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VRF visits L. A. Kitchen

On his 4^th visit to L. A. Kitchen, to teach as a guest chef for their Empower LA class #4; VRF Director & Chef Massimo Navaretta, owner and head master chef at Onotria Wine Country Cuisine in Costa Mesa, California, is joined by VRF President Dr. Frank Crinella, VRF Vice President Dr. Sabrina Shuck who will be his research associate, on the upcoming Behavioral Effects of a Modified Mediterranean Diet on Children with ADHD Study and VRF Executive Director Ron Steward. In addition to meeting all the new members of LAK’s class #4 and Director of Job Training, Becky Locker, LAK founder & President, Robert Egger took everyone on a tour of their just open new facility. L.A. Kitchen’s Empower LA culinary arts and nutrition advocacy training program is preparing youth aging out of foster care, older adults exiting the prison system, and others struggling with barriers to employment, for careers in the food service industry. The training program takes a whole-person approach to vocational training, incorporating culinary arts, life skills, nutrition education, community activism, and professional development.

Since LAK began with their pilot training class in June, 2014, VRF has sponsored Chef Massimo visits to LAK. The 2 non-profits share the vision of empowering people through good nutrition and are exploring more ways to work together. Please visit Dr. Sabrina Shuck’s daughter Paige’s website for the full story on our visit as well as an inside look into the classes Chef Massimo’s will be providing for upcoming Behavioral Effects of a Modified Mediterranean Diet on Children with ADHD Study.

ADHD And The Demonization Of Food: The Short, Unhappy History Of Elimination Diets For The Treatment Of ADHD

At the time of their first contact with the UC-Irvine Child Development Center, 60% of families will have tried complementary and alternative medicines (CAMS), including: cognitive behavioral therapy, neurofeedback, aerobic exercises, herbal remedies, elimination diets (the most common being refined sugar, at 31%), or dietary supplementation (vitamins, minerals, fatty acids; alone or in various combinations). On January 11, 2012, VRF President, Dr. Francis M. Crinella, Professor of Pediatrics, Psychiatry & Human Behavior, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Director, Neuropsychology Laboratory, Child Development Center, University Of California, Irvine gave a CHADD sponsored PowerPoint presentation entitled: ADHD And The Demonization Of Food: The Short, Unhappy History Of Elimination Diets For The Treatment Of ADHD

The Neurotoxicology of attention deficits: Dietary Manganese Exposure as a Particular Case

Sabrina E.B. Schuck, Ph.D. and Melody Yi, Ph.D., presented this study they co-authored with VRF President Francis M. Crinella, Ph.D. at BIT’s 3rd Annual Congress of NeuroTalk-2012, The Dedicated Event for Global Neuroscientists held May 18-20, 2012 in Beijing, China. This year’s Theme: Open the Black Box of Nervous System. View their well-received PowerPoint presentation here.

While in China for the international conference, Dr. Yi and Dr. Shuck were able to see some of the country. In the first picture below, taken in central Beijing, we have Dr. Shuck (left) and Dr. Yi (right).

**Taken at the Great Wall of China, Dr. Yi (right) and Dr. Shuck (left).**
Dr. Yi is a Post-doctoral fellow at the UC-Irvine Child Development Center, while Dr. Shuck is an Assistant Professor at the Center, which falls under the University’s Department of Pediatrics at the School of Medicine.

James Q. Wilson Exceptional Service Award” to be given annually

American treasure and founding member of the VRF Board of Directors, James Q. Wilson, Ph.D., passed away in Boston March 2, 2012. Dr. Wilson’s career spanned six decades, several presidencies, and five different university professorships. He authored over 26 books, and brilliantly worked both sides of the political aisle. His contributions to the American political and social dialogue are legendary. He will be broadly missed by the American family.

In his honor, VRF is establishing the annual “James Q. Wilson Exceptional Service Award” to be given annually to an individual whose generosity and service the previous year most significantly enhanced the mission and effectiveness of the Violence Research Foundation.

VRF makes transition from Private to Public

For over 20 years VRF operated as Private Foundation under Section 501c (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Recently the Foundation has found it necessary to attract funding from a wider range of donors to support its ambitious Mission. Therefore, effective January 1, 2012, we officially began operating as a Public Charity. This change is in accordance with Internal Revenue Service Code section 507(b) (1) (B). VRF welcomes and appreciates inquiries, including requests for advance rulings, from interested supporters. (link to “Contact Us” page)