Issue #57 | September 2024








Supporting collective action

toward an equitable, sustainable, resilient, and connected local

food system in Massachusetts.



Advocate
Things you can do right now to
support systemic policy change.

Tell us how legislative inaction affects your work!


The Legislature's formal session has come to end. Despite the work of our closest legislative allies who have long championed the local food system, some important initiatives that would positively impact the food system did not pass this session. 


Please follow the steps outlined in this call to action and share your story with Becca Miller, rebecca@mafoodsystem.org, by September 30, 2024 via email. Please share this widely with your networks.



Register for the 2024 MA Food System Forum

Th2024 MA Food System Forum will be on Tuesday, December 17 from 8am - 4pm at the College of the Holy Cross, located at 1 College St in Worcester. Registration is $50 until October 1 and includes a locally sourced breakfast and lunch.

Register for the Forum
Collaborate
Highlights of the
Collaborative's work.

Advocacy tools available


While Beacon Hill is quieter this fall, it's a good time to brush up on some of the advocacy basics. The Collaborative has published many resources on our website, which are available here. Collaborative staff are also available to design advocacy trainings - please respond to this email if this is something your business or organization would potentially be interested in. Please don't hesitate to reach out to the Collaborative if you're interested in brainstorming ideas for new bills or budget asks for next session, which starts in January 2025!

Campaign for Food Literacy


The Campaign for Food Literacy met in August to brainstorm ideas for the future direction of our collective work. Here are the notes. If you were unable to attend the meeting and have thoughts you'd like to share about the future direction of this Campaign, please reach out to Becca Miller at rebecca@mafoodsystem.org. This campaign’s next meeting will be later this fall.



Local Food Policy Councils Network


During the meeting, the network had a great conversation about the collective goals and power of the Local Food Policy Councils network. We also discussed how to better leverage the network and brainstormed ideas on how we can advocate for change. Our next meeting will be October 10, 2024 from 10 - 11:30 am.


Agricultural Equity Network


Exciting conversations are happening at our Agricultural Equity monthly meetings; our Network is growing, and Norris is looking forward to visiting some farms this fall. If you'd like to see what the Network is up to or sign up, please contact Norris at Norris@mafoodsystem.org.

Celebrate
Inspiring work being done by some
of our friends in Massachusetts.

Change is Simple works to further food system education


Change is Simple is a non profit organization dedicated to providing equitable climate and sustainability education to K-8 students across the Greater Boston area. For 14 years, Change is Simple has been transforming education across Massachusetts with dynamic, hands-on learning experiences. Originally established to teach environmental science and sustainability, Change is Simple has significantly expanded its mission, developing an effective framework for integrating STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts and math) education into public schools while empowering students to take action to protect our planet. 


The Change is Simple STEAM curriculum covers nearly every facet of climate change and environmental science, from pollination, oceans, and endangered species to plastic pollution, sustainable energy, and the food system.


This program is designed to work in any public school, where children of all racial, socioeconomic, religious, and gender identities are represented and included. We prioritize schools in under-resourced districts as they have historically lacked access to meaningful STEAM opportunities.


In the 2024-25 school year, Change is Simple is scheduled to educate 8,500+ students which includes Salem, Woburn, Revere, Beverly, and more! The funding for these programs comes from grants, donors, and foundations.

Discover
Thoughtful insights about
food system issues.

New public kitchen sprouts in Boston


An innovative new kitchen space has moved into a temporary storefront in Dorchester. The Design Studio for Social Intervention’s Public Kitchen serves as a gathering space for the community in Upham’s Corner to come together to learn a new cooking technique or recipe.


The fully stocked kitchen is a “collaboration of various organizers, chefs and panelists. Local chefs volunteer to lead cooking demonstrations, The Food Project donates fresh produce, and local poets lead poetry slams there. The operation is funded by national and local grants including the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and the Barr Foundation.” Visit the kitchen on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 3- 7pm until October 12th. Read more from GBH here. 

Participate

Job Posting Sites

American Farmland Trust

ATTRA paid and unpaid internships

Branchfood Jobs

CISA Classifieds

Good Food Jobs

Neighboring Food Co-ops Jobs

New England Ag Exchange

NOFA/Mass apprenticeship listings

SEMAP Jobs and Opportunities

Food Bank of Western Mass


Job Listserv

Com Food Jobs

MA Food Jobs

Learn more about our projects
More news updates
Our reports and toolkits
The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative envisions a local food system where everyone has access to healthy food, to land to grow food, to good jobs, and to the systems where policy decisions are made. Read more about our vision and our work.
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