Growing Food and Justice for All

A National Initiative

SAVE THE DATE:

Growing Food and Justice for All Initiative (GFJI)

First Annual Gathering

September 19-21, 2008

Milwaukee, WI

Mission: The Growing Food and Justice for All Initiative is a new initiative aimed at dismantling racism and empowering low-income and communities of color through sustainable and local agriculture.

This comprehensive network views dismantling racism as a core principal which brings together social change agents from diverse sectors working to bring about new, healthy and sustainable food systems and supporting and building multicultural leadership in impoverished communities throughout the world.

The vision for this initiative is to establish a powerful network of individuals, organizations and community based entities all working toward a food secure and just world.

This gathering will include:

·         Intensive anti-racism trainings for individuals and organizations interested in becoming trainers.

·         Workshops and facilitated discussions on social justice, community food systems, dismantling racism 101.

·         Affinity sessions offered by GFJI members.

·         Networking and discussions.

·         Committee meetings and GFJI strategy sessions.

·         Tours to the Black Holocaust museum, Growing Power and other Milwaukee area community food system projects.

·         Delicious local and culturally appropriate food.

·         Variety of lodging options, that are low cost including local home stays.

·         And much more to be planned!!!!

For more information and to participate in conference planning contact: Diane Dodge at 651-278-6748 or dianefaydodge@hotmail.com

Download the Save the Date information

Proposals accepted through May 12, 2008.  To download this information, please click here.                                                          

Workshop Topics

We are seeking workshops focused on dismantling racism in the food system, such as:

{      Examples of community food projects led by people of color

{      Social justice campaigns and parallel movement presentations

{      Immigrant farmer and migrant worker justice

{      Building community operated food systems using anti-racism principles

{      Dismantling racism in the media

{      Health disparities among ethnic and economic groups

{      Youth and multi-generational approaches to food and justice

{      Urban agriculture as a tool for dismantling racism

{      Economic development

{      Strategies for developing people of color leadership

{      Dismantling racism training and training of trainers

And we’ll have creative, passionate affinity sessions that will inspire and engage others!

Session Format

Workshops and affinity sessions are for 1-2 hour slots. Two part and shared workshops are possible.

Presentations that build leadership skills, facilitate the development of anti-racism strategies and are participatory and innovative will be given top priority!

Submission of Proposals

Please submit your workshop proposal including a. workshop title, purpose and length, b. presenters contact information, and, c. intended workshop outcomes to Diane Dodge at dianefaydodge@hotmail.com by May 12, 2008. Proposals should be 1-2 pages. If you would like to present but need help developing a workshop proposal, please contact Diane and she will put you in touch with a mentor that can help. Presenters will have registration fee waived, but will be asked to pay membership dues ($15.00).

Train the Trainers

GFJI is also planning an intensive training for those interested in building and sharing their skills as a facilitator of dismantling racism workshops. Details of this training will be determined soon. Please let Diane know if you would like to receive more information as it develops.

Purpose of the GFJI

The Growing Food and Justice for All Initiative (GFJI), hosted by Growing Power, Inc. is a new comprehensive network that views dismantling racism as a core principal that brings together social change agents from diverse sectors working to bring about new, healthy and sustainable food systems and supporting and building multicultural leadership in impoverished communities throughout the world.

The vision for this initiative is to establish a powerful network of individuals, organizations and community based entities all working toward a food secure and just world. This initiative will support the following:

-          Annual conference/summit designed to share information, strategies and to build a collective platform for the year

-          Support local, national and international networking sessions between members

-          Establish a voice and presence in the formation of policies that support justice, economic opportunity and equity reflecting the values and integrity of GFJI members

-          Provide administrative support for members to host dismantling racism, policy building and technical assistance

-          Host monthly teleconference calls for committees

-          Publish quarterly newsletter that features information on dR, social justice and policy and information relevant to members (opportunity for members to promote programs, activities, etc.)

-          Establish website for initiative

-          Hire full time initiative administrator

-          Contract Dismantling Racism training organization(s) to teach initiative members how to train dR trainers.

List of committees:

Fundraising:  Listing potential sources of funds, planning which funders to approach, grantwriting, etc.

Membership/Partnership/Outreach:  Developing a membership/partnership policy, setting fees for membership, making sure that our efforts can reach all people interested in dismantling racism (and other related "isms") in a sustainable and socially just food system, etc.

Communications:  Develop website, do surveys, work closely with other committees (particularly Education) to have relevant and up-to-date materials available for the purpose of dismantling racism in a sustainable and socially just food system, etc.

Conference/dismantling racism/training of trainers (TOT):  Developing conference scenario and logistics, developing dismantling racism trainings at all levels, developing a training of trainers program so that the initiative has well qualified trainers in all geographical areas that might require them, etc.

Education:  Developing and making easily accessible any material that relates to the mission and vision of the initiative, working closely with the Communications committee, etc.

History & Scope

The organizing of the GFJI reflects the need for innovative and genuine leadership in the development of a sustainable, community-based food systems movement.  The founding members of the initiative are the practitioners of sustainable food systems work: mainly farmers, marketers and other workers who are building new, local systems.  Some are familiar with coalition and advocacy work at the national and international levels, while others are new to large-scale initiatives. This initiative strives to outreach to other parallel social justice movements and build solidarity and multidisciplinary support, in the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of building “Beloved Community”.

The principal objective of the GFJI Initiative network is to create support for the local work that is already underway throughout North America, employing a from-the-ground-up strategy to build power for broad food systems change across the world.

Vision: to work together with a shared vision of dismantling racism via network building, shared leadership, economic growth and community food systems

• Every neighborhood in low-income communities and communities of color has full access to fresh, healthy, local, affordable, culturally appropriate food every day through a variety of retail channels ranging from farmer’s markets to locally-owned small corner stores and supermarkets.

• In every neighborhood in low-income communities and communities of color the residents of the neighborhood own and operate the small businesses that produce, distribute and sell the fresh, healthy food consumed in the neighborhood.

• Through ownership and operation of the local food system, every neighborhood in low-income communities and communities of color provides opportunity for its children to develop business skills and leadership capacity offering hope that each child, every family and the community itself can achieve its self-determined destiny.

  Budget: We are estimating $150,000 annual budget for this project

Documents to Download

• Accessing the GFJI List Serv

• GFJI Invitation

• GFJI Abstract

• Committees Defined