History
The concept was developed by a local nonprofit professional and whole food plant-based nutritionist, Beth Skidmore, MSACN, in the Fall of 2018 in order to fill a gap in local healthcare that she found while working to support her husband’s health as a type 1 diabetic and her growing family’s best long-term health. After developing a conceptual strategic plan for Rooted, local Plant-Based Nutrition Educator and Health Coach Emma Malina and Culinary Educator Chris Kalinich, both of whom had transformational experiences with plant-based eating, came together and an evolved concept of Rooted began to take shape, reflecting a growing community voice. Several months of community research established that Rooted would be the first and only local organization with a prevention-based and community-centered approach to whole food plant-based nutrition education and lifestyle support in Santa Barbara. A steering committee was officially formed in Spring 2019 with the addition of the following passionate plant-forward local professionals – Beth Prinz, MD, Christina Archer, MS, RD, IFNCP, Danielle Glynn, Samantha Haentjens, and Jenifer Swartzentruber, RDN, CDE. In late 2019, the Santa Barbara Foundation welcomed Rooted into their family of fiscally sponsored organizations. In early 2020, Yvette Giller became the first member of Rooted’s Community Advisory Council.
A guiding principle that connects us all is the belief that everyone has the right to nutrition education, support, and fresh fruit and vegetables – no matter what their socioeconomic background. We’re a stronger community when we’re all healthy!
