Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation Launches New Food Innovation Center

[Sherman A1]

ST. LOUIS– The newly created Jackie Joyner-Kersee Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Innovation Center (JJK FAN) will host a kick-off ceremony, tour, and ribbon cutting onMonday, April 11 at 2:30 PM at the JJK Center, 101 Jackie Joyner Kersee Circle, East Saint Louis, Il 62204. The mission of the JJK FAN Center is to provide quality youth and community programs in STEAM+Ag, food production, nutrition, and physical activity in East St. Louis and beyond. The JJK FAN Center is a unique public-private partnership between the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and University of Illinois Extension.

The JJK Foundation recently acquired a 12,000 ft² office facility through a generous donation from Landsdowne Up. This facility will be used to house JJK Foundation and JJK Winning in Life staff, the University of Illinois Extension Illinois Nutrition Education Program, and Danforth Center’s JJK FAN Center staff. Over time, the five-phase build-out will include indoor and outdoor urban agriculture demonstration sites, as well as space for youth and community members to engage in hands-on trainings and certification programs related to growing food, ag innovation, and nutrition for improving health and performance.

“Education and opening endless opportunities for youth in STEAM-Ag in East St. Louis is at the core of this collaboration. Even though we’re three individual organizations, we sync and work as one,” said Olympic Gold Medalist and Founder & CEO of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

The idea for the JJK FAN Innovation Center was inspired by Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s life experiences starting as a youth growing up in East St. Louis. Her out-of-the-classroom educational experiences helped her navigate her journey as both an Olympic athlete and community leader who now influences more than 200 youth in East St. Louis every day.

https://www.riverbender.com/articles/details/jackie-joynerkersee-foundation-launches-new-food-innovation-center-57954.cfm

[Bayard]

1. Jackie continues to be a role model

And hero.

I was able to see her compete at the track and field Olympic trials in Indianapolis. We had good seats, and when my friend yelled, "Go Jackie!", she turned and gave us that famous grin and a wave.