rebuilding communities from the grassroots sharon thornberry megan newell-ching community food...
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Rebuilding Communities from the Grassroots
Sharon Thornberry Megan Newell-ChingCommunity Food Systems Manager Community Resource Developer
OREGON FOOD BANK
Environmental
Stewardship
Jobs
Economic Development
Farm
Viab
ility
Farmland ProtectionCommunity Viability
Food
Se
curit
y
ProcessingCommunity Food
System
Distributing
Recycling Nutrients
Growing Food
Preparing Food
Eating
Retailing
Community Advocates
Researchers and
Educators
Technical Service
Providers
Funders and Lenders
Trade Associations
Policy Makers
Government Agencies
Support System
What is a Food System?It’s the sum of
all activities required to make food available to
people Adopted from CS Mott Group at MSU
Resilience is the opposite of vulnerability.
Resilient food systems can withstand political, economic, social and environmental shocks.
Resilient individuals, households and communities are less vulnerable to changes in fortune that push others into food insecurity.
Resilient Food Systems
VISION: We envision communities across Oregon and SW Washington where citizens are empowered and actively engaged across sectors to attain personal and community food security.
Three approaches:• Community FEAST• RARE Community Food Assessment
Partnership • Food Systems Networking
Oregon Food Bank Community Food Systems
About the FEAST model• FEAST was developed as a response to the need to help
communities move to action around community food systems work.
• These events are organized by a local steering committee and feature local organizations
• A FEAST convenes a conversation that leads to a self-determined organizing plan for food systems work in the community
• Currently, OFB staff serve as facilitators, provide suggestions, feedback and support, but do not direct the outcomes.
What happens at a ?• Stories are shared from the local food system.
• Themes and solutions from other communities are shared.
• Food systems issues and solutions are discussed, distilled and sorted to identify priorities.
• Work groups are established and Organizing Plans created.
Community driven FEAST outcomes have included:• New farmers’ markets • Increased SNAP & WIC acceptance• Expanded community gardens • New donors for food banks• Additional Nutrition Education opportunities
IMPACT • 50+ events to date engaging over 1500 people
• Replicable model- being implemented in 6 states beyond Oregon
• Shown to increase community connections among participants
• 30+% of participants are food producers
• Program nationally recognized by Feeding America’s 2013 Innovation Awards
PUBL
IC
PRIV
ATE
NO
NPR
OFI
TEmergency Food Agencies
Faith-Based Organizations
Nutrition Education Programs
Farm-to-School Coalitions
Gleaners
Community Gardens
Farmers’ Markets
Farms
Food Retailers
Health Care Providers
Food Processors
Fisheries
OSU Extension
Elected Office
Public Health Departments
Jobs Offices
Schools
FEAST engages a broad spectrum of the community to create self-determined organizing plans.
OFB-RARE Community Food Assessment Partnership• 14 Community Food Assessments
(CFA) covering 21 counties (to date)
• Coordination and facilitation of 21 FEAST events
• 80+ Rural grocery store surveys• 7 Local food resource guides
WHY COMMUNITY FOOD ASSESSMENT?
Our qualitative approach:
• Builds community in the process
• Reflects local food system realities through the lens of the local community
• Informs grassroots actions in communities, acting as a guide for local organizations
For Oregon Food Bank, CFAs have identified:
• Improvements to local food systems that can be made by current community groups, with existing resources
• Ways to strengthen emergency food services in Oregon’s rural communities
• Policy solutions and other actions that can improve local food systems and reduce food insecurity
Complete • Current • Planned 13-14
CFA RECOMMENDATIONS COMMON ACROSS REGIONS:
Increase Healthy Food Access
Promote small & medium size growers
Build Food Literacy
Community Food Organizing
Timeline & Outcomes: Clatsop County2009: FEAST (September)
RARE AmeriCorps member- North Coast Food Guide- Clatsop County Food Assessment
2010: North Coast Food Web (501c3) formed2011: - North Coast Food Summit
- River People’s Farmers Market launched
- Food Talk radio show- Cooking Matters Nutrition Classes- 4-H Kids Classes- FoodDay events- Meyer Memorial Trust grant
2012: - 4 new school gardens, Mobile Gardens- Grow the Coast
Timeline & Process: Rogue Valley
2011: - MMT Planning Grant
2012: - Coordinator Hired (Jan)- Steering Committee Formed (March)
- 5 FEASTs (March-May)- 5 Community Conversations (March-June)- Community Food Assessment Report (Dec)
2013: - Food Summit (March)- MMT Implementation Grant (April)- Rogue Valley Food System Council (July)
SNAP in Oregon- March 2013: $105 million+ in SNAP benefits
statewide- Each $1 spent in SNAP generates $1.79 in
economic activity 2012 WIC Fruit & Veggie Voucher
$6.3 million spent in Oregon
Farm Direct Nutrition Program 2012 $2 million statewide- WIC & Seniors
$ The Bottom Line $$ The Bottom Line $
Yes Magazine, 2006
Buying
Local:
Economic
Multiplier
School children hungry on the
weekendFeed them!!
Backpack programQuick, simple, focus on child
Long term, renewable, family focus
Seek community
input
Community Garden
Collective Impact
Sharon Thornberry Megan Newell-ChingCommunity Food Systems Manager Community Resource DeveloperPhone: 971-205-5028 Phone: 503-419-4186
[email protected] [email protected]
Spencer Masterson Community Resource Developer
Phone: 971-313-8585
[email protected] Connect With Us on Social Media! http://www.facebook.com/oregonfoodbankcfs
https://twitter.com/#!/OFB_SharonT