2023 & 2024

Annual Report

Timeline

Team + Partners

2024

2024
2023

Support & Partners

Team Members

Our team collectively consists of just over five full-time staff, with many of us contributing small percentages of time to the overall project.

*these team members joined Community Food Strategies in 2024

BEVELYN AFOR UKAH*, LASHAUNA AUSTRIA, TAMEKIA BRANDON*, JAYLEN CATES, MORIAH COLLINS*, MARCUS HILL, SHY PALMER*, HETAL PATEL, ABBEY PINER, BRETT RAPKIN-CITRENBAUM*, ALI STONE, & NATHALIE URIARTE-AYALA*

Support & Partners

Team Members

Our team collectively consists of just over five full-time staff, with many of us contributing small percentages of time to the overall project.

*these team members moved on to new organizations/ opportunities

LASHAUNA AUSTRIA, BRANDY BYNUM-DAWSON*, JAYLEN CATES, MARCUS HILL, SUZY KHACHATURYAN*, MILES KIRKSEY*, GINI KNIGHT*, YASMEEN LEE*, HETAL PATEL, ABBEY PINER, & ALI STONE

2024

2024
2023

Support & Partners

Team Members

Our team collectively consists of just over five full-time staff, with many of us contributing small percentages of time to the overall project.

*these team members joined Community Food Strategies in 2024

Support & Partners

Team Members

Our team collectively consists of just over five full-time staff, with many of us contributing small percentages of time to the overall project.

*these team members moved on to new organizations/ opportunities

LASHAUNA AUSTRIA, BRANDY BYNUM-DAWSON*, JAYLEN CATES, MARCUS HILL, SUZY KHACHATURYAN*, MILES KIRKSEY*, GINI KNIGHT*, YASMEEN LEE*, HETAL PATEL, ABBEY PINER, & ALI STONE

IMPACT

53

# of Groups who Attended the Northeast/Triangle Regional Gathering: 53

46

# of Groups who Attended the Triad/Charlotte/Southeast Regional Gathering: 46

108

# of organizations that participated in topic-based peer-to-peer networking: 108

17

Average # of organizations represented on Quarterly Network Calls: 17

2696

Average monthly reach via instagram: 2696

“

One of if not the most impactful conferences I have ever attended. To hear the stories shared altered my way of thinking in how I approach situations in my work. It challenged where I am in deconstructing my old ideologies (raised in a small rural NC town). I truly felt at home amongst people who spoke their truths and work every day towards not only a more equitable and just food system, but in every walk of life. Thank you for everything! It was an amazing time surrounded by beautiful people.

– Gathering Participant

The internship has increased public visibility of our work, improved existing relationships and built new partnerships, and increased the number of food access points. Our current local food system and its ability to adapt to the changing needs of the community is stronger and more flexible.

– Rutherford County Food Council, 2022 – 2023 FIRE Intern Host Site

Food is a social justice fight and a fight against racism, and we continue that fight by doing events like this and speaking up.

– Terrence Whidbee, ABC2

Food is so intersectional. You can’t really address any justice work without having food as part of the conversation.

– Moriah Gendy

Make sure food is a central part of a collaboration.

– Makayla Johnson

– Gathering Participant

– Rutherford County Food Council, 2022 – 2023 FIRE Intern Host Site

Food is a social justice fight and a fight against racism, and we continue that fight by doing events like this and speaking up.

– Terrence Whidbee, ABC2

Food is so intersectional. You can’t really address any justice work without having food as part of the conversation.

– Moriah Gendy

Make sure food is a central part of a collaboration.

– Makayla Johnson

Cornerstones Of How We Approach Our Work

Our Values

Forging our Food Future Video

This 3-minute video features participants at the Forging our Food Future: 2023 Community Food Gathering in Rocky Mount, NC who share important food memories and traditions that feed their vision for a just and joyful food future. These participants shared important lessons and learnings with the Network.

Ten incredible storytellers at the Community Food Gathering StorySLAM shared important food memories, and what the wanted to bring from those memories into the work of creating our food future.

YouTube Playlist

September 17th & 18th, 2025 Colfax, NC

Want to relive the magic? Visit our Statewide Gathering Summary Page for recaps, resources, and a gallery of photos that capture the spirit and energy of our time together.

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