If you’re interested in the future formation of a DC food policy council, progressively changing the local foodshed, or creating a food cooperative that will sell DC-grown produce commercially, show up at THEARC this Friday.

Rooting DC and DC’s Field to Fork Network are hosting a free panel discussion on Friday, April 16th at THEARC in Southeast DC from 10 to 2. The topic will be community food security, with two panels: one that has a national focus and one that will look at what’s going on here locally.

National

* Cheryl Danley (CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems, Michigan State University)–moderator
* Robert Egger (DC Central Kitchen)
* Michael Heller (Clagett Farm)
* Carolina Valencia (Social Compact)
* Malik Yakini (Detroit Black Community Food Security Network)
* Maurice Smalls (City Fresh, Cleveland,OH)

Local

* Andrea Northup (DC Farm to School Network)—moderator
* Alexandra Ashbrook (DC Hunger Solutions)
* Vinnie Bevivino (Engaged Community Offshoots)
* Dennis Chestnut (Groundwork Anacostia)
* Che Axum (Food & Earth Systems International)
* Tambra Stevenson, MS (MWPHA)

The challenges of conducting outreach in low-income communities and cross-cultural dialogue will also be analyzed, and great work already being done by people of color in the urban environment will be celebrated.

We also hope to have an impact on the policy discussions surrounding the Healthy Schools Act that is currently before the DC Council, and farm to school legislation and national fresh food financing initiatives working their way through Congress.

Questions? Please contact: Carl Rollins at 202.321.6206 or faithfulservant3@earthlink.net.