Heather Hanson '05: Building Local Communities

Think global, act local -- that would be a good description of Heather Hanson's life. Heather (IPE Class of 2005) wrote her senior thesis on the global goal of providing safe drinking water and the local initiatives needed to achieve it. Now she's at work on another global/local problem -- food and community-building -- and you can find her project just a few blocks from campus.

Tacoma has organized a community farmers' market program to try to bring local consumers together with local producers. Heather is coordinator of the 6th Avenue Farmers Market, located at 6th and Pine Streets (in front of Engine House #9, where legend has it the IPE program was born).

Although it is only a few weeks old, the project is already a roaring success. The market meets on Tuesdays from 3:30 pm to 7:30pm and features local merchants, several restaurants many and farm products from the Puyallup and Yakima valleys. You should check it out if you are in the neighborhood. Congratulations, Heather! You can contact the market at 6thAve@tacomafarmersmarket.com