It is always hard to say goodbye to our AmeriCorps members after we get to know them and work with them for close to a year. Last week Phoenica’s term with HIP ended. As much as we wanted to keep her at HIP forever, we know she is off to a better and brighter future. At the same time, it’s exciting to welcome new faces to our team! Meet Grace Marshall. She started with us last week and will be co-coordinating our Healthy HIP Packs Program as well as some of our educational programs, including Cooking Matters classes, during this program year. Read more about her in her own words below. Come and say ‘hi’ when you meet her next!

Grace busy in kitchen chopping green onions

Hello!

My name is Grace Marshall and I am the new Americorps member (the first of two!) here at HIP! I’ll be serving at HIP for the next 10.5 months and could not be more excited! After just two days this organization has blown me away with all the amazing work it is doing for the Lake City community.

A little bit about me: I am originally from Dallas, TX, but went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (I am a huge Tar Heel basketball fan!) There I studied public health with a focus in environmental health. Most recently I lived in Philadelphia, PA where I was doing an Americorps term there with National Health Corps serving in a city health center. Following my time in Philly I knew I wanted to continue to explore my passion for the public health field but in a different context. HIP fit that perfectly with the added bonus of including my love of food and interest in nutrition! I have been in Seattle now for less than a week but already taken aback by everything it has to offer! I am especially excited to explore the outdoors here in the Pacific Northwest!

I am so thrilled to be a part of the HIP team and can’t wait to meet you all!