Tambra Raye Stevenson

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Tambra Raye Stevenson
Tambra Raye Stevenson WANDA CEO.png
Born
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
EducationCarl Albert High School
Alma mater Oklahoma State University (BS)
Tufts University School of Medicine (MPH)
Occupation(s)Nutritionist, public speaker, policy advisor, food justice activist
Known forFounder/CEO of WANDA and NativSol Kitchen

Tambra Raye Stevenson is an African-American entrepreneur, nutrition educator, public speaker, policy advisor, inventor, and food justice activist. Stevenson founded WANDA (Women, Advancing, Dietetics and Nutrition) [1] [2] [3] and NativSol Kitchen. [4] She is a Nutrition and Health Co-chair for the DC Food Policy Council, [5] a Committee member for the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board, [6] and was named National Geographic Traveler of the Year in 2014. [7] She is co-chair of Bringing It To The Table. [8]

Contents

Early life

Stevenson was raised in a multi-faith family. [9]

Stevenson earned a BS degree in nutritional science and minored in Spanish at Oklahoma State University in 2002. During that same year, she completed a Study Abroad Program in Community Health and Spanish Immersion at Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Dominican Republic as a Boren National Security Scholar. [10]

In 2004, she continued her education at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts achieving an MPH in health communications. [11] [12] Stevenson, through the University of the District of Columbia, Washington D.C., began a Didactic Program in Dietetics in 2012, [13] and completed a Dietetic Internship in 2014.

Currently, she is completing a Ph.D. program at American University School of Communication in Washington, DC. [14]

She is known for challenging Westernized diets that cause negative outcomes for women and girls of the African diaspora. [9] Through nutritional education, advocacy, government partnerships and cultural awareness, she focuses on building healthy, sustainable communities, foods, self care, and support for improved health outcomes. [7]

She was named a Change Maker, by Clean Eating magazine. [15] and 2021 UCS Science Defender, by the Union of Concerned Scientists. [16]

Career

She began a career in public service at the Minority Business Development Agency, US Department of Commerce; including the first Washington, D.C. Mayor's Office on Women's Policy and Initiatives. [11]

In 2016, she organized “Black Women Getting in Formation." [17]

In 2020, she organized WANDA Academy. [18] She is the author of a series of bilingual children's books on nutrition called Where's WANDA? which are illustrated by Nigerian artists. [19] [20]

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack selected Stevenson to serve on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board, 2021. [21] In 2022, she advocated for and authored a "Food Bill of Rights". [22] [23] In 2023 she appeared at the National Food Policy Conference . [24]

She is representative to the African Nutrition Society. [25]

Works

Honors and recognition

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References

  1. ↑ "Home". WANDA. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  2. ↑ "Tambra Raye Stevenson Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search". patents.justia.com. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  3. ↑ "A Career Dedicated to Building More Inclusive Food Systems". www.usda.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  4. ↑ "Healing and Transformation with NativSol Kitchen's Tambra Raye Stevenson - Cuisine Noir Magazine". 2015-02-08. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  5. ↑ "Team". Building a more equitable, healthy, and sustainable District food system. 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  6. ↑ "Industry Consumer, or Rural Interests | NAREEE Advisory Board". nareeeab.ree.usda.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  7. 1 2 3 "Traveler of the Year: Tambra Raye Stevenson -- National Geographic". Travel. 2014-10-08. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  8. ↑ "Les Dames d'Escoffier DC hosts biennial symposium". FOX 5 DC. 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  9. 1 2 Smith-Barrow, Delece. "Tambra Raye Stevenson: Mixing food, faith and black power to teach about health". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  10. ↑ "Women's Environmental Leadership Summit" (PDF). Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  11. 1 2 3 Stillwater, Oklahoma State University; Campus, OK 74078; Maps744-5000, Parking (2016-10-26). "OSU Diversity Hall of Fame to honor six - Oklahoma State University". news.okstate.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  12. ↑ "Member Profile: WANDA and Tambra Raye Stevenson – Food & Nutrition Innovation Institute" . Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  13. ↑ "Tambra Raye Stevenson: Mixing food, faith and black power to teach about health". washingtonpost.com. November 15, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Student Profile: Tambra Stevenson | American University, Washington, DC". www.american.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  15. ↑ Syeda, Anika A. (2021-02-20). "Meet the Changemakers: Tambra Raye Stevenson". Clean Eating. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  16. ↑ "2021 UCS Science Defenders | Union of Concerned Scientists". www.ucsusa.org. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  17. ↑ Johnson, Kandia (2016-03-02). "Join Black Women Getting in Formation to Advance Nutrition and Agriculture for International Women's Day". Black Enterprise. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  18. ↑ Feldman, Ella (2020-06-30). "Women Living in Wards 7 and 8 Can Now Enroll in a Free Health and Nutrition Class". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  19. ↑ Tarr, Tanya. "How This Millennial Founder Negotiates Global Farm-To-Table Relationships". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  20. ↑ "Transforming Nutrition: Empowerment, Innovation, & Advocacy". Food Tank. 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  21. ↑ "USDA Appoints New Members to Science and Research Advisory Board". www.usda.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  22. ↑ "Advocates pushing for the creation of 'Food Bill of Rights' to help guide policy decisions". KIRO 7 News Seattle. 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  23. ↑ "Student Profile: Tambra Stevenson | American University, Washington, DC". www.american.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  24. ↑ "Leading Women Address "Rethinking Our Approach to Hunger" at National Food Policy Conference". StreetInsider.com. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  25. ↑ "Tambra Raye Stevenson". African Nutrition Society. 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  26. 1 2 "NPHW: Racial Equity in Food & Nutrition". Office of the Provost. 2015-07-15.
  27. ↑ Colón-Ramos, Uriyoán; Monge-Rojas, Rafael; Stevenson, Tambra R.; Burns, Haley; Thurman, Shaneka; Gittelsohn, Joel; Gurman, Tilly A. (2018). "How Do African-American Caregivers Navigate a Food Desert to Feed Their Children? A Photovoice Narrative". Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 118 (11): 2045–2056. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2018.04.016. ISSN   2212-2672. PMID   29934282. S2CID   49386882.
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