News Archives - 2006

Since its inception in 2003, the Campus Kitchen at Augsburg College (CKAC) has been a wholly owned pilot program of the Campus Kitchens Project, a national non-profit organization based in Washington, DC. This semester, though, Augsburg decided to take full ownership of CKAC. This gives the college full control of CKAC’s direction and will allow us to tailor our programming to more fully serve the needs in our immediate community. In addition, it is a clear message that we are fully committed to the vital work of being an engaged and compassionate neighbor.

Leading the way on this new venture is Rachel Vallens, coordinator. Vallens is a recent graduate of Carleton College, and comes to Augsburg with a passion for community service, social justice, student empowerment, and environmental sustainability.

“The idea of the Campus Kitchens Project is something I want to be a part of,” Vallens said. “I enjoy cooking and have always been interested in sustainability. This is a way to put them together and build community.”

Vallens is also excited about the emphasis Augsburg places on its common work. “I’m impressed by the commitment to service and social justice on this campus. There’s a lot of interest in collaboration for the greater good, which is great.”

She added that she is also excited about the prospects of involving more and more of the Augsburg community in the Campus Kitchen’s operations. Taking her cue from the inaugural theme, she asserts that “these ideas embody the Campus Kitchen: we use our abundance to make connections with the community so that we can work together to alleviate hunger.”

If you would like to get more information on group or individual opportunities to make an impact with the Campus Kitchen, please contact Rachel in the Center for Service, Work and Learning at x1624 or vallens@augsburg.edu.