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FRIDAY, September 20

COMMUNITY FOOD FORESTS FORUM

Christopher Jones

Presenter Bio:  Chris Jones is the University of Arizona Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Programs in Gila County. Over the past 25 years, he has taught gardening classes at the college and led the Gila County Master Gardener program; and has managed extension programs in water and watersheds (Master Watershed Stewards and Cobre Valley Watershed Partnership), forest health and tree care, noxious weed management, climate science education, and community wildfire mitigation (Arizona Fire Adapted Communities Network). Current programs include biochar awareness and arid land agroforestry, and Master Gardener activities, such as fruit tree grafting (Payson, Gisela) and stinknet rapid response (Globe-Miami). Chris earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry at Northern Arizona University and a Master of Science Degree in Renewable Natural Resources at University of Arizona.

Chris' mission at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension is to Improve lives, families, communities, the environment and economies through applied research and education in Arizona and beyond.

https://extension.arizona.edu/gila

James A.  Allen

James (Jim) Allen is a Professor in the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University (NAU) and served as its Executive Director from 2007 to 2021. Dr. Allen also served as the Interim Dean of the College of the Environment, Forestry and Natural Sciences in 2022. Prior to his arrival at NAU in 2006, he served for six years as the Dean of the Forestry Division at Paul Smith’s College, in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. He also worked as a research ecologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Louisiana and for the U.S. Forest Service in Hawaii. Dr. Allen’s interest in agroforestry and food forests dates to his work as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland. His involvement in agroforestry in the Southwest began in 2017, when he took a sabbatical and spent part of it investigating current practices in this region. Dr. Allen recently completed a survey of urban and peri-urban food forests in the Four Corners region, with a primary focus on Arizona, and has published both peer-reviewed and non-technical publications on food forests and other agroforestry topics. He is a founding member and past chair of the Southwest Agroforestry Action Network.

NAU Directory

Presenter Bio: Christopher Casillas is founder and executive director of Regenerating Sonora, a community development non-profit that is nurturing local potential for a resilient and thriving future. Christopher founded Regen Sonora 5 years ago as an answer to a call to be a good ancestor for future generations. Returning to his hometown of Superior, Arizona, where his family has lived for over 100 years, Christopher brought together a local team of all-stars who, together with their neighbors, are developing the social, natural, and financial capital of their place. Prior to this, Christopher was a leader at an early-stage startup turned multi-billion-dollar company. He is a board member of the Center for Shamanic Education and Exchange, has visited 40 countries, and is a student of various wisdom traditions. His son Francisco is a sixth-generation community member of Superior.

https://regeneratingsonora.org/

Michiel 'All Mike' Montiel

Presenter Bio:  A jack of all trades and master of none. Mike's far-reaching impacts can be credited to his honorable military service, his perseverance through re-integrating to civilian life, and his dedicated work in community advocacy and leadership. In his work in the veteran, local food systems, sustainable agriculture, and ecological restoration communities, Mike uses his experience and knowledge to uplift, empower, and lead others toward resiliency and sustainability.

https://www.reapgoodness.org/