Summer intern assists COC with healthy statewide food strategy

Portland native Molly Cooney-Mesker has returned home from Boston this summer and is interning with COC. She is working with Associate Principal Bob Wise to expand upon COC’s previous regional food system planning work.  Her research is aimed at defining the potential and opportunity for a statewide healthy food strategy for Oregon. She is investigating the state of public health in Oregon, identifying the state’s approach to innovative “Oregon Story” strategic plans and gleaning information from successful healthy food initiatives in Oregon, the U.S. and possibly internationally.  Molly is working with Bob and other potential partners to develop ideas for Oregon’s next steps forward.

Molly comes to COC after finishing her first year at the Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning program at Tufts University. There she is focused on planning and designing for ecological democracy with an emphasis on landscape infrastructure and public space. With the food system at the intersection of our natural and built landscapes, Molly is excited about the potential for food reform to create more healthy, sustainable and resilient places. She graduated from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communications. Before going to graduate school, Molly worked at Maxwell PR, a Portland agency specializing in food and tourism public relations.