Find Help in Discussion and Work Groups | NESAWG

If you attended the 2014 It Takes A Region Conference, this workgroup is for you! We’ll be uploading presentations and materials from workshops you attended and those you missed.

Diet, Geography, Access and Public Health (DGAP) is exploring persistent patterns of food system inequities experienced in communities-particularly those of color and economically or socially disadvantaged. How can we work together as a region to redirect time, money, research and expertise to align dietary guidance with the food equity goals? This workgroup is exploring existing and desired food system and health indicators concerning food access, morbidity and mortality, and other related health metrics.

The focus of Distribution / Foodhubs sessions at our November 2014 session was “Postmortem: FoodEx 2008-2014”, featuring a presentation by JD Kemp, FoodEx founder. FoodEx was an internet-based local food transporter and distributor, formerly based in Boston.

This workgroup is an open forum to address and join together on specific activities regarding implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act, GAPs and other certifications, farmer education, and one-size-fits-all regulations.

In November 2014, the Food System Planning workgroup explored how to plan for Collective Impact. After learning/revisiting the basics of the Collective Impact framework (Kania and Kramer, 2011), the group discussed each of the 5 conditions: a common agenda, shared measurements, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and a “backbone” network coordinator. We reviewed a few examples where this framework is working successfully, and explored how all of our work can become more aligned with this framework.

Participants in this workgroup have combined with the Distribution and Food Hubs workgroup. In past years, the Infrastructure workgroup focused on meat processing. If you are interested in continuing this narrower, specific focus, let us know, and we’ll connect you to an existing, or help start a new, online, 12-state workgroup.

This workgroup will continue discussions on linking the sustainable agriculture movement with food workers in order to change the food system.

NESAWG’s Research & Assessment Workgroup includes a diversity of practioners, funders, researchers, planners, educators, advocates and others in its membership. What we share is an interest in more informed decision making and programming.