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Show PERSONALITY Helps fagM poo? amteittiiom the SSalt Lake valley ANDREW ALDRIDGE see STAFF REPORTER Uses business degree to help those in need MEAGAN RUMPH STAFF REPORTER r I The Salt Lake City community has a new grief and bereavement resource j in The Golden Poppy, f a business opened by Westminster alumna Karen tI j Christopherson. 4 The Golden Poppy is a support group and resource for adults coping the death of a loved one. facilitates Christopherson a class each week that is formatted as a discussion V group, which focuses on a different topic or coping Karen Christopherson, owner of The Golden Poppy, holds one of the sugar skulls created method. at her Day of the Dead class. holds Christopherson the sessions in a shared experience at The Sharing space located in the Vitalize Place. I really want to affect Community and Healing Arts how we view death on change Studio in Sugar House. The and dying as a society. Golden Poppy classes just and Her personal began in October, but have experiences professional already covered topics such differentiates what are as nature-base- d rituals, stages The and Christopherson of grief, Day of the Dead Golden Poppy. celebrations and continuing Just three years after relationships with lost loved the death of her father, her ones. mother was diagnosed with wants Christopherson which spread to The Golden Poppy to be a lung cancer, her brain and bones. She died resource that offers a variety in 2012. While trying to cope of techniques and methods with the loss of both parents, for those dealing with death Christopherson struggled to and dying. find resources and support I have a vision of a more that fit her needs. holistic approach to the way for motivation My in which we encounter death, starting The Golden Poppy Christopherson states on her is that most of what I found website. wasnt speaking to me, idea The for The said. Golden Poppy was planted Christopherson As part ofher preparation, shortly after Christopherson Christopherson earned her graduated from Westminster Certificate in Thanantology, College in 2006. She majored the study of death, dying in business in order to pursue and bereavement, through managing and owning a The Association for Death restaurant, but her plans Education and Counseling in changed when her father 2013. suddenly died just six months with Combined her after she graduated. at The Sharing Her fathers death led her experiences as previous well as Place, to eventually volunteer at The d work in funeral Sharing Place, a grief support certificate adds planning, the group for children. to the breadth of knowledge While volunteering at The and experience she brings to Sharing Place, Christopherson The Golden Poppy. said she discovered that the The Golden Poppy, adult members of the families named for the association of were in need of support, as death, sleep and peace with well. Classes at The Sharing poppies, holds classes each Place are always full with a wait list of six months to a Thursday evening beginning at 6:15 p.m. Classes are open year to begin the program. to anyone and are free the first For Christopherson, the need time you attend. was obvious, as was her desire Find out more on The to help. Golden Poppys website at I wanted to emulate thegoldenpoppy.squarespace. something similar, only for com, or follow them on adults, Christopherson Facebook to stay said when talking about her on all of the class offerings. 1 f 1 I Hannah OBlock and Real Food Rising volunteers proudly stand in front of the 1.5 acre farm. In 2014, they harvested approximately 14,000 pounds of food. An acre and a half of land 80 percent of that to the and a group of motivated community, OBlock said. As farm manager, OBlock community members is all it takes to improve the lives of is responsible for more than the people in the Salt Lake planting and growing food. Hannah OBlock, A few of her duties include valley. Westminster alumna, is one of teaching high school students those motivated community how to farm, running volunteer members who has taught local groups and preparing the youth youth how to farm, eat healthier for employment in the future. We donate a lot of what we and obtain work experience. After graduating in 2014 grow to homeless shelters and with a degree in public health, food banks, OBlock said. They OBlock secured the farm also volunteer at the shelters. manager position at Real Food They serve food at the food Rising a program dedicated banks. They do more than just to food production, education, farm. food access, job training and and Environmental Center between building bridges communities, according to Organic Garden have also played the Utahns Against Hunger a role in helping OBlock secure the farm manager position at website. Its a community urban Real Food Rising. farm project where youth and Kerry Case and Monica adults are kind of brought Ferreira in the Environmental together to raise food as a Center were key to everything that I do now they were like my community, OBlock said. OBlock said she was moms, OBlock said. interested in getting people to During the summer of improve their health behaviors, 2013, OBlock interned for Real regardless of their financial Food Rising and worked with the creator of the program, Mike situation. People who cant shop at Evans. When Hannah applied Whole Foods can still purchase be the farm manager this organic food and , have access to to really healthy food, OBlock past winter, she had experience said. working at the Westminster Located adjacent to the Organic Garden and at a few Jordan River at Neighborhood other small farms, Evans said. Hannah has proved to been House, Real Food Risings 1.5 acre farm has produced over an exceptional farm manager. 14,000 pounds of produce She balances oversight of the in 2014 and has donated big picture of the farm with Westminsters managing the infinite details incredibly well. Evans praised O Blocks tireless work ethic and her initiative to solve problems whether its an irrigation leak or snail infestation. And above her all, positivity sets a wonderful tone for the whole farm, Evans said. Evans said he encourages Westminster to students and volunteer for apply Real Food Rising. internships at Real Food Rising loves collaborating with Westminster groups and students, Evans said. Volunteers dont have to have any prior knowledge about farming or gardening. We will teach you everything you need to know and guide you through the process. Students are not the only Westminster Community members that can take advantage of the farm. Faculty can also use our urban farm as an outdoor classroom to conduct soil tests, learn about compost, veggies, and fruit trees, to teach about nutrition, policy, literature, or as an art space, Evans said. If students, faculty or staff are interested in working with Real Food Rising, email Liz, the Real Food Rising volunteer elmore at coordinator, uah.org Check out www.uag. orgrealfoodrising for more information. 3 pre-nee- up-to-d- ate |