TAMU-T PLACE program partners with local restaurants

TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M University Texarkana’s Program for Learning And Community Engagement has chosen “The Southern Experience” as the theme for this year’s programming, and they are partnering with restaurants in Texarkana to discuss a variety of topics regarding Southern culture, as well as support local businesses.

The goal of PLACE is to facilitate learning and collaboration among students, faculty and community members by providing opportunities to discuss and debate a common theme.

They hold numerous activities and events every year, including a lecture series, which consists of organized discussions designed to generate excitement and engagement both at the university and in the community.

This year, PLACE will be hosting off-campus community events called “Our PLACE” where the program partners with local restaurants to do bi-monthly events centered around southern cuisine.

“Our PLACE” events feature a virtual midday lecture tied to the cuisine chosen for each event and discusses how it is involved in Southern culture.

The next “Our PLACE” event is scheduled for today at TLC Burgers and Fries. The Zoom lecture will take place from noon to 1 p.m., and will feature Dr. Angela Jill Cooley, associate professor of history at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Dr. Cooley will present a lecture titled “The Hunger Belt: Food Access and Civil Rights Activism in the Rural South.”

Anyone who dines in or gets food to go from TLC between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and mentions TAMU-T will have a portion of their proceeds donated to PLACE and local charity/non-profit organizations.

“We want to reach out to the Texarkana community,” said PLACE co-chair Dr. Doug Julien. “And by partnering with local restaurants, we hope this encourages folks to support local restaurants.

“Food can bring us together,” he said. “The moment in which you start talking about food is the moment in which you feel this sort of connection and togetherness. And that’s what PLACE wants to provide, but also in an academic way.”

This will be PLACE’s third Friday of what Julien called “Talk food, eat food, raise money.” PLACE will continue to hold these events, where someone will come speak about food and culture at a local restaurant.

Participants who attend TLC Friday can choose to dine in, or get their food to go. Either way, a portion of the proceeds from these events is donated by the restaurant to help different charities in Texarkana and the surrounding area.

(To preregister for the event visit tamut.zoom. us/ meeting/ register/ tJIpce6hqD Mo Et 0 vt SN Sr 1 O 0 eTon line. A full listing of PLACE events can be found at tamut.edu/ place. For more information, contact Dr. Doug Julien at doug.julien@tamut.edu or visit the PLACE website at tamut.edu/PLACE.)