Written by Melissa Vatterott, Food and Farm Coordinator. Originally published in June 2015.
His Food Story: Brian Hurd is an advocate for local food policy and an expert in planning and zoning in the St. Louis area. He attended Melissa’s Food Study presentation at Gateway Greening on January 31, 2015 and afterwards suggested that Melissa become involved in the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Partnership, an initiative overseen by the City Health Department in response to Mayor Slay identifying obesity reduction as a priority in the City’s Sustainability Action Agenda. As a result, Melissa joined Brian as a member of the HEAL Partnership’s Access to Healthy Food Work Group.
In a professional capacity, Brian is the Technical Assistance Program Manager for Rise, “a leading nonprofit organization that connects key groups working to revitalize communities and neighborhoods in Greater St. Louis. Formerly Regional Housing and Community Development Alliance (RHCDA), Rise acts as a resource and partner to the community, bringing together nonprofit organizations, financial institutions and government that make successful neighborhood revitalization possible.” Brian also serves as a field instructor for Washington University’s George Warren Brown School of Social Work and is a member of the American Planning Association, where he is actively involved with local food systems planning in the Greater St. Louis region. Brian has been a strong ally in Melissa’s efforts to support local food policy initiatives in St. Louis.
Organizational Website: Rise