Fall 2025 Integrated Theme
In fall 2025, Centralia College is hosting its first ever Campus Integrated Theme designed to bring students, faculty, and community members together through shared inquiry and action. The inaugural theme, Food Security, focuses on how food systems intersect with environmental justice, public health, poverty, and equity.
Keynote Presentation
Centralia College and its partners are proud to welcome Stephanie Land, author of Maid and Class, to discuss the themes from her memoirs, including her experiences navigating poverty and food insecurity as a single-mother in college. This presentation will be followed by a book signing and light reception. Tickets are free, but donations to the Trailblazer Food Pantry are appreciated.
Bestselling Author Stephanie Land
1-3pm Monday, Nov. 3
Corbet Theatre (Washington Hall)
This presentation will be followed by a book signing and light reception. Tickets are free, but donations to the Trailblazer Food Pantry are appreciated.
Food Security Event Schedule
All events are free. Unless otherwise noted, no tickets are needed. Only two events are open only to Centralia College students (the Evergreen State College Farm Tour and the snack giveaway in November). All others are open to everyone.
| Event | Date | Time | Description | Location |
| Trailblazer Kickoff (new student event) | September 18 | 11am-1pm | Information to introduce the integrated theme to the campus community | Esplanade (outside) |
| Sustainable Thursdays | All Quarter | 7:30am-2pm Thursdays | $5 sustainable lunch items in the campus cafeteria | Blazer Bite Cafe (first floor TransAlta Commons) |
| Gardening & Composting Workshop | September 29 | 12pm | Learn about gardening and composting from WSU Master Gardener/Recycler Composter Coordinator Jason Adams | TAC 105C |
| Involvement Fair | October 7 | 9am-1pm | Learn how to get involved with activities related to food security and sustainability. | TAC |
| The Hunger Games Film & Discussion | October 9 | 5pm | Join us for a free screening of The Hunger Games film (with popcorn!), followed by a discussion led by Centralia College Professor Dr. Jeff Birkenstein. | TAC 122 |
| Food in Film & Literature (Lecture) | October 14 | 11:45am | Dr. Jeff Birkenstein will discuss how food emerges as a theme throughout film and literature. | TAC 105B |
| Agro-Tourism & The Future of Food (Lecture) | October 22 | 11:45am | Centralia College Professor Julie Tate-Libby will discuss her research on agro-tourism and the future of food in our state. | TAC 105B |
| Evergreen State College Farm Tour | October 24 | 9:30am | Tour The Evergreen State College, including its USDA-certified organic farm and learning laboratory. Open to current Centralia College students only. | Evergreen State College, Olympia |
| Class Book Group | October 24 | 6pm | Gather with others to discuss Stephanie Land's memoir Class with others before she comes to speak to our campus. | TAC 137 |
| Meal Book Group | October 29 | 1-2pm | Discuss the graphic novel Meal. Current CC students can pick up limited copies in the Kirk Library Oct. 20-24. First come, first served. | LIB 113 |
| Stephanie Land Keynote Presentation | November 3 | 1-3pm | Stephanie Land, author of Maid and Class, will discuss the themes from her memoirs, including her experiences navigating poverty and food insecurity as a single-mother in college. Followed by a book signing and light reception. Get free tickets. | Corbet Theater (Washington Hall) |
| Hungry to Learn Film Screening & Discussion | November 13 | 4pm | This film follows four college students as they navigate food insecurity in their attempt to change their lives for the better. Discussion to follow, facilitated by the Timberland Regional Library. | TAC 122 |
| Hunger Banquet | November 19 | 5:30-7pm | This is an interactive event that brings statistics about global poverty to life. Guests randomly select meal tickets matching real people who are high-, middle-, or low-income earners, demonstrating that where you end up is all in the luck of the draw. | TAC 105B/C |
| Sustainable Snacks | November 17-21 | Business Hours | As part of hunger awareness week, free "sustainable snacks" will be available in TAC. Open to current Centralia College students only. | TAC |
| Employee Food Drive Competition | November 17-26 | Business Hours | Centralia College departments will compete to see who can donate the most to the Trailblazer Food Pantry (part of Hunger Awareness Week). | Campuswide |
| Cooking on a Budget Workshop | December 3 | 5pm | Chef Tim Filer will teach you how to create delicious, healthy, budget-friendly meals. Take home the ingredients you need to try it out yourself. | Blazer Bite Cafe (TransAlta Commons) |
Learn More About Food Security
In 2024, the Washington Student Achievement Council conducted a pilot study on hunger in state college students. Read the report (pdf).
Thanks to Our Partners
The Fall 2025 Integrated Theme is possible only through the contributions of the following partners and the Integrated Theme Steering Committee at Centralia College.