How CLC is growing a stronger food system in Lake County

A Q&A with Urban Farm Center Director Eliza Fournier on the power of partnerships and listening to student voices

Eliza Fournier is the director of the Urban Farm Center, a modern, high-tech growing space, learning lab, kitchen and market currently under construction in downtown Waukegan, working to grow and empower the local food system in Lake County. She also leads CLC’s Greenbelt Farm in North Chicago.

Q: Introduce yourself and your role at CLC.

I started as an environmental studies major seeing how food and farms connect people to the land and the environment that we depend on for daily life. I've spent my career nurturing that, and to be able to grow another project, the Urban Farm Center, to expand the knowledge of that, and interest and excitement around how food can help us create a more resilient environment is exciting to me.

It's also been great to be a part of the Grow Lake County Food System coalition to bring in folks from food businesses to grocery stores to nonprofits, farm and food educators all together to forward priorities and values of Lake County eaters and farmers.

Q: What is a noticeable positive change you've seen in CLC?

When I started, the Student Center at the Lakeshore Campus was just being built. To see that beautiful space, and how many people have flocked to that campus since it opened is amazing. The Prairie Restaurant at Brae Loch opening was also exciting, especially given the opportunities for using the produce we're growing at the campus farm, at Greenbelt farm and at the future Urban Farm Center.

Q: What's special about how CLC has adapted to meet the needs of the community?

Specifically, I think CLC has gone to bat for the people of Waukegan, in terms of getting the Urban Farm Center moving forward, because it's something that we've heard our stakeholders and our community members getting excited about. I think it's really special that CLC listens to students and community partners. It's such a diverse county, what's important to one community is very different from what's important to another community, but we all have shared values.

The idea for the Urban Farm Center was actually brought to the college by external partners, including philanthropic partners here in Lake County. For them to see CLC as a trusted home for their investment, and then to back that up with additional investments to make it happen is a true testament to the warm feelings that people have about CLC throughout the whole county.

Q: What has your role been in the evolution at CLC, and how do you see the changes that you've been a part of impacting outcomes for students and the community?

I have several hats that I wear as a leader here at CLC. One is, of course, the Urban Farm Center Director. The vision for the Urban Farm Center, our first capital campaign that the college has ever done, is to support all aspects of the local food system from farm to table, including growing food and how to prepare and eat food. It’s helping to create jobs, enhance health and create a sense of community in this beautiful high-tech space that's open not only to our campus community, but the Waukegan and northeast Lake County community and beyond.

Anytime that we need letters of support, seeing everyone from elected officials to partners to neighbors, stepping up with the most beautiful letters and their excitement about this project is so rewarding.

Q: What excites you about where CLC in general is heading in the future?

When I joined the college about three and a half years ago, we were on the tail end of COVID, people were hesitant to come back to campus, students, staff and faculty alike. In the last three and a half years, seeing how vibrant the campuses have become again is really exciting.

Since then, the Advanced Technology Center opened, Prairie Restaurant at Brae Loch opened and the Student Center opened. There's just so much happening everywhere. Everyone that I talk to, and I talk to a lot of people, they say, we're so impressed with the work CLC has done. We're so proud of our college. People are feeling a real sense of ownership in Lake County for the college and pride in CLC.

I hope that everyone who steps inside the Urban Farm Center becomes an ambassador for it and the college. I hope that people are talking about how the Urban Farm Center has helped them grow their business, grow their health and grow their understanding about what work and jobs in the food system are like. I hope that people say it’s a place you have to see.

Learn more about the Urban Farm Center
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