Forums, a new feature of this year’s conference, will be large sessions that cover a broad topic.
Food Justice
Sunday, October 17, 1:00 – 2:15 pm
Facilitated by Robert Gottlieb & Anupama Joshi, Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College.
Coinciding with the CFSC Annual Conference, Bob Gottlieb and Anupama Joshi will release their new book Food Justice. At the conference, Gottlieb and Joshi will facilitate a discussion with food justice leaders, some featured in the book, to help situate and define food justice as a crucial part of the struggles to change the food system. The forum will help identify the various aspects of the emerging food justice movement and engage participants in a discussion about food justice issues.
Food Justice is about the enormous inequities and injustices of today’s increasingly globalized industrial food system. The book identifies the increasing disconnect between food and culture and gives examples of the horrific conditions faced by farmworkers and those who work the meatpacking and poultry plants; of low income neighborhoods that lack access to fresh and healthy food but abound in fast food restaurants and liquor stores; of thousands and thousands of food products introduced each year that emphasize convenience, packaging, and fast food flavors rather than wholesomeness; and of the international reach of American fast-food franchises has been a major contributor to an epidemic of “globesity.”
To combat these inequities and a food system that is neither clean, nor good, nor fair, a movement for food justice has emerged in recent years seeking to transform the food system from seed to table. Food Justice profiles dynamic food justice groups and organizing efforts, the emerging new politics around food, and a transformation of the language and understanding about food, from how it is grown to why eating has become a political act. It tells the story of groups like Nuestras Raíces and its community gardens and farmer training in Holyoke, Massachusetts, youth empowerment through the Rethinkers in New Orleans, Farm to School programs across the country, and the Los Angeles school system’s elimination of sugary soft drinks from its cafeterias thanks to an organizing drive by the Healthy School Food Coalition… among many, many more. Food Justice is also about how food activism has succeeded at the highest level, connecting grassroots programs to national programs and policies.
Research
Sunday, October 17, 1:00 – 2:15 pm
Are you interested in connecting with others engaged in research around community food security? Would you like to initiate a research project with other scholars or for a particular organization? Are you seeking inspiration for research ideas or identifying gap areas in need of additional research? The CFSC Research Forum will provide a space for attendees to learn about existing research projects and innovative research approaches, connect with others in the field to reflect on research challenges and gap areas relevant to community food security, and devise practical solutions to overcoming these challenges.
Farm Bill
Monday, October 18, 1:30 – 2:45 pm
Andy Fisher, Community Food Security Coalition
Megan Lott, Community Food Security Coalition
The next Farm Bill will be here before you know it. Revised every five years, this piece of legislation is our best opportunity to shape federal food and farm policy. We need your input to shape CFSC’s Farm Bill policy platform for 2012. Come let us know what you want to see happen.
Job Seekers and Interns
Monday, October 18, 4:45 – 6:00 pm
Sarah Alexander, Food & Water Watch
Debra Eschmeyer, The National Farm to School Network
Andy Fisher, Community Food Security Coalition
Natalie Jayroe, Second Harvest Food Bank
Shana McDavis-Conway, Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program
While we can’t find your dream job or internship for you, we can give you some ideas on how to find it, get interviewed and get hired. Hear tips about what people in the food movement are looking for when they hire, and what they aren’t looking for. After the panel, we’ll break into discussion groups to share resources and ideas.
Networking Sessions
These sessions will be facilitated discussions about a topic, challenge or strategy. They will take place during Breakout Sessions 2 and 5.
Session 2 – Sunday, October 17, 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Communications Professionals: Building Community & Working Together
Facilitators:
Naomi Starkman, Food Policy Media Consultant
Jen Dalton, Kitchen Table Consulting/Civil Eats
Wendy Wasserman, AMS/USDA
Communications directors and independent communications professionals provide the voice and tools needed to deliver the messages of the food movement to a variety of audiences. This networking session intends to examine how we can help one another be more effective and how we can use our strengths for future actions in support of food security and the good food movement.
Community Food Project Indicators of Success
Specifically for active Community Food Project Grantees
Jeanette Abi-Nader, CFSC
Community Food Project Grantees will want to join this session and gain detailed information on grantee reporting requirements. The CFP Indicators of Success is a new reporting system designed to track outputs and outcomes across programs and demonstrate our collective impacts towards community food security. Come, learn how to use this form and glean input on your CFP evaluation.
Engaging Youth in Food Justice and Community Building
Deborah Leta Habib, Seeds of Solidarity
Vanessa Lynch, Seeds of Solidarity
Youth programs can provide young people with a safe and productive community setting to grow and transform, while cultivating food and skills for activism. Through dialogue, this session explores key questions, challenges, and strategies for energizing existing youth food and agriculture programs to inspire and engage young people as changemakers.
Fisheries: Innovation and Culture Alive on the Gulf Coast
Rusty Gaude, LSU AgCenter SeaGrant
Darlene Wolnik, Marketumbrella.org
Robin Barnes, Greater New Orleans Inc.
A “fair” set up with tables of information from fishers, markets and extension services on fisheries on the Gulf Coast. Chance for food activists that are more familiar with ag products to learn more about fish.
Food Policy Councils: Looking Beyond the Local
David McIntyre, International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Portland
Anita Yap, Multnomah Food Policy Council
Food Policy Councils are gaining in recognition and relevance within their local communities. Can FPCs, through networking and collaboration, influence national policies? Small groups will explore the barriers and benefits of FPC collaboration and looking beyond local issues.
From Detroit to New Orleans: Building A US Food Sovereignty Movement
In June of 2010, 15,000 activists converged in Detroit for the US Social Forum. In this powerful space, the foundations were laid for unified grassroots movement for food sovereignty in the US. Come learn more, plug into current actions, and strategize on next steps.
Generation Organic: Sustainable, Young Farmers Working for the Future
Tyler Webb, Organic Valley Farmer
Melanie Webb, Organic Valley Farmer
This session is an opportunity for youth to tell farm stories and share ideas to move the movement for family farms forward. Two young organic farmers will bring to light challenges during an era when most farmers are 55 years and older. This is a place where all ages can discuss the philosophy behind family farming, organic sustainability, the duties young farmers take on, challenges, and how to unite with hope for the future.
Healthy Corner Stores Network
Kai Siedenburg, CFSC
James Johnson-Piett, Urbane Development, LLC
Are you working to bring fresh produce or other healthy foods into small-scale stores in your community, or interested in doing this work? Come meet with members of the Healthy Corner Stores Network (HCSN) and learn about corner store initiatives around the country and what’s working on the ground. We’ll get brief updates on various efforts and discuss issues of common interest.
Session 5 – Monday, October 18, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Faith-based Food Security Non-profits
Stephanie Ahlschwede, United Methodist Ministries
A networking session for staff and volunteers at faith-based non-profits doing food security work.
Food Banking Outside of the Box: Incorporating the Language of Community Food Systems
David Coffman, Second Harvest: Food Bank of Greater New Orleans & Acadiana
Sharron Thornberry, Oregon Food Bank
This session is an opportunity for food bankers and other emergency food providers to engage in a discussion on the ways to incorporate community food systems work into anti-hunger activities. This session will begin with a discussion of the “language of community food systems” and will allow for participants to share ways they engage in community food systems work through emergency food, have a dialogue about challenges faced, and brainstorm ways to fully engage food banks and other emergency food providers in community food systems work.
Gulf South Food Policy
Join fellow residents of the Gulf South to review current food policy reform efforts going on in our region and strategize about developing a comprehensive policy approach to improving regional food security.
National Farm to School Network
Marion Kalb, The National Network
Anupama Joshi, The National Network
Debra Eschmeyer, The National Network
Megan Lott, The National Network
With Farm to School programs in all 50 states, not only are the numbers increasing, but so are the depth and breadth of Farm to School efforts. We’ll explore the latest innovations in Farm to School with the 8 Regional Leads, and hear about the most recent happenings and projects of the National Farm to School Network.
Strategies for Creating Effective and Successful Garden Programs
Megan Bomba, UC Davis
Rose Hayden-Smith, University of California Cooperative Extension, Ventura County
This session is a forum for people working in garden programming to learn together about how to design and implement successful garden programs. We will explore avenues by which garden programs can foster food security, as well as identify common program obstacles and strategies to overcome them and achieve goals.
Top Ten Best Practices for Successful Community Engagement
Rachel Emmer, Detritus Group
Effectively engaging community can be the most important and challenging component in developing resilient food systems. This dynamic Open Space session gives participants the opportunity to dialogue, share and develop best practices towards creating the key to success of your initiatives: stakeholder involvement.
Utilizing Farmers Markets as Hubs for Diverse Food System Projects
Mark Wall, Vista Farmers Market
Leveraging Farmers Markets to provide a broader and deeper service to the goals of community food security. Come and share your ideas, experiments, and experience in moving farmers markets beyond the basics in this networking session.
Youth Food Policy Councils: Engaging Youth Within the Food Policy Framework
Tracy Phillippi, Toronto Youth Food Policy Council
Michelle German, Toronto Youth Food Policy Council, Real Food for Real Kids
This activity-based session will allow participants to openly discuss obstacles and opportunities for youth involvement in food policy discussions. Specifically, members of the Toronto Youth Food Policy Council (TYFPC) will engage attendees in a modified ‘Open Space Technology’ event, by which participants will 1) propose discussion topics, 2) create the session’s agenda, and, 3) facilitate lively conversation about Youth Food Policy Councils. Members of the TYFPC will be available to discuss their experiences mobilizing North America’s first YFPC in Toronto.
Committee Meetings
CFSC committees will hold meetings during Sessions 2 and 5.These committees provide great opportunities for members to get directly involved in CFSC’s work. Learn more about CFSC committees.
Sunday, October 17, 12:15 – 1:15 pm
Policy Committee
CFSC’s Policy Committee develops policy goals for the coalition, updates members on the latest federal policy happenings affecting the community food security movement, and strategizes on current legislative efforts. Join us in New Orleans to hear what CFSC’s policy office has been working on in 2010, and to discuss future policy issues affecting community food security.
Session 2 – Sunday, October 17, 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Urban Agriculture Committee
The Urban Agriculture Committee works on national policy and disseminates information of interest to community gardeners, urban farmers and other metropolitan growers. During this meeting we will brainstorm speakers to invite to our upcoming monthly conference calls, and discuss legislative strategy related to getting urban agriculture included in the 2012 Farm Bill.
Food & Faith Committee
The Food and Faith committee meets annually at the CFSC meeting and hosts an email discussion list around issues related to food and faith. Join us to review past goals and select priorities for our work in the coming year. This year’s meeting will offer us an opportunity to revisit the focus and format of this committee so we can plan for our future.
Session 5 – Monday, October 18, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
International Links Committee
The International Links Committee works to connect the Coalition to its food security partners around the world through initiatives for food sovereignty, fair trade, and sustainable agriculture. Our goals are to strengthen CFSC’s involvement in broader global movements and to serve as a springboard for collaboration among CFSC members on international issues.
Community Economic Development Working Group
The CED working group helps communities make the economic case for local foods. At the New Orleans conference, we are co-sponsoring a pre-conference short course and the Brazilian delegation. We’re on our way to formal recognition as a committee. Much more needs to be done! Come help us define and launch our next activities.
Networking, Committees, & Forums
Go to: Forums | Networking Sessions | Committee Meetings
Forums
Forums, a new feature of this year’s conference, will be large sessions that cover a broad topic.
Food Justice
Sunday, October 17, 1:00 – 2:15 pm
Facilitated by Robert Gottlieb & Anupama Joshi, Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College.
Coinciding with the CFSC Annual Conference, Bob Gottlieb and Anupama Joshi will release their new book Food Justice. At the conference, Gottlieb and Joshi will facilitate a discussion with food justice leaders, some featured in the book, to help situate and define food justice as a crucial part of the struggles to change the food system. The forum will help identify the various aspects of the emerging food justice movement and engage participants in a discussion about food justice issues.
Food Justice is about the enormous inequities and injustices of today’s increasingly globalized industrial food system. The book identifies the increasing disconnect between food and culture and gives examples of the horrific conditions faced by farmworkers and those who work the meatpacking and poultry plants; of low income neighborhoods that lack access to fresh and healthy food but abound in fast food restaurants and liquor stores; of thousands and thousands of food products introduced each year that emphasize convenience, packaging, and fast food flavors rather than wholesomeness; and of the international reach of American fast-food franchises has been a major contributor to an epidemic of “globesity.”
To combat these inequities and a food system that is neither clean, nor good, nor fair, a movement for food justice has emerged in recent years seeking to transform the food system from seed to table. Food Justice profiles dynamic food justice groups and organizing efforts, the emerging new politics around food, and a transformation of the language and understanding about food, from how it is grown to why eating has become a political act. It tells the story of groups like Nuestras Raíces and its community gardens and farmer training in Holyoke, Massachusetts, youth empowerment through the Rethinkers in New Orleans, Farm to School programs across the country, and the Los Angeles school system’s elimination of sugary soft drinks from its cafeterias thanks to an organizing drive by the Healthy School Food Coalition… among many, many more. Food Justice is also about how food activism has succeeded at the highest level, connecting grassroots programs to national programs and policies.
Research
Sunday, October 17, 1:00 – 2:15 pm
Are you interested in connecting with others engaged in research around community food security? Would you like to initiate a research project with other scholars or for a particular organization? Are you seeking inspiration for research ideas or identifying gap areas in need of additional research? The CFSC Research Forum will provide a space for attendees to learn about existing research projects and innovative research approaches, connect with others in the field to reflect on research challenges and gap areas relevant to community food security, and devise practical solutions to overcoming these challenges.
Farm Bill
Monday, October 18, 1:30 – 2:45 pm
Andy Fisher, Community Food Security Coalition
Megan Lott, Community Food Security Coalition
The next Farm Bill will be here before you know it. Revised every five years, this piece of legislation is our best opportunity to shape federal food and farm policy. We need your input to shape CFSC’s Farm Bill policy platform for 2012. Come let us know what you want to see happen.
Job Seekers and Interns
Monday, October 18, 4:45 – 6:00 pm
Sarah Alexander, Food & Water Watch
Debra Eschmeyer, The National Farm to School Network
Andy Fisher, Community Food Security Coalition
Natalie Jayroe, Second Harvest Food Bank
Shana McDavis-Conway, Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program
While we can’t find your dream job or internship for you, we can give you some ideas on how to find it, get interviewed and get hired. Hear tips about what people in the food movement are looking for when they hire, and what they aren’t looking for. After the panel, we’ll break into discussion groups to share resources and ideas.
Networking Sessions
These sessions will be facilitated discussions about a topic, challenge or strategy. They will take place during Breakout Sessions 2 and 5.
Session 2 – Sunday, October 17, 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Communications Professionals: Building Community & Working Together
Facilitators:
Naomi Starkman, Food Policy Media Consultant
Jen Dalton, Kitchen Table Consulting/Civil Eats
Wendy Wasserman, AMS/USDA
Communications directors and independent communications professionals provide the voice and tools needed to deliver the messages of the food movement to a variety of audiences. This networking session intends to examine how we can help one another be more effective and how we can use our strengths for future actions in support of food security and the good food movement.
Community Food Project Indicators of Success
Specifically for active Community Food Project Grantees
Jeanette Abi-Nader, CFSC
Community Food Project Grantees will want to join this session and gain detailed information on grantee reporting requirements. The CFP Indicators of Success is a new reporting system designed to track outputs and outcomes across programs and demonstrate our collective impacts towards community food security. Come, learn how to use this form and glean input on your CFP evaluation.
Engaging Youth in Food Justice and Community Building
Deborah Leta Habib, Seeds of Solidarity
Vanessa Lynch, Seeds of Solidarity
Youth programs can provide young people with a safe and productive community setting to grow and transform, while cultivating food and skills for activism. Through dialogue, this session explores key questions, challenges, and strategies for energizing existing youth food and agriculture programs to inspire and engage young people as changemakers.
Fisheries: Innovation and Culture Alive on the Gulf Coast
Rusty Gaude, LSU AgCenter SeaGrant
Darlene Wolnik, Marketumbrella.org
Robin Barnes, Greater New Orleans Inc.
A “fair” set up with tables of information from fishers, markets and extension services on fisheries on the Gulf Coast. Chance for food activists that are more familiar with ag products to learn more about fish.
Food Policy Councils: Looking Beyond the Local
David McIntyre, International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Portland
Anita Yap, Multnomah Food Policy Council
Food Policy Councils are gaining in recognition and relevance within their local communities. Can FPCs, through networking and collaboration, influence national policies? Small groups will explore the barriers and benefits of FPC collaboration and looking beyond local issues.
From Detroit to New Orleans: Building A US Food Sovereignty Movement
In June of 2010, 15,000 activists converged in Detroit for the US Social Forum. In this powerful space, the foundations were laid for unified grassroots movement for food sovereignty in the US. Come learn more, plug into current actions, and strategize on next steps.
Generation Organic: Sustainable, Young Farmers Working for the Future
Tyler Webb, Organic Valley Farmer
Melanie Webb, Organic Valley Farmer
This session is an opportunity for youth to tell farm stories and share ideas to move the movement for family farms forward. Two young organic farmers will bring to light challenges during an era when most farmers are 55 years and older. This is a place where all ages can discuss the philosophy behind family farming, organic sustainability, the duties young farmers take on, challenges, and how to unite with hope for the future.
Healthy Corner Stores Network
Kai Siedenburg, CFSC
James Johnson-Piett, Urbane Development, LLC
Are you working to bring fresh produce or other healthy foods into small-scale stores in your community, or interested in doing this work? Come meet with members of the Healthy Corner Stores Network (HCSN) and learn about corner store initiatives around the country and what’s working on the ground. We’ll get brief updates on various efforts and discuss issues of common interest.
Session 5 – Monday, October 18, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Faith-based Food Security Non-profits
Stephanie Ahlschwede, United Methodist Ministries
A networking session for staff and volunteers at faith-based non-profits doing food security work.
Food Banking Outside of the Box: Incorporating the Language of Community Food Systems
David Coffman, Second Harvest: Food Bank of Greater New Orleans & Acadiana
Sharron Thornberry, Oregon Food Bank
This session is an opportunity for food bankers and other emergency food providers to engage in a discussion on the ways to incorporate community food systems work into anti-hunger activities. This session will begin with a discussion of the “language of community food systems” and will allow for participants to share ways they engage in community food systems work through emergency food, have a dialogue about challenges faced, and brainstorm ways to fully engage food banks and other emergency food providers in community food systems work.
Gulf South Food Policy
Join fellow residents of the Gulf South to review current food policy reform efforts going on in our region and strategize about developing a comprehensive policy approach to improving regional food security.
National Farm to School Network
Marion Kalb, The National Network
Anupama Joshi, The National Network
Debra Eschmeyer, The National Network
Megan Lott, The National Network
With Farm to School programs in all 50 states, not only are the numbers increasing, but so are the depth and breadth of Farm to School efforts. We’ll explore the latest innovations in Farm to School with the 8 Regional Leads, and hear about the most recent happenings and projects of the National Farm to School Network.
Strategies for Creating Effective and Successful Garden Programs
Megan Bomba, UC Davis
Rose Hayden-Smith, University of California Cooperative Extension, Ventura County
This session is a forum for people working in garden programming to learn together about how to design and implement successful garden programs. We will explore avenues by which garden programs can foster food security, as well as identify common program obstacles and strategies to overcome them and achieve goals.
Top Ten Best Practices for Successful Community Engagement
Rachel Emmer, Detritus Group
Effectively engaging community can be the most important and challenging component in developing resilient food systems. This dynamic Open Space session gives participants the opportunity to dialogue, share and develop best practices towards creating the key to success of your initiatives: stakeholder involvement.
Utilizing Farmers Markets as Hubs for Diverse Food System Projects
Mark Wall, Vista Farmers Market
Leveraging Farmers Markets to provide a broader and deeper service to the goals of community food security. Come and share your ideas, experiments, and experience in moving farmers markets beyond the basics in this networking session.
Youth Food Policy Councils: Engaging Youth Within the Food Policy Framework
Tracy Phillippi, Toronto Youth Food Policy Council
Michelle German, Toronto Youth Food Policy Council, Real Food for Real Kids
This activity-based session will allow participants to openly discuss obstacles and opportunities for youth involvement in food policy discussions. Specifically, members of the Toronto Youth Food Policy Council (TYFPC) will engage attendees in a modified ‘Open Space Technology’ event, by which participants will 1) propose discussion topics, 2) create the session’s agenda, and, 3) facilitate lively conversation about Youth Food Policy Councils. Members of the TYFPC will be available to discuss their experiences mobilizing North America’s first YFPC in Toronto.
Committee Meetings
CFSC committees will hold meetings during Sessions 2 and 5.These committees provide great opportunities for members to get directly involved in CFSC’s work. Learn more about CFSC committees.
Sunday, October 17, 12:15 – 1:15 pm
Policy Committee
CFSC’s Policy Committee develops policy goals for the coalition, updates members on the latest federal policy happenings affecting the community food security movement, and strategizes on current legislative efforts. Join us in New Orleans to hear what CFSC’s policy office has been working on in 2010, and to discuss future policy issues affecting community food security.
Session 2 – Sunday, October 17, 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Urban Agriculture Committee
The Urban Agriculture Committee works on national policy and disseminates information of interest to community gardeners, urban farmers and other metropolitan growers. During this meeting we will brainstorm speakers to invite to our upcoming monthly conference calls, and discuss legislative strategy related to getting urban agriculture included in the 2012 Farm Bill.
Food & Faith Committee
The Food and Faith committee meets annually at the CFSC meeting and hosts an email discussion list around issues related to food and faith. Join us to review past goals and select priorities for our work in the coming year. This year’s meeting will offer us an opportunity to revisit the focus and format of this committee so we can plan for our future.
Session 5 – Monday, October 18, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
International Links Committee
The International Links Committee works to connect the Coalition to its food security partners around the world through initiatives for food sovereignty, fair trade, and sustainable agriculture. Our goals are to strengthen CFSC’s involvement in broader global movements and to serve as a springboard for collaboration among CFSC members on international issues.
Community Economic Development Working Group
The CED working group helps communities make the economic case for local foods. At the New Orleans conference, we are co-sponsoring a pre-conference short course and the Brazilian delegation. We’re on our way to formal recognition as a committee. Much more needs to be done! Come help us define and launch our next activities.