Urban planning professor receives 2013 Dr. Arthur L. Johnson Community Leadership Award

Urban Planning Associate Professor, Kami Pothukuchi, is one of three recipients of the 2013 Dr. Arthur L. Johnson Community Leadership Award.

Dr. Pothukuchi is an associate professor of urban planning at Wayne State University. She is the founding director of SEED Wayne, a campus-community collaborative dedicated to building sustainable food systems at WSU and in Detroit neighborhoods. SEED Wayne's activities include three campus gardens, an annual 21-week farmers market, nutrition outreach, a healthy corner store initiative and many classroom and field-based educational activities. Pothukuchi's research examines how community food planning can advance public health, economic development, social justice and ecological sustainability. Her professional contributions have helped create the sub-field of food planning within community and regional planning.

This award recognizes the important role that public universities play in building sustainable and just food systems, going beyond typical roles in teaching and research. Professor Pothukuchi's work offers a model of campus leadership on sustainable food systems.

The awards, named after late civil rights leader and Wayne State administrator, Arthur L. Johnson, honors individuals and organizations - nominated by the public - whose contributions positively affect the community. Winners will be formally recognized during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute at the Max M. Fisher Music Center on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013.