Keithlee Spangler

Keithlee graduated from Truman State University in northeastern Missouri with a degree in environmental ethics, with concentrations in outdoor education and sustainable agriculture. In college, Keithlee worked with after-school garden programs, taught environmental studies classes to her peers, worked in the “Communiversity” garden, and developed community garden projects to address food insecurity. She also organized to double SNAP benefit amounts at the local farmers market, developed a closed-loop food system for the campus co-op, apprenticed on local farms, and worked on a petro/electric-free homestead for two years. After graduation, Keithlee worked in a small intentional community in California with young people on a curriculum focused on peace, justice, and sustainability.

Field placement: Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s Earthworks Urban Farm

Detroit, Michigan

Keithlee developed an evaluation tool to strengthen the Earthworks Agricultural Training (EAT) program, an adult training program designed to help community members develop the skills they need to become active leaders in the local food system. She surveyed and interviewed community and EAT alumni about co-operative enterprises that could improve individual and community access to entrepreneurial opportunities.

Policy placement: RESULTS

Washington, D.C.

Keithlee worked on the U.S. Poverty Campaign Team to research and share information on anti-poverty policies, engage and train new advocates as leaders, build overall grassroots capacity, and support the national network of RESULTS volunteers. Her research focused on economic mobility and tax policies.

Hunger Free Community Report

Growing the EAT Program, A Community-Engaged Participatory Evaluation details the process and outcomes of the EAT program evaluation with key recommendations and strategies for staff to better support EAT alumni and improve future EAT classes.