Project Grant 20193380030381

PROJECT SUMMARYTITLE: JUST FOOD FOR US - UNITED SOCIETY CHARLOTTESVILLE: A COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY APPROACH OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE FOOD JUSTICE NETWORK TO CULTIVATING EQUITY IN OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM, EXPANDING FOOD ACCESS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES FACING ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, AND HEALING OUR CITY THROUGH FOOD JUSTICE POLICY AND ACTION.JUST FOOD FOR US--UNITED SOCIETY CHARLOTTESVILLE, REPRESENTS A LEADING INITIATIVE OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE FOOD JUSTICE NETWORK, A COLLABORATIVE OF GRASSROOTS FOOD SYSTEM ORGANIZATIONS, TO ENHANCE OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT TO COMBAT HEALTH AND WEALTH DISPARITIES AND A ESTABLISH A FOOD SECURE CITY.SETTING: WHILE CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA IS CONSIDERED AN AFFLUENT COMMUNITY, A CLOSER LOOK AT LIVED EXPERIENCES OF CHARLOTTESVILLE RESIDENTS UNCOVERS A TALE OF TWO CITIES--ONE IN WHICH HEALTHY DISPARITIES CUT DEEPLY ACROSS RACE AND CLASS AND UNEQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTHY NUTRITIOUS FOODS IS PREVALENT. HUNGER, FOOD INSECURITY AND POVERTY ARE ENTRENCHED PROBLEMS AND FOR OUR CITY ALSO HISTORICAL ONES. THE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM WHICH OUR ORGANIZATIONS EMERGED HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT BY STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES AND LIMITS TO RESOURCES IN THE CITY, WITH UP TO 66% OF FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN NECESSARY TO PAY FOR THE BARE ESSENTIALS TO SUPPORT A FAMILY (COMPARED TO 24% OVERALL).THOUGH, THE INEQUITY IN OUR SEEMINGLY WEALTHY TOWN HAS BEEN A BREEDING GROUND FOR THE JULY AND AUGUST 2017 WHITE SUPREMACIST EVENTS, A CONCERTED EFFORT ACROSS MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS TO COLLABORATE AROUND SUSTAINABLE CHANGE AND IMPACT HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING TOGETHER SINCE 2015 AND HAS BECOME THE FOUNDATION OF JUST FOOD FOR US.PARTNERS/ STAKEHOLDERS: THE FOLLOWING PARTNERS IN THE CHARLOTTESVILLE FOOD JUSTICE NETWORK (CFJN) WILL LEAD THIS PROJECT TO UNITE OUR LOCAL SOCIETY AROUND A FOOD SECURE CITY; CITY SCHOOLYARD GARDEN AND URBAN AGRICULTURAL COLLECTIVE OF CHARLOTTESVILLE. OTHER KEY ORGANIZING PARTNERS ARE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE NEW ROOTS, LOCAL FOOD HUB, CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS, BREAD & ROSES, THOMAS JEFFERSON HEALTH DISTRICT, CITY OF PROMISE, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL NEGOTIATION, AND PB & J FUND.ACTIVITIES & IMPACT: THROUGH A HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE PROCESS, THIS THREE-YEAR PROJECT WILL SUPPORT IMPROVED FOOD SECURITY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE'S UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL EMPLOY FOOD INSECURE ADULTS AND YOUTH AS FOOD JUSTICE LEADERS; DEVELOP POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENT ACTIONS FOR CITY, SCHOOL AND NONPROFIT ENTITIES; INCREASE RACIAL EQUITY PRACTICES IN 30+ LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM ORGANIZATIONS; EXPAND RESIDENT-LED URBAN FOOD PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND MARKET PARTICIPATION BY LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, REFUGEES, AND YOUTH AT 16 URBAN SITES FOR 50,000LBS OF PRODUCE; COLLECTIVELY REACH MORE THAN 3,500 YOUTH AND 2,000 ADULTS; CULTIVATE EQUITY AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS; AND PUT IN PLACE SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS TO HEALING OUR COMMUNITY AND BUILDING FOOD EQUITY INTO THE CORE OF OUR SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES. THE MULTI-FACETED PROJECT BUILDS ON THE EFFECTIVE WORK OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS WHILE CENTERING RESIDENTS AND YOUTH AS LEADERS AND DECISION MAKERS.