what has our group been working on?

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, Equity Advocates launched the NYC Food Policy Alliance, a diverse multi-sector group of food system stakeholders advocating for policy change to address the injustices of the food system. Members bring expertise in emergency feeding programs, benefits access, community gardens, urban and rural farming, food businesses, nutrition and cooking education, as well as school food; many of whom have traditionally been underrepresented in the democratic process. The Alliance collectively identifies and advocates for city, state and federal policies focused on ending hunger and advancing healthy food access, economic justice, and food sovereignty in low-income communities across NY. The Alliance has grown to become a centralized organizing space for 75+ food systems stakeholders and the foundation for the creation of a local Food Policy Council. 

Together, this committee carried out research on existing models, conducted community outreach to build a strong and diverse base for a campaign, and continues to lead a planning process for the first FPC in New York City. In September 2021, Equity Advocates’ co-founders, Gabrielle Blavatsky and Leah Eden, along with 8 committee members attended The Power of Food: Cultivating Equitable Policy through Collective Action, the first-ever national forum for food policy councils hosted by The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. Shortly after the conference, we convened the first meeting of the Food Policy Council Committee to debrief and share learnings.

Behind the scenes, we researched dozens of different FPCs across the country to better understand their strengths and limitations and to identify what model(s) might work for New York City. We worked closely with a team at Baruch College conducting their capstone research project, a deeply researched “Case Studies of Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit.” This research project looked at each city’s FPC and analyzed a series of factors including: structure, relationship with local government, source of funding, activities, public access to participation and equity. We also spent over 10 hours speaking with leaders of FPCs in Toronto,ON; Detroit, MI; San Diego, CA; Kansas, and North Carolina as well as a coaching session with Mark Winne, a nationally recognized figure as one of the foremost experts in FPCs. 

From this research, we collectively developed a vision of a grassroots-driven, private-public Food Policy Council outlined in a mission statement that lays out the goals, purpose and structure of the FPC. We drafted the following initial values for a NYC Food Policy Council:

1. Intersectional approaches and solutions. Unifying otherwise-siloed food system stakeholders—urban farmers, community residents, nonprofits, advocates, food businesses, and philanthropy—to develop deeper partnerships and construct better policy solutions. 

2. Food democracy. Centering the voices of community members with lived experience and empower them to engage with the policymaking process.

3. Political power. Creating a central space for food system stakeholders to identify shared policy priorities and solutions, and advocate collectively for systemic changes.

4. Accountability. Holding city government accountable to advocates and to those with lived experience, while acting as a resource for the City.

To build public awareness about food policy councils, we hosted a public briefing on food policy councils in partnership with Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future in April 2022. One hundred sixty (160) NYC food systems practitioners attended and/or viewed a recording of this session to build collective understanding of FPCs and how one could support advancing food equity in New York City.