Growing community: Sean Forbes honored with Royrickers Cook Endowed Engagement Award for O Grows Initiative

The Royrickers Cook Endowed Engagement award was presented at the Outreach and Engaged Scholarship Symposium in September.

The award, named in honor of Cook, an internationally recognized leader in higher education who serves as the vice president for University Outreach and associate provost, is given to a faculty or staff member who demonstrates an “ongoing and purposeful commitment to outreach.”

This year, the award was presented to Sean Forbes for his exceptional support for “civic and community engagement, interpersonal relationships and serving the underserved.” Forbes’ contributions to the community exceed his role as an associate professor of educational psychology.

His Opelika Grows (O Grows) initiative has created a space for engagement that amplifies and honors the needs of local people by fostering sustainable relationships with those in need. O Grows is a community garden that encourages students and volunteers to connect with each other and nourish the Auburn-Opelika family by cultivating food with a purpose.

“The O Grows program exemplifies the university’s commitment to community partnership and outreach by addressing issues of food insecurity in the Opelika area,” said College of Education Dean Jeffrey Fairbrother. “It is an honor for Sean Forbes to be recognized by University Outreach with this prestigious award, and it reinforces our commitment to continue this important work.”

The program uses produce to help curb food insecurity and inspire illuminating conversations between those who engage with O Grows. Forbes’ also extends his program’s impact to include opportunities to those serving time in the juvenile court system who need community service hours. This helps bridge gaps between community members from different walks of life.

The organization hosts the Opelika Grows Farmer’s Market every Tuesday at the Southside Center for the Arts. The market offers “fairly priced” fresh produce for the everyday person and assists local folk by offering space for farmers who accept food benefits like SNAP and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Forbes’ expert application of his research and education has created a resource for the people of Auburn-Opelika to grow in spirit and health.