal health food prescription program. She has two teenagers who were not engaged with their health. But once the woman signed up for the program, their whole household shifted! The teens started waiting by the door for the produce boxes, cooking, and following along with the educational videos. Those talks better inform my view of the impact of this program.

What is the “why” behind what you do?

I do what I do for healthier kids and families. When I was a NEPA, I had a student at an East Chicago school who was more reserved. He took home the family tip sheets I passed out and read them with his family. He and his dad started following those sheets. They joined a gym and started working out together. Over the next six weeks, I saw this young boy grow! His endurance improved, he lost weight, he got better at sports, and he tried new and more nutritious foods. After the program, he was a different kid! The dad lost 20 pounds! If nutrition and physical activity education can change someone’s life like that, then our lessons are worth teaching to every person in Indiana.

Is there anything else SNAC members should know?

We are willing to speak to any organization about our programming. We have been doing this for almost 30 years and I am constantly amazed at how many people don’t know about us. We joke that Purdue Extension NEP is the best kept secret in Indiana. But, I don’t find that joke funny at all. We change lives!

We are offer cooking demonstrations and partnerships for public health initiatives and programming. We are happy to share literature as well. We want people to know that a healthier community is within reach and we can help when needed! I hope SNAC members continue to share and engage as well. We love learning more about what is being done across the state.