On Friday, September 9th, WhyHunger held the first national gathering of the Community Learning Project for Food Justice in coordination with the Growing Food and Justice Initiative (GFJI) conference in Milwaukee, WI. Fourteen of the most innovative community-based organizations in the food justice movement are participating in the project through peer-to-peer learning partnerships.
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Launched in 2010, the Community Learning Project for Food Justice is a new project developed by WhyHunger in collaboration with Growing Power to catalyze connection, spark innovation and build on the knowledge sharing network in the food justice movement. Participants have been working with their partners around the country, mostly via conference calls, to share ideas, technical skills and support with each other.
Taking advantage of the first time together as a group, everyone shared stories, challenges and ideas on everything from the importance of building leadership amongst the youth in the movement, to the best “point of sale” software to use for your local worker-owned food co-op.
Over the next six months, partners in the Community Learning Project for Food Justice will be visiting each other on their home turf for some on-the-ground learning and a chance to see their partner’s work in operation. We’ll be joining them to learn more and share their stories so stay tuned for more updates on the Community Learning Project for Food Justice.
2011 Community Learning Project for Food Justice Participants
Black Oaks Center for Sustainable Renewable Living (Chicago, IL) Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (Detroit, MI) Oyotunji African Village (Sheldon, SC) Community Services Unlimited, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) Dill Pickle Food Co-Op (Chicago, IL) Mandela MarketPlace (Oakland, CA) Community to Community Development (Bellingham, WA) Huerto de la Familia (Eugene, OR) Gardening Matters (Minneapolis, MN) Nuestras Raices (Holyoke, MA) Pedal Co-op (Philadelphia, PA) Mississippians Engaged in Greener Agriculture (MEGA) (Shelby, MS) People’s Grocery (Oakland, CA) Social Justice Learning Project (Inglewood, CA)