On March 20th, CFF partnered with WhyHunger to host Grassroots-Led Narratives. an event with grassroots leaders who are finding inspiring and effective new ways to “change the narrative” and build power through two separate initiatives.
Eric Holt-Giménez, outgoing Executive Director of Food First, described that organization’s new WriteShop project that he will be spearheading in his new role. WriteShop brings together frontline leaders from the food, farm and climate justice movements to produce a compelling book and generate shared strategies for community action. This broad-based initiative aims to turn the growing momentum behind the Green New Deal into an opportunity for community organizing and national movement-building to transform the food system—and our society.
Next, Debbie DePaola (WhyHunger) and Yvette Molina (Elijah’s Promise) presented on the Closing the Hunger Gap Network – a coordinated space for food banks and pantries moving beyond food distribution towards strategies that address the root causes of hunger – that is undergoing a national story-based narrative change process to challenge the dominate narrative of hunger in U.S. and redefine the role of food emergency organizations in building a more just food system. This ongoing initiative is helping to organize, build power and ultimately change the story of hunger in the U.S.
From there we heard from a panel of distinguished grassroots leaders involved in both initiatives about their work, their stories, and why story-telling projects like these are so important. Eric, Debbie and Yvette were joined on the panel by Karen Washington (Rise and Root Farm), Tamara Jones (SAAFON), Savi Horne (Land Loss Prevention Project), and Elizabeth Henderson (retired farmer and NOFA-NY board member).
The slides presented are all visible in the video, but you can also download the slides from Eric’s presentation, Closing the Hunger Gap’s presentation, and Elizabeth Henderson’s presentation. The time markers below can be used to jump around to different sections of the video.
- Start – Welcome by Adam Liebowitz
- 2:30 – Intro by Debbie DePaola
- 4:00 – Eric Holt-Giménez presents WriteShop
- 12:45 – Debbie DePaola and Yvette Molina present Closing The Hunger Gap
- 23:30 – Karen Washington introduces the panel portion
- 25:00 – Savi Horne, Executive Director, Land Loss Prevention Project
- 33:40 – Elizabeth Henderson, retired organic farmer
- 40:30 – Tamara Jones, Executive Director, Southeastern African American Organic Farmers Network (SAAFON)
- 46:55 – Yvette Molina, Director of Community Services, Elijah’s Promise
- 54:00 – Panel discussion and Q&A