About the Hosts

Community Food Security Coalition

The Community Food Security Coalition is a non-profit, North American organization dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times. We seek to develop self-reliance among all communities in obtaining their food and to create a system of growing, manufacturing, processing, making available, and selling food that is regionally based and grounded in the principles of justice, democracy, and sustainability.

The National Farm to School Network

Nourishing Kids and Communities

The National Farm to School Network sprouted from the desire to support community-based food systems, strengthen family farms, and improve student health by reducing childhood obesity. The Network is a collaborative of the Center for Food & Justice, Occidental College and the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC). With funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the Network coordinates, promotes and expands the farm to school movement at the state, regional and national levels. Eight regional lead agencies and national staff provide free training and technical assistance, information services, networking, and support for policy, media and marketing activities. The Farm to School approach helps children understand where their food comes from and how their food choices impact their bodies, the environment and their communities at large.

This conference is organized with the assistance of the Network’s Regional Lead Agencies:

Local Host: Food System Economic Partnership

The Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) catalyzes change in the food system of Southeast Michigan by identifying economic development opportunities and implementing creative solutions to chronic challenges. FSEP’s goal is to simultaneously reinforce the quality of the region’s food supply and the sustainability of agricultural production, while improving the strength of the regional economy.

FSEP provides research, education, and outreach to build urban and rural partnerships, resulting in agricultural economic development opportunities, sustainable communities, and healthy local economies.  Their activities include assisting farmers and food system entrepreneurs with business development; facilitating establishment of farm to institution programs; conducting food system research; and organizing educational events that bring together producers and consumers.

The strength of FSEP comes from the combined effort of five county governments, farm organization leaders, food industry leaders, community groups, resource providers, and food system and economic development experts.

Additional Local Planning Committee Members:


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