Christa Núñez Named the March Community Hero of the Month
Multi-hyphenate community changemaker, Christa Núñez has been named the March Community Hero of the Month, presented by Tompkins Chamber in partnership with Tompkins Trust Company. Núñez is honored for her extensive volunteerism with a variety of programs including her efforts to connect local youth with nature, farming, and education. Núñez is also recognized for her work to improve the lives of at-risk community members as well as providing thousands of books to students in the Ithaca City School District.
With a collaborative spirit, Núñez operates The Learning Farm, a sustainable teaching agriculture operation in Ithaca. Additionally, she founded CAN Cooperative Media, which supports the marketing needs of community organizations and benefit corporations. Núñez also leads Khuba International, which works to create systems focused on the empowerment of oppressed groups.
“Children, teens, and young adults need access to quality, fun educational programming in nature, safe places to spend time after school and in the summers – and good books to read,” said Chamber President Jennifer Tavares. “Christa has managed to blend all of these resources into The Learning Farm and the Ubuntu Library, and I’m so grateful to have the chance to celebrate Christa’s important work in our community.”
Through one of Khuba International’s programs, the Ubuntu Library, children who experience challenges with reading, have a low number of books in their homes, and youth of color are provided free books on critical topics such as moral character development, life sciences, food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture, and human rights.
Tompkins Trust Company President and CEO Greg Hartz highlighted the impact Núñez has made stating, “Christa has done so much for our community and the impact she makes will ripple through generations to come,” said Hartz. “We are fortunate to have her working to create lasting change for food justice and education of children in Tompkins County.”
Núñez said it was an honor to be chosen for the award, noting that Tompkins County is full of people who are working hard to uplift the community. Ubuntu Library was created, she said, “to support children in their ability to read for fun and for leisure and enrichment any time they wanted to.”
The library is just one aspect of a holistic approach taken by Núñez’s organization toward creating farmer-scholars that will know how to grow food, cook healthfully, have a connection to nature and have a broad understanding of subjects like food and social justice, and land governance.
The education provided by The Learning Farm and Khuba International programs is critical to reducing the income, education and employment disparities, and health outcomes in the Tompkins County community.
“We can see there are huge gaps between rich and poor, white folks and black folks and Latinx folks, and I don’t think those gaps are reflective in any way of what peoples’ needs and desires are,” Núñez said. “We’re helping shore up those gaps by supporting kids with educational materials. We can create a society that is more united, more equitable and more healthy overall, and people can rely on themselves to meet their own needs and help break the cycles of disenfranchisement.”
For more information about Núñez and the organizations she leads, visit thelearningfarmjuicery.org and khubainternational.org.
About Tompkins Trust Company
Founded in 1836, Tompkins Trust Company has 13 locations in Tompkins County, Cortland, Auburn, and Syracuse. Bank services include complete lines of consumer deposit accounts and loans, business accounts and loans, as well as trust and investment services and leasing. Insurance services are offered through Tompkins Insurance Agencies, and wealth management services are offered through Tompkins Financial Advisors. Further information about the bank is available at www.tompkinstrust.com.
About Tompkins Chamber
With over 650 active members, the Tompkins Chamber is dedicated to making our community a great place to live and work. The Chamber is a progressive, forward-thinking organization dedicated to promoting business in our region by being the community’s nexus. The mission of the Tompkins Chamber is to foster sustainable economic growth through service to our members, strategic advocacy, workforce development, destination marketing, and quality-of-life investments.
About Community Hero of the Month
The Tompkins Trust Company, in partnership with the Tompkins Chamber, is pleased to announce the launch of the Community Hero of the Month Awards, which will give deserving recognition to individuals from Tompkins County who have significantly impacted our community. The program will begin March 2021 and will announce community heroes each month.
Tompkins Trust Company President and CEO Greg Hartz shared his excitement for the new program, “We are looking forward to honoring these incredible community heroes who have done so much for Tompkins County and are pleased to collaborate with the Tompkins Chamber on this important and meaningful initiative” Hartzadded, “It is especially important to recognize the accomplishments of community members who have stepped up this past year, as COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the entire community.”
“This is a wonderful way for us partner with Tompkins Trust Company and show gratitude to these deserving community members who have demonstrated exemplary service to our community,” said Jennifer Tavares, President & CEO of the Tompkins Chamber. “We’re excited to highlight how much the Trust Company and Tompkins Chamber alike value strong leadership and commitment to our community with the establishment of this new recognition program.”
The monthly winners will receive a Community Hero of the Month plaque and a few additional surprises from Tompkins Trust Company.
