Meet Sammy: L2T’s New Food Security Coordinator

We would like to introduce you to a new member of the L2T team, Sammy Blair!

Sammy is stepping into the position of Food Security Coordinator for L2T in collaboration with United Way BC. This role is key to the North Okanagan Regional Community Food Hub initiative and will support L2T local food procurement projects as well as some organizational development work that we hope to undertake this winter.

Sammy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and English Literature from Colorado College (2016) which led her to pursue an early career in writing and journalism. She has lived in many places around the world working with different communities to tell their stories with a focus on the outdoor industry and food systems. Then, after volunteering for a year as an AmeriCorps with the Montezuma School to Farm Project in Southwest Colorado, Sammy realized she wanted to focus on creating more equitable food systems beyond just writing. Sammy has worked for various gleaning, food security, conservation, and food education organizations and farms to understand the operational side of food systems.

In August 2022, Sammy finished her Master of Science Research in Integrated Land and Food Systems program at the University of British Columbia (UBC). During her time at UBC, Sammy led a two-year research project on food literacy and BC’s school farms in a community-based project with local food system and education stakeholders. She also worked as a research assistant on an Indigenous heart health project where Squamish Nation women came together to design a foraging and forest walk program to promote health in their community.

Sammy is excited to bring together her operations, research, communications, and education backgrounds to continue building a food security network with the residents of the North Okanagan. She looks forward to centering community needs and ideas to promote economic and environmental sustainability and a more accessible and just local food system.

Welcome Sammy!