MEETINGS & CONFERENCE CALLS

Conference Call Schedule
FPC Meetings and Events
Archive

2009 FPC Conference Calls

Next call:

To Be Announced - please join the FPC email listserve for conference call announcements.

Recent calls:

April 13, 2009
Topic: Land Use
Speakers:
Neva Hassanein, Chair of CFAC's Land Use and Ag Viability Committee
Steve Cohen, Food Policy and Programs, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, City of Portland
Morgan Taggert, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition
Cindi Torres, Boulder County Food and Agriculture Policy Council, CO
Call Notes (doc) | Call Recording (MP3, 20 Mb)

Notes from calls in 200-2008 can be found in the archives.

From People Power to Public Policy: A Gathering of Local and State Food Policy Councils

Saturday October 10, 8:30 am - 6 pm

From People Power to Public Policy is CFSC's first meeting dedicated specifically to food policy councils. It is appropriate for anyone who is interested in or involved with any organized effort to influence local and state food, agriculture, or nutrition policy. Food Policy Councils (FPCs) bring together stakeholders from diverse food-related sectors to examine how the food system is operating and to develop recommendations on how to improve it. FPCs may take many forms, but are typically either commissioned by state or local government, or predominately a grassroots effort.

From People Power to Public Policy is an opportunity to learn more about policy, projects and partnerships that make up local food systems. It is also an occasion to network with individuals on the cutting edge of local and state food policy issues. From People Power to Public Policy offers attendees a chance to share innovative ideas that reflect community values and enhance community food security.

For more information and to register, go to the CFSC Annual Conference website.

FPC Workshop at the NOFA-NY Winter Conference, January 2009

In cooperation with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York and their 27th annual winter conference in Rochestor, New York, the Community Food Security Coalition offered a one-day food policy council workshop on January 23, 2009.

Food Policy Councils: A Pathway to a Just and Sustainable Food System examined the role that local and state food policy councils can play in bringing about a just and sustainable food system for consumers and producers. The focus was on the development, operation, and practice of food policy councils as they have evolved across North America over the last 10 years. The workshop is appropriate for individuals as well as community teams who want to start a food policy council or want to improve the performance of an existing one.

The workshop was led by Mark Winne, the Community Food Security Coalition's Food Policy Council Project Director. Mark has been a leader in the promotion and success of food policy councils throughout North America. He was the executive director of the Hartford Food System for 25 years during which time he was also the co-founder of the City of Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy and the State of Connecticut Food Policy Council. He has provided training and technical assistance to over 50 communities that have developed or are interested in developing food policy councils. Mark is also the author of Closing the Food Gap: Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty.

2008 Regional FPC Trainings

The Food Policy Council Program of the Community Food Security Coalition offered three regional FPC training workshops in 2008, in various parts of the US. These workshops were designed to assist individuals and organizations interested in the development of local, regional or state food policy councils - those that are currently operational as well as those that are in the very early stages of development. The training emphasized the organizational development of coalitions and networks that may precede the actual establishment of a food policy council, the operation of food policy councils, and the development of effective local and state food policy strategies. As such, the workshop is suitable for beginners as well as those with more experience.

Thursday, Jan. 17 in Lousville, KY
in conjunction with the Southern SAWG conference, Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms
Read more about the conference and the workshop.

Thursday, February 28 & Friday, February 29 in Milwaukee, WI
in conjunction with the Urban Agriculture conference, Pollinating Our Future
Read more about the conference and workshop.

Monday, May 5 in Santa Fe, NM
in conjunction with the 6th Annual Southwest Marketing Network conference.