November 2014

The following statement was developed in 2014 and since then our RJE work and analysis is ongoing. We continue to reflect and evaluate the best way for us to publicly share our RJE commitment.

NESAWG Statement of Intent, November 10, 2014

Our commitment to a fair and just food system dates back to the organization’s
beginnings. “A farm and food system for all” is a NESAWG core value. For several years we have endeavored to expand participation by diverse communities, with deliberate intention to work toward multi-racial participation. We want to step up those efforts.

NESAWG’s Steering Committee and staff intend to make equity a day-to-day and year- to-year working priority.

Equity means fair and just treatment for all; farm and food equity is the notion that opportunities should be universal for access to healthful food, as well as opportunities to excel and prosper in endeavors to grow, market and serve it. Our goal is for our words and actions to lead to change:

• The leaders and participants in NESAWG are more racially and economically diverse. Multi-racial participation greatly improves in all sectors.
• The annual conference is a place where participants can do the sometimes uncomfortable, yet rewarding work necessary to more fully understand and address the multiple forces that contribute to persistent food system inequity. By explicitly dedicating time, and sharing experiences and expertise via NESAWG convenings, we demonstrate a commitment to making food system equity a core value that informs our collective efforts.
• NESAWG network participants help each other (as individuals and as organizations) better understand how the absence of equity plays out in the food system today, and how we can recognize it, challenge it, and change it, and move toward a fair food system for all.
• This is a long-term, farm/food system transformation commitment. We see this as a slow, steady deliberate process, in which we are both challenged and inspired, and we look forward to engaging in it with you.

Our purpose is to harness the power that exists in our multi-sector regional network to catalyze meaningful change toward a sustainable and just food system.

Our goals are to:

• Cultivate a robust network that spans across sectors and the region

• Embody and shepherd equity

• Advance regional interests, sustainability, and equity in food policy