Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University Office of Multicultural Affairs will discuss “Transitioning from the Unreal to Reality” during its fall installment of the Something to Chew On series, beginning at noon, Tuesday, Oct. 5, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center, Room 3.101.

The open discussion will focus on current college students returning to campus in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, how the pandemic affects students’ mental state and how it alters the way they live their lives. Students also will discuss what they have learned throughout the pandemic and what they believe needs to be resolved in the world.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is changing us all,” said Veronica Beavers, OMA director. “By providing this space for discussion, we can learn from each other and how to move forward. Our goal is to educate participants while also encouraging them to gain new perspectives on various issues.”

In lieu of a speaker, two OMA student ambassadors, Chinye Nwaobi and La-meria Seriale, will facilitate the open discussion. The event is free and open to the public. Snacks will be provided.

Held each semester, Something to Chew On is an open dialogue and interactive activity that focuses on topics of concern to the local and global community.

Those interested in attending virtually can do so on Instagram Live at omasfa1991. If special accommodations are needed, fill out an accommodations request form at https://forms.sfasu.edu/multicultural/accommodations-request.html.

For more information, contact the OMA at (936) 468-1073 or by email at multiculturalcenter@sfasu.edu. To see OMA’s slate of fall events, visit sfasu.edu/oma.

By Nathan Wicker, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University

The student jazz bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will present their fall fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, at Fredonia Brewery in downtown Nacogdoches.

“Swingin’ at the Brewery” will feature the Swingin’ Axes, directed by Dr. Deb Scott, and the Swingin’ Aces, directed by Dr. J.D. Salas. New this fall is a third student jazz ensemble, Swingin’ Jacks, directed by Dr. Jacob Walburn, which will also perform.

“This is the first time in the history of SFA that there have been three full jazz bands,” Scott said, “and this will be the Swingin’ Jacks’ premiere performance.”

“Swingin’ at the Brewery” will feature works by Gordon Goodwin, Chick Corea and other jazz greats.

Food options will be available from Casa Del Bayou food truck and the brewery’s Rebellion Pizza.

Donations for the School of Music’s jazz program will be accepted at the event.

Fredonia Brewery is located at 138 N. Mound St. For additional information, contact the School of Music at (936) 468-4602 or the brewery at (936) 305-5125.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Human Sciences and the East Texas Food Bank in Tyler are partnering in an effort to help curb high levels of food insecurity in East Texas through a six-week Cooking Matters program.

Since 1993, the Cooking Matters campaign has taught families and caregivers with limited food budgets to shop for and cook healthy meals. This is the sixth year the university has partnered with the food bank to provide the informative and interactive program to the community.

The East Texas Food Bank is a nonprofit organization that distributes food to more than 200 partner agencies in an effort to feed children, the working poor and seniors throughout 26 counties in East Texas.

Justin Pelham, food, nutrition and dietetics clinical instructor at SFA, uses the national program as an opportunity for his SFA students to practice their newfound skills in a real-world environment.

“The Cooking Matters program serves dual purposes for SFA students and the Nacogdoches community,” Pelham said. “Students get to practice real-world applications within a national program to help build their hard and soft skills. People in the community benefit, too, as these services are completely free, and each person walks away with added nutrition knowledge, hands-on cooking instruction and a free bag of groceries or incentives each week.”

According to Pelham, data indicates one-in-three people in Nacogdoches live in poverty. The Cooking Matters program is student led, with students rotating through different job roles during the six-week classes. Series participants will be Nacogdoches residents or those receiving services from the Helping Other People Eat Pantry in Nacogdoches.

The class will provide a 30 to 45-minute component of hands-on nutrition education with a designated topic. Then, this information is translated into the kitchen to make a meal that is budget mindful and incorporates whole foods, herbs and spices.

Kinsey Jeffers, nutrition education manager with the East Texas Food Bank, along with her colleague, Alexis Hernandez, spoke to Pelham’s class via Zoom on Monday.

“Cooking Matters has a number of recipes that are healthy and budget friendly, so each week of the first four weeks participants will prepare a meal together, and essentially assign each person a task or two to help contribute to that recipe,” Jeffers said. “Then, participants eat the meal together, and whatever is made in class, every participant will be sent home with the ingredients to make that meal.”

In the final two weeks of the program, participants will take part in a grocery store tour and challenge where they are given a $10 gift card and asked to find ingredients for a meal to feed four people with all five food groups represented. The sixth week will be a celebration potluck.

The program will take place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for six consecutive Mondays from Oct. 4 through Nov. 8 at the Human Sciences North Building, Room 201, on the SFA campus.

For more information, contact Pelham at (936) 468-5892 or pelhamjd@sfasu.edu.

By Nathan Wicker, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University