Show Up Series: Collaborative Food Action
2021 Event Series
Sep 11 – SEEDS Plant Sale
Oct 1 – Food Council Spotlight
Oct 27 – Wages that Work Symposium
Nov 9 – WNC Food Council Summit
Nov 10 – Triad Food Councils Rendezvous
Jan 13, 2022 – Growing Connections in Farming in Northeastern NC
2022 – How to host a Grower/Buyer Meetup
In lieu of our regular in-person Statewide Food Council Gathering this year (remember 2019 in Rocky Mount), Community Food Strategies is supporting safe, creative connections between food councils.
Each region across North Carolina has collaborated to promote a particular event for their region. Some events are region specific, and some are open to the public. Check out the events below, help promote these events and join in the conversation.
We hope your leave these events feeling inspired, connected, and ready to take action for your food community.
We’re inviting you to show up, albeit virtually, for each other and for collaborative food action.
Triangle Region
SEEDS Fall Plant Sale
Saturday, September 11th, 9:00am - 2:00pm
SEEDS, who hosts a youth food council, is partnering with NC Cooperative Extension’s Garden Fall Fest to host their Fall Plant Sale. Join them to purchase vegetable and other plant seedlings to support SEEDS programs! We will have a variety of fall crop starts and perennial herbs for sale to help your garden get the boost this Fall!
Open to the public
Location: 1314 S. Briggs Ave, Durham 27703
Contact: Trevor Hyde at thyde@seedsnc.org
Charlotte Region
October Food Council Spotlight
Friday, October 1, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Join the Charlotte Area food councils for a virtual keynote address on Facebook Live featuring:
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Jenna Wadsworth, Wake County Soil & Water District Supervisor and
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Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, PhD from NC’s 12th District
The focus of the keynote will be on food access challenges still exacerbated by COVID and how food councils are an important resource in that work.
Open to the public
Contact: Jared Cates, jared@carolinafarmstewards.org
See Facebook Event for more details.
Triangle region
Wages that Work: An Employer-Led Conversation on Living Wage
Wednesday, October 27, 11:00 - 12:30pm
The Live Well Wake Employment Workgroup is now working toward a virtual series on October 13, 20, and 27 called “Make It Work.” Each week will feature a different discussion around “work.” The living wage discussion will be held on Oct 27th from 11:00-12:30.
The agenda currently includes a short presentation from an NCSU economics professor on the national context around living wage, followed by an employer panel discussion, and closing with audience questions/discussion.
Open to the Public
Contact: Cindy Sink, cindydsink@gmail.com
See the eventbrite for more details and registration.
Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina Food Council Summit
Tuesday, November 9
A virtual panel discussion composed of Western North Carolinians with personal and professional experiences across the food system. At this event, we will share stories, build relationships, and strengthen collaboration to improve local food accessibility and equity in Western North Carolina as we continue to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Audience: Focused on WNC Food council members and partners, and others welcome
Contacts: Amy Marion, amy@asapconnections.org or Julie Lehmann, juljerlehmann81@gmail.com
Register here.
Triad Region
Triad Food Councils Rendezvous
Wednesday November 10, 10:00 - 12:00pm
What does your food council need to take it to the next level? Each of the eight food councils in the Triad region is at various phases of development and focused on different priorities. Yet even despite another unprecedented year full of demands, uncertainties, and opportunities, all of these food councils have energy and local solutions.
We invite all food council members in the Triad region to join us for a virtual regional connection. This event will act as a kind of ‘wellness’ check-up, to share your food council’s focus areas, triumphs, and needs. Collectively, we’ll brainstorm what resources, trainings, or other support we need in the upcoming year to take our work to the next phase. This brainstorm may result in a series of food council workshops in 2022. Invite your food council members and join us!
Agenda & Notes
Open to food councils in the Triad region
Contact: Jennifer Bedrosian, 336.904.0300, jbedrosian@ptrc.org
Northeastern NC region
Growing Connection for Farmers in Northeastern NC: A short film premier and community discussion
Thursday, January 13th, 7:00-8:30pm
Join us for a watch party for a movie premier of the virtual production/mini-movie of NE NC food system. The video will highlight who we are and where we’re trying to go. It will be like a PBS special with a virtual Q&A and discussion with VIP members of the movie cast, and others attending the watch event!
Register HERE and check out their full promo video on our Facebook!
Audience: Northeast region – broader than food councils, but specific to northeastern counties/communities
Contacts: Chester Williams, ceo@abc2nc.org & Mary Jane Lyonnais, maryjane.lyonnais@arhs-nc.org
Southeastern NC region
How to Host an Effective Grower-Buyer Meetup
Event Postponed until 2022
Food councils across southeastern NC are hosting a virtual presentation and planning session to learn how to coordinate an effective grower/buyer meeting. We will hear from past event coordinators to share what it takes to plan a successful event. We also want to hear from growers and buyers in the region to hear your thoughts about what would be most useful for you.
What are the questions, hopes, and opportunities for creating more viable connections and markets between local producers and fishers and local buyers?
Are you a grower or fisher interested in new markets? Are you a restaurant chef, retail outlet, or aggregator looking to purchase more local food products? We want to hear from you.
Participants will receive gift cards for your input and participation.
Who: Southeastern NC food councils, growers, fishers, restaurant chefs, and other buyers
Contact: Shawn Banks, snbanks@ncsu.edu, (252) 222-6352
