LEADERSHIP NIAGARA PROJECT TEAM: Corinna Carson Jon Colamartini Christina D’Innocenzo Carrie Gauthier Diane Vanecko

 Sponsors: ◦ Bridges Community Health Centre ◦ The Fort Erie Salvation Army  Project Goal: ◦ To ensure the people of Fort Erie have access to nutritional and affordable foods.  Project Budget: ◦ $

 Develop strategies to build capacity and strengthen current food systems by: ◦ Identifying relevant educational opportunities and incentives for participation; ◦ Identifying and developing multi-sector partnerships and networks to increase purchasing and acquisition to healthy food; and ◦ Organizing and facilitating a local food forum.

 Advocacy work to support Bill 78 Taxation Amendment Act ◦ Bill 78 is a Taxation Amendment Act that will provide a tax credit to farmers for donating produce to Ontario food banks ◦ The LN team drafted a letter to Fort Erie Council to support the Amendment and attended Fort Erie Council in support of the Bill The Deliverables

 Explore and establish potential multi-sector partnerships and networks; ◦ Connected with various organizations in Fort Erie such as Sobeys, Wal-Mart, and Rich Products ◦ Confirmed reclamation process, APS Inc. ◦ Explored opportunity to influence contents of donation food bags sold at grocers ◦ Established relationships with community businesses The Deliverables

 Create, implement, and analyze a survey to the target audience ◦ Goals:  Verify demographics of those experiencing food insecurity in Fort Erie  Identify barriers and solutions to eating healthy  Determine relevant educational opportunities and incentives ◦ 21 question survey ◦ 460 surveys distributed to 16 community partners ◦ Implemented mid January to end of February 2011 ◦ 180 surveys analyzed

 Develop, promote, and facilitate a local food forum based on survey results; ◦ Hosted the Fort Erie Food Network Forum on May 31, 2011 on Hunger Awareness Day ◦ Numerous vendors showcased programs/services ◦ Food demonstrations and tastings offered ◦ Approximately 60 people attended ◦ Lunch provided for participants recruiting local business donation The Deliverables

 Establish a Fort Erie Food Security Network; ◦ After the forum, all participants and vendors were invited to attend the inaugural Network meeting ◦ Goal:  To explore interest in sustaining a stakeholder network, to collaboratively address access and food insecurity in Fort Erie  To share the Fort Erie survey results The Deliverables

 Finalize an “Action Plan” ◦ Report on Survey Results ◦ Identify community partners, volunteers, and strategies to promote food security ◦ Information regarding the Forum and Network The Deliverables

 Hearing feedback from our sponsors at the Leadership Niagara session  The day of the Fort Erie Food Security Forum  The genuine appreciation from those who attended the Forum, and the sponsors  Our Project Team

 Balancing a heavy workload with the community project responsibilities  Compounding project scope and deliverables  Sitting in ‘limbo’ at times, awaiting the start of the next phase of the project

 Although you may feel like you are not doing enough for the sponsor, all efforts are recognized and appreciated  Revisit project scope and objectives often  Advocacy “in the community around you”  Recognize and complement each other’s strengths  An appreciation for community organizations and the dedication of their members  The desire to actively contribute more to my community

Questions?