(Fox 2 Now) Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation opens new STEAM+Ag learning center

The Danforth Center celebrated the launch of the newly created Jackie Joyner-Kersee Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Innovation Center (JJK FAN) at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 11.

“We are bringing our expertise in the area of STEAM and agriculture education for the K-12 level, including out-of-classroom experiences for the students, internships at the Danforth Center, and, really, support for students who go into agriculture beyond high school,” said Kristine Callis-Duehl, director of education research and outreach at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

The new JJK FAN Center is a public-private partnership between the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Illinois Extension.