The CHL Alaska team introduces their Project Coordinator, Ms. Amelia Sikes! As the project coordinator, Ms. Sikes works along Alaska’s Lead co-investigator, Leslie Shallcross, in understanding the grant goals and timeline, keep track of important tasks to move the project forward. She is an exceptional communicator and event planner to keep data organized while juggling grant activities.
Ms. Sikes enjoys being a cheerleader for CHL with her positive energy and hopefulness to improve children’s health in Alaska. She has previously worked as an educator for summer camps and afterschool programs, teaching kids about the environment and where food comes from. Ms. Sikes see the value in devoting one’s energy to improve the lives of children through fostering a healthy connection with food. “It is good to be working on that again in my professional life.”
With her bachelors in natural resources management, Ms. Sikes has worked in many professions across the community and environment fields. The hodgepodge of professions includes an environmental educator, mental health technician, environmental quality stream survey technician, and forestry technician. “I would say my area of expertise is in ecology and food systems.”
As she continues to grow and develop in her profession, Ms. Sikes hopes to keep working on projects that engage the community and promote connection and care for the environment. “I want to focus on helping communities build healthy food systems and helping individuals have a healthy perspective about food to live healthier lives and create healthier communities.” Ms. Sikes has a beautiful home with a bed and breakfast, forest trails, chickens, a greenhouse, and many gardens that hopes to use as a venue one day to facilitate her passion in educating and connecting people with where food comes from and the beautiful nature of Alaska.
When she isn’t improving the health of children in Alaska, Ms. Sikes is a devoted dog mom, an enthusiastic gardener, a forest frolicker, and takes family time and food seriously with family dinners every Sunday. She is an aurora watcher, fisher person, berry picker, and extremely excited to connect with the great state of Alaska. “Every year I grow a lot of food, which I thoroughly enjoy come harvest season. My favorite thing is to make tomato soup from the abundant tomatoes I grow in my greenhouse. I also really enjoy growing flowers and arranging them into beautiful bouquets for my family and friends.” Last year, Ms. Sikes’ green thumb led her to grow over $1,000 worth of food from her gardens and greenhouse. Way to grow girl!!!
Thank you for being part of the CHL team, Ms. Sikes and we look forward to your growth in food systems!