the importance of Food Councils October 7, 2014 Policy Local

Christy Shi Community Food Systems Engagement Strategist

Christy Shi Community Food Systems Engagement Strategist

Christy Shi Community Food Systems Engagement Strategist Made possible by financial support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

? What EXACTLY do I mean by food council? Policy Local

? What EXACTLY do I mean by food council? a non-profit, such as Charlotte-Meck FPC? Policy Local

? What EXACTLY do I mean by food council? a non-profit, such as Charlotte-Meck FPC? an appointed advisory board, such as Cabarrus FPC? Policy Local

? What EXACTLY do I mean by food council? a non-profit, such as Charlotte-Meck FPC? an appointed advisory board, such as Cabarrus FPC? a community network, such as Forsyth Community Food System Consortium? Policy Local

? What EXACTLY do I mean by food council? a non-profit, such as Charlotte-Meck FPC? an appointed advisory board, such as Cabarrus FPC? a community network, such as Forsyth Community Food System Consortium? a regional convening, such as WNC FPC? Policy Local

? What EXACTLY do I mean by food council? a non-profit, such as Charlotte-Meck FPC? an appointed advisory board, such as Cabarrus FPC? a community network, such as Forsyth Community Food System Consortium? a regional convening, such as WNC FPC? a multi-county organization, such as the Upper PeeDee FFC? Policy Local

? What EXACTLY do I mean by food council? a non-profit, such as Charlotte-Meck FPC? an appointed advisory board, such as Cabarrus FPC? a community network, such as Forsyth Community Food System Consortium? a regional convening, such as WNC FPC? a multi-county organization, such as the Upper PeeDee FFC? a membership coalition, such as Sustainable Food NC? Policy Local

? What EXACTLY do I mean by food council? a non-profit, such as Charlotte-Meck FPC? an appointed advisory board, such as Cabarrus FPC? a community network, such as Forsyth Community Food System Consortium? a regional convening, such as WNC FPC? a multi-county organization, such as the Upper PeeDee FFC? a membership coalition, such as Sustainable Food NC? YES. Policy Local

Food is emerging as a common denominator in many community efforts.

How do we leverage community food systems to further loftier aims? Vibrant Farms & Fishing Healthy PeopleStrong CommunitiesThriving Local EconomiesResilient Ecosystems

So many people are engaging in food – it’s hard to keep up! Farm Service Agency Soil and Water Conservation Museums and Historical Associations Elected Officials Chambers of Commerce Restaurant Associations Marketing Groups

So many people are engaging in food – it’s hard to keep up! Cooperative Extension Higher Education Community Gardens Farm Service Agency Soil and Water Conservation Community Foundations Hospitals Health Practitioners Food Bloggers & Writers Museums and Historical Associations Elected Officials Land Trusts Parks and Recreation Distributors Chambers of Commerce Restaurant Associations Marketing Groups Hardware, Feed & Seed Stores

So many people are engaging in food – it’s hard to keep up! Cooperative Extension Social Services Farm Bureau Higher Education Educators (K-12) Local Farm & Food Orgs Community Gardens Farm Service Agency Soil and Water Conservation Community Foundations Hospitals Health Practitioners Youth Organizations Food Bloggers & Writers Museums and Historical Associations Media Elected Officials Land Trusts Parks and Recreation Nature Groups Watershed Groups Economic Development Distributors Tourism Grocery/Convenience Stores Chambers of Commerce Culinary Schools Restaurant Associations Marketing Groups Hardware, Feed & Seed Stores

So many people are engaging in food – it’s hard to keep up! Cooperative Extension Social Services Farm Bureau Higher Education Educators (K-12) Local Farm & Food Orgs Community Gardens Natural Resource Conservation Service Food Banks Farm Service Agency Soil and Water Conservation Faith-Based Organizations Community College Farmers Markets Public Health School System Nutritionists Community Foundations Hospitals Health Practitioners Youth Organizations Food Bloggers & Writers Museums and Historical Associations Civic Clubs and Organizations Media Local Government Elected Officials Planning & Code Enforcement Land Trusts Parks and Recreation Nature Groups Watershed Groups Waste Management Environment/Sustainability Offices Economic Development Distributors Tourism Grocery/Convenience Stores Dealer/Packers/Processors Banks & Funding Agencies Chambers of Commerce Small Business Centers Culinary Schools Restaurant Associations Food Hubs/Aggregators Marketing Groups Hardware, Feed & Seed Stores Future Farmers of America

With so much activity, how do we know what the issues are, who is involved, and what’s working?

Food councils are emerging to strengthen community-based food systems in NC.

…are food councils needed? WHY

Systems change requires many diverse people learning from each other. WHY?

Food councils provide ways to encourage all actors across the system to learn together. WHY?

Food councils provide ways to encourage all actors across the system to learn together. Fostering social capital (trust), an important factor in systems change. WHY?

Food councils provide ways to encourage all actors across the system to learn together. Fostering social capital (trust), an important factor in systems change. Bringing together groups that typically do not intersect with each other. WHY?

Food councils provide ways to encourage all actors across the system to learn together. Intentionally exploring joint actions, building trust and breaking down silos. Fostering social capital (trust), an important factor in systems change. Bringing together groups that typically do not intersect with each other. WHY?

Blind Men and the Elephant By John Godfrey Saxe (1816–1887) Systems change requires a shared concept of a community food system. WHY?

Food councils provide a shared way of thinking about the whole community food system. WHY?

Food councils provide a shared way of thinking about the whole community food system. Creating a vision everyone sees themselves fitting into. (Google: Whole Measures) WHY?

Food councils provide a shared way of thinking about the whole community food system. Creating a vision everyone sees themselves fitting into. (Google: Whole Measures) WHY? Creating a frame that reflects all investments in improving the system. (Google: Community Capitals)

Food councils provide a shared way of thinking about the whole community food system. Creating a vision everyone sees themselves fitting into. (Google: Whole Measures) WHY? Creating a frame that reflects all investments in improving the system. (Google: Community Capitals) Approaching the whole picture, emphasizing results, not activities. (Google: Outcomes Thinking)

poverty shrinking farmer & fishing professions loss of farmland poor diets In systems change, complex issues are difficult to untangle. WHY?

Food councils can bring together the whole system to learn what really works. WHY?

Food councils can bring together the whole system to learn what really works. WHY? What did we do?

Food councils can bring together the whole system to learn what really works. WHY? What did we do? So what?

Food councils can bring together the whole system to learn what really works. WHY? What did we do? So what? Now what?

WHY …are food councils needed?

WHY …are food councils needed? Collaboration

WHY …are food councils needed? Shared View Collaboration

WHY …are food councils needed? Shared View Collaboration What Works?

WHAT …do food councils DO?

Food councils facilitate connections by engaging many people in the conversation. WHAT?

Engaging government staff facilitates connections across departments.

Engaging residents facilitates connections across industry and community efforts.

Engaging statewide facilitates connections to resources and learning opportunities.

Food councils focus attention by making sense of complex issues. WHAT?

Assessing current status of health, economy, and environment identifies critical food-related issues.

Learning about underlying factors reveals food-related barriers and opportunities.

Identifying priorities focuses attention on what needs to happen next.

Food councils drive action by providing impetus and support for food-related change. WHAT?

Recommending policy changes removes barriers and creates opportunities.

Recommending community programming changes creates synergies within the local food system.

Communicating local priorities to other councils builds momentum statewide.

WHAT …do food councils DO?

WHAT …do food councils DO? Facilitate Connections

WHAT …do food councils DO? Facilitate Connections Provide Focus

WHAT …do food councils DO? Facilitate Connections Provide Focus Drive Action

HOW …do food councils succeed?

Successful food councils attend to people. HOW?

Attending to people involves asking questions such as: HOW?

Attending to people involves asking questions such as: Who is missing from the conversation and what will it take to engage them? HOW?

Attending to people involves asking questions such as: Who is missing from the conversation and what will it take to engage them? How do we cultivate a culture of inclusivity and participation? HOW?

Attending to people involves asking questions such as: Who is missing from the conversation and what will it take to engage them? How do we cultivate a culture of inclusivity and participation? How do we empower people to take action individually and in groups? HOW?

Successful food councils attend to purpose. HOW?

Attending to purpose involves intentional conversations around: HOW?

Attending to purpose involves intentional conversations around: What are the most important results we want to achieve? HOW?

Attending to purpose involves intentional conversations around: What are the most important results we want to achieve? How do we hold creative tension between opposing needs? HOW?

Attending to purpose involves intentional conversations around: What are the most important results we want to achieve? How do we hold creative tension between opposing needs? How do we chart our course while allowing for emergence? HOW?

Successful food councils attend to process. HOW?

Attending to process involves providing structural supports such as: HOW?

Attending to process involves providing structural supports such as: Facilitation skills and empowering group members to facilitate. HOW?

Attending to process involves providing structural supports such as: Facilitation skills and empowering group members to facilitate. Decision-making procedures that are inclusive, seeking BOTH/AND solutions. HOW?

Attending to process involves providing structural supports such as: Facilitation skills and empowering group members to facilitate. Decision-making procedures that are inclusive, seeking BOTH/AND solutions. Culture of collaborative learning – where it is safe to learn from failure. HOW?

HOW …do food councils succeed?

HOW …do food councils succeed? Attend to People

HOW …do food councils succeed? Attend to People Attend to Purpose

HOW …do food councils succeed? Attend to People Attend to Purpose Attend to Process

Food councils are an important part of strengthening community food systems.

WHY? Shared View Collaboration What Works?

Food councils are an important part of strengthening community food systems. WHY? WHAT? Facilitate Connections Provide Focus Drive Action Shared View Collaboration What Works?

Food councils are an important part of strengthening community food systems. WHY? WHAT? HOW? Attend to People Attend to Purpose Attend to Process Facilitate Connections Provide Focus Drive Action Shared View Collaboration What Works?

Christy Shi Day Community Food Systems Engagement Strategist Made possible by financial support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. Wanna know more?

Christy Shi Day Community Food Systems Engagement Strategist tinyurl.com/council-webinar Made possible by financial support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. Wanna know more?

Christy Shi Day Community Food Systems Engagement Strategist tinyurl.com/council-webinar communityfoodstrategies.org Made possible by financial support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. Wanna know more?

Christy Shi Day Community Food Systems Engagement Strategist tinyurl.com/council-webinar communityfoodstrategies.org Made possible by financial support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. Wanna know more?