In New Orleans, food is used to make a cultural connection uniting urban farmers, food banks, fishers, faith-based organizations, and others as they work towards social justice. At Food, Culture, & Justice: The Gumbo That Unites Us All, you will have the opportunity to see first-hand the unique regional and multi-cultural approach to food organizing taking place in New Orleans.
Join NAMA on Sunday, October 17 for two presentations:
In New Orleans, food is used to make a cultural connection uniting urban farmers, food banks, fishers, faith-based organizations, and others as they work towards social justice. At Food, Culture, & Justice: The Gumbo That Unites Us All, you will have the opportunity to see first-hand the unique regional and multi-cultural approach to food organizing taking place in New Orleans.
Join NAMA on Sunday, October 17 for two presentations:
10:45 am – 12:15 pm for a workshop about Credit and Capital for a Just and Sustainable Food System
Workshop description: To create jobs and strengthen our food and local economy, farmers, fishers and workers must have fair access to capital, credit and disaster assistance. Session attendees will learn of the barriers food producers face in our financial infrastructure, including farmer access to agricultural land, fisherman’s access to fishing rights and the strategies necessary to redefine this infrastructure.
Workshop speakers include:
- Lisa Griffith, NFFC
- Scott Marlow, Rural Advancement Foundation International – USA
- Bob St. Peter, Food for Maine’s Future
- Hilde Steffey, Farm Aid
- Ben Burkett, Mississippi Association of Cooperatives
- Niaz Dorry, Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance
4:15 – 5:45 pm for a workshop on Confronting Corporate Power in the Food System: ¡Sí Se Puede!
There are over two million farmers and fishermen, 15 million food system workers, and 300 million eaters in the US. Standing between them are a handful of corporations who control how food gets from one side to the other. Learn from people working to change that equation, through organizing, education, and direct action.
Speakers:
- Joel Greeno, National Family Farm Coalition
- Darrin Browder and Derek Robinson, Restaurant Opportunities Center of New Orleans
- Diana Robinson, United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, NYC (unconfirmed)
- Niaz Dorry, Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance
- Karen Washington, New York City Urban Farmer
Facilitator: Kathy Ozer, National Family Farm Coalition
This is not a conference to just stay in the hotel and never go outside. We’re offering many opportunities for you to explore the area through longer lunch breaks, an off-site reception, cooking classes, walking tours, and numerous pre-conference field trips to destinations in New Orleans and throughout the Gulf Coast Region. But don’t worry–we’ll still have insightful plenaries and workshops to inspire and educate you about the best of the food security movement. Session topics will include rebuilding local food economies, ending poverty and increasing food access, outcomes of the US Social Forum, environmental justice, public health links, food policy councils, urban agriculture, and more.
We’re also providing ample opportunities for networking through topic-specific networking sessions, forums and CFSC committee meetings.
We hope to see you there!