CEFS – Center for Environmental Farming Systems

Dara Bloom Recognized with NC State Engagement Awards and AHS Faculty Award

CEFS — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:29:49 +0000

Dara Bloom, assistant director of community based food systems for the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and associate professor and local foods Extension specialist in the North Carolina State University (NC State) Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences received three awards from NC State’s Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement (AOFEE) and the Office of Outreach & Engagement during the Engaged University Awards celebration held March 24, 2026 at the University Club and the CALS Celebration of Excellence held April 22, 2026 at the StateView Hotel.

Bloom was selected by Dean Fox and her peers to receive these three awards, including NC State’s top individual community engaged scholarship award, the 2026 Alumni Outstanding Engagement Scholarship Award. To earn this distinction, she was first nominated for the 2026 Outstanding Extension Award by Dean Fox and her colleagues in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This accolade honors the relevance and impact of Bloom’s work. This award requires nominee selection at the College level and the subsequent consensus of the AOFEE Executive Council.

Bloom’s peers in the Executive Council also enthusiastically voted to induct her into the Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement. The qualifications for this recognition are stringent and competitive. Beginning in Fall 2026, Bloom was asked to serve a three-year term on the AOFEE Executive Council.

Bloom also received the 2026 Alumni Outstanding Engagement Scholarship Award. The criteria for this award, funded by the Alumni Association, includes the degree with which the candidates’ portfolio is consistent with the scholarship of engagement definition in the Provosts’ Definitions of Scholarship.

Additionally, on April 28, 2026, Bloom received the 2026 Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences Faculty Award. This award reflect the AHS department’s focus on building resilient futures through preparing the next generation of leaders, advancing education, research, and Extension, and supporting the well-being of communities across North Carolina and beyond. Bloom’s was recognized for her efforts to advance these priorities through impact, innovation, and community engagement.

In 2020, Bloom was named CEFS assistant director of community based food systems. She has been involved with several research projects and initiatives at CEFS since 2013, including the NC Farm to Early Care and Education program, where she provides support and training to help child care centers procure local food. At NC State, Bloom conducts social science research and outreach about farming and food systems, with a focus on engaging and educating consumers. She has developed training materials to teach Cooperative Extension Agents about local food systems, primarily through a collaboration that led to an online certificate program. Bloom works closely with Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Agents, and led an interdisciplinary team of Extension Specialists and Agents to develop the Extension Master Food Volunteer (EMFV) Program. This program trains volunteers to support FCS programs, including a module about the food system to help volunteers answer consumers’ food-related questions.

Bloom also leads a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) grant, coordinating among our CEFS Farm to Institution programs (Farm to Early Care and Education, Farm to School, Farm to University, and Farm to Senior Services), and providing leadership to a newly forming NC Farm to Institution Network to help coordinate this work across the state.

Read more about her work from the NC State Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences.

Bloom is an invaluable team player and a recognized mentor with broad community-based food systems expertise and demonstrated success. We are proud to work with Bloom and congratulate her on these recognitions of her community-engaged scholarship.

Hear from Bloom as she describes the Extension Master Food Volunteer Program. Volunteers are trained by Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Science agents in the areas of cooking, nutrition, food safety, and local food so that they can support community-based programs.

Honoring CORE and Community Food Strategies and Celebrating Their Next Chapters

CEFS — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:46:15 +0000

A Message from Michelle Schroeder-Moreno, CEFS Director based at North Carolina State University

Dear CEFS Community,

For more than a decade, CORE and Community Food Strategies have contributed meaningfully to the work of CEFS. Launched in response to identified needs across North Carolina, these initiatives have shaped partnerships, informed programming and strengthened community engagement efforts. We are proud of the work accomplished during their time at CEFS and grateful for the many relationships built along the way.

As part of a federally mandated organizational transition, CORE and Community Food Strategies will move to a new home: Upstream Works Collaborative, where their work can continue to grow and evolve. This transition allows the initiatives to continue their work with focus and flexibility as they enter their next phase.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the many leaders who have guided these efforts, including Bevelyn Afor Ukah, Tamekia Brandon, Shorlette Ammons, Nancy Creamer, Abbey Piner, Tessa Thraves, Ali Stone and Gini Knight. Their dedication and commitment have had a lasting impact across the state and region.

We value the partnerships formed through this work and look forward to continued collaboration in new ways. CEFS remains committed to advancing research, education and engagement that support resilient food systems and strong communities. We look forward to continued collaboration with partners across North Carolina and beyond.

Information about CORE’s upcoming offerings, events and programming can be found at coreliberative.org. Community Food Strategies information is available at communityfoodstrategies.org.

Michelle Schroeder-Moreno

Expanding Farm to Senior Services in Western North Carolina

CEFS — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:50:55 +0000

We’re building on existing community work to strengthen local food access for older adults in your county.

We’re excited to share that the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS)/NC State University has received a two-year, $145,200 grant from Dogwood Health Trust to support a collaboration between Farm to Senior Services (F2SS) and Empowering Mountain Food Systems (EMFS), and N.C. Cooperative Extension.

The grant project “Piloting community-based farm-to-senior-services strategies to improve food security for older adults in rural Western North Carolina” will build on existing work in McDowell County and support new F2SS local food purchasing pilot efforts in Burke County, Yancey County, and the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).

The work will be guided by County/EBCI F2SS Teams, bringing together Extension, senior services, farmers, older adults, food hubs, and food councils to identify barriers, pilot local food purchasing solutions, and support long-term systems change.

Community partners will include:

Burke County Cooperative Extension, Burke County Senior Center; EBCI Cooperative Extension, EBCI Healthy Eating Action Team, Yancey County Cooperative Extension, TRACTOR Food & Farms, Yancey County Senior Services; McDowell County Cooperative Extension, McDowell County Senior Center, McDowell County Local Food Advisory Council, Foothills Food Hub, and many community-based organizations.

“Older adults are at particular risk for food insecurity and we are excited to partner with Dogwood Health Trust who understands that thriving local food systems can improve the health and well-being of older adults. We’re hoping to bring lessons learned from previous farm to senior services programs and to support some of the existing WNC community organizations who are looking out for older adults.”

Robyn Stout, NC 10% Campaign Program Director

“Our recent Regional Supply Chain Assessment revealed the need and desire among farmers to sell their products to local institutions. We know older adults have benefited from local food programs, and it will be great to make new connections. We aim to work with community leaders to establish long-term sales channels for our partners.”

Laura Lauffer, EMFS Program Director

The project grant team at NC State will be co-led by Robyn Stout, NC 10% Campaign Program Director; Laura Lauffer, EMFS Program Director; and Marcello Cappellazzi, CEFS Multimedia Manager; with support from Molly Sandfoss, McDowell County Cooperative Extension Director; and Jennifer Badger, EMFS Area Specialized Agent, Agribusiness, NC Cooperative Extension

Find project updates: cefs.ncsu.edu/farm-to-senior-services

CEFS-Affiliated Faculty Receive National Recognition for Forages and Grasslands Work

CEFS — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:16:16 +0000

Earlier this month, Dr. Matt Poore & Johnny Rogers, leaders of Amazing Grazing, received the Medallion Award at the American Forage & Grassland Council (AFGC) Conference in Asheville, NC!

This is the highest recognition given by the AFGC in recognition of “outstanding contributions on behalf of forages and grasslands and the American Forage and Grassland Council to have earned national recognition for work in research, teaching, Extension, production, or industrial development.” Their hard work and dedication in promoting forages and helping producers is commendable.

The conference also kicked off with a Welcome from AFGC President, Alan Franzluebbers, also a CEFS-affiliated faculty member!

Horticulture Technician

CEFS — Tue, 13 May 2025 14:48:39 +0000

Applicants must complete and submit an electronic application for employment to be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application.

Position Description: The Research Technician – Horticulture provides technical, hands-on support for top-ranked integrated field research and educational programs involving the North Carolina A&T State University Agricultural Research program, and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems Small Farm Unit in Goldsboro, NC. This position is responsible for supporting and assisting in a unique long-term specialty fruit and vegetable research program in the nation involving production, variety trials, data collection, data analysis, report preparation, and community engagement under the leadership of CEFS Director at N.C. A&T and the Small Farm Unit Manager. Duties include crop establishment and maintenance; harvesting/post-harvest handling of crops associated with researchers and research support in CAES; greenhouse and high tunnel management; recordkeeping, financial benchmark analysis, data collection and entry; and communication with researchers, staff, students, producer groups and community-based organizations, co-workers, and other organization staff.

APPLY NOW

Website Updates in Response to Federal Requirements

CEFS — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 23:24:49 +0000

To align with recent federal requirements, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems is conducting a review of website content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As a result, you may notice changes to certain pages of our website effective February 21, 2025.

We appreciate your understanding as we make these required adjustments. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to cefs_info@ncsu.edu

Mountain Communities Rise: EmPOWERing Food Systems After Hurricane Helene

CEFS — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 23:46:49 +0000

[Mills River, Jan. 21, 2025] – In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on the mountain region, organizations across NC are rallying to support their farmers and rebuild resilient food systems.

Laura Lauffer, EMFS Project Director (middle), stands with grantees Meadow Cove Farm after their pickup of grant supplies which included wooden posts, metal T posts, and mesh fencing to rebuild their goat enclosure which sustained damage during the storm.

In response to the devastation of the WNC region, EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS), an initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), awarded $100,000 of its small business grant funds to assist farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene. This award cycle was launched earlier than planned due to the hurricane and will provide crucial support to local farms struggling to recover from the catastrophic storm. This funding is part of the larger pool of funds (over 400k) planned for regional supply chain support over the next three years.

So far, the EMFS Hurricane Helene Recovery Grant has distributed 35 award letters to farmers from 10 different WNC counties, for a total of $81,085.98 worth of necessary agricultural supplies. This grant serves as a beacon of hope for the affected communities, demonstrating that even in the face of adversity, collaboration can lead to remarkable recovery and a brighter future for all. EMFS will have a second round of farmer mini-grants later in the spring.

With the naturally steep terrain of the Appalachian mountains, many WNC farmers utilize the low-lying flatlands for agricultural production, including as pasture for livestock, or for fruit, vegetable, and silage fields. As the flooded rivers crested, they swept away much of the vital equipment and infrastructure these farms use everyday.

On Thursday, January 9, 2025 EMFS, in collaboration with Country Farm and Home of Pittsboro, NC, AgCare of Candler, and the facilities team at the NC State Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, distributed $6,234.39 worth of supplies to four Buncombe County farmers. This partnership provided farmers with high-quality equipment from Country Farm and Home, while the station staff generously lent their expertise and manpower to assist with the loading and transportation of heavy equipment such as wooden posts, metal fencing, barbed wire, and more to help get these farms back up and running. Find photos of the distribution here.

This collaborative effort across public and private organizations from each end of the state exemplifies the strength of community spirit and the importance of supporting local food systems. By working together with these organizations, EMFS is not only helping farmers recover from the hurricane but also strengthening the resilience of the entire mountain region.

CEFS and EMFS will continue to work in the region with Extension and Small Business Centers and other regional partners to be part of the rebuilding process through training, grants and collaborative work projects. For more information, please sign up for the EMFS newsletter here.

EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems is a Center for Environmental Farming Systems/NC State Cooperative Extension project. Funding support is generously provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission, Dogwood Health Trust, and the WNC Bridge Foundation.

Find more Hurricane Helene news and resources here.

CEFS Shines at the 2025 N.C. Cooperative Extension Conference

CEFS — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 00:41:06 +0000

Many faculty and staff affiliated with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) participated in the 2025 North Carolina Cooperative Extension Conference, held January 6-8 in Greensboro, NC.

CEFS’ work is inextricably connected with N.C. Cooperative Extension. CEFS initiatives exchange information with Extension Agents, including trainings, research, state-level support and networking, and technical support, and also help to connect community groups with state-level resources and networks. CEFS Field Research, Education, and Outreach Facility based at Cherry Research Farm in Goldsboro, NC provides a site for Extension outreach and field research demonstrations. The conference served as a dynamic platform for CEFS staff and affiliated faculty to share their cutting-edge work in sustainable agriculture, local food systems, and community engagement.

Awards

Jessica Mrugala, Extension Associate and Local Foods Coordinator for Empowering Mountain Food Systems, and Chumper Walker, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Extension Director, were recognized during the conference for their exceptional leadership with two Regional Team Awards – the Jones Award and the NCCE Foundation Search for Excellence Awards in Extension.

Jessica Mrugala, Extension Associate and Local Foods Coordinator for Empowering Mountain Food Systems, and Chumper Walker, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Extension Director, were recognized during the conference for their exceptional leadership with two Regional Team Awards – the Jones Award and the NCCE Foundation Search for Excellence Awards in Extension. Mrugala and Walker have been instrumental in advancing food sovereignty efforts for the EBCI. Their work has brought over $11 million in federal and regional funding, supporting community-driven food production, nutrition education, and the creation of vital infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art meat processing facility. Their efforts, especially in fostering food sovereignty and sustainable farming practices, have helped to transform the food landscape in Cherokee communities. Their leadership has been foundational in increasing the local production of traditional Cherokee foods, preserving foodways, and empowering community food systems.

Conference Presentations

Additionally, CEFS-affiliated experts led multiple workshops across several key topics, reflecting their deep commitment to the future of farming and food systems in North Carolina. Presenters included Mark Blevins, Dara Bloom, Shironda Brown, Miguel Castillo, Mallory Choudoir, Angel Cruz, Hannah Dankbar, Biswanath Dari, Liz Driscoll, Remi Ham, John Lyttle, Trequan McGee, Matt Poore, Noah Ranells, Chris Reberg-Horton, Robyn Stout, and Alex Woodley. Topics covered by CEFS-affiliated presenters included: local food programs, artificial intelligence in agriculture, farm to early care and education, carbon markets, drought management, resources for new farmers, the future of small farms, the N.C. Extension Master Food Volunteer Program, soil health, cover crops, food security, youth in agriculture, and using data for farming decisions.

At the heart of CEFS’ presence at the conference was a shared commitment to supporting sustainable farming practices and community-based food systems. In partnership with N.C. Cooperative Extension, CEFS continues to ensure that North Carolina remains a leader in sustainable agriculture and community engagement, paving the way for a more resilient food future.

Cuidando a la comunidad: Greensboro Mutual Aid inaugura su 2.ª Nevera de la Libertad en el mercado gratuito local

CEFS — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 20:35:50 +0000

To read this article in English, please click here.

Escrito por Starletta Watson

La acción comunitaria en Greensboro, Carolina del Norte, ha estado plenamente activa en el vecindario East White Oak para hacer frente a su actual crisis de acceso a los alimentos. El 24 de febrero de 2024 Greensboro Mutual Aid (GMA) inauguró su segunda Nevera de la libertad y organizó su Mercado realmente gratuito en el Centro Comunitario East White Oak (EWOCC). La Nevera de la libertad se instaló en un lado del edificio de EWOCC dentro de un contenedor con estantes destinados a productos perecederos, pintado con colores vibrantes y cálidos, como un faro de apoyo y bondad para la comunidad.

GMA es un grupo comunitario dedicado a conectar a la gente para compartir recursos en toda la ciudad con el fin de apoyar iniciativas de vivienda y de necesidades esenciales. Desde su aparición en 2020 durante la pandemia, GMA ha utilizado recursos compartidos o de ayuda mutua para la comunidad a través de plataformas digitales y sociales de recaudación de fondos, ha organizado protestas, reuniones comunitarias y eventos, ha creado mercados gratuitos y un sinfín de otros proyectos de apoyo para personas con necesidades. Este aliado comunitario del Comité sobre Equidad Racial en el Sistema Alimentario (CORE, por sus siglas en inglés) ha colaborado con varios organizadores comunitarios de Greensboro en los proyectos de la Nevera de la libertad, entre ellos la Iglesia Luterana Prince of Peace y EWOCC.

Fue muy gratificante ver cómo GMA incorporaba la celebración de la segunda Nevera de la libertad a otra iniciativa comunitaria, el Mercado realmente gratuito. Durante todos sus mercados gratuitos, piden a los miembros de la comunidad que traigan cosas como ropa y artículos para el hogar que no necesiten y que se lleven las cosas que sí necesitan. El espacio en EWOCC, también conocido como La Gran Casa Verde, se llenó de artículos para el hogar, ropa, libros, juguetes, suministros médicos, pequeños electrodomésticos, artículos de limpieza y mucho más, entre otras cosas, con la alegría de la comunidad.

Las Neveras de la libertad son neveras públicas y gratuitas mantenidas por GMA y la comunidad a la que sirven. Conceptos similares han ido apareciendo por todo el país con comunidades de distintos orígenes para ayudar a remediar las injusticias alimentarias, como por ejemplo la nevera gratuita de Southside Community Farm en Asheville y la Nevera comunitaria gratuita de Charlotte. Greensboro Mutual Aid se ha inspirado para la Nevera de la libertad en proyectos de organizaciones de distintas ciudades de EE UU. Esta es la segunda vez que GMA ha organizado una Nevera de la libertad. La primera (una colaboración en la que también participaron estudiantes de N.C. A&T) se instaló en la Iglesia Luterana Prince of Peace, en la zona sur de Greensboro.

La EWO es conocida por su capacidad para organizarse y ser su propio líder, ya que el centro comunitario tiene su propia y rica historia de proveer para sí mismos. Antes de inaugurar la Nevera de la libertad, dos habitantes de la zona desde su infancia, Cathy Gant Hill y Alice Drake, que son miembros de la junta directiva de EWOCC, hablaron del pasado del centro cuando era una escuela en 1916. La escuela East White Oak abrió sus puertas específicamente para educar a los hijos de los trabajadores de Cone Mill del vecindario, y tras su funcionamiento durante 35 años como escuela, además de iglesia y YMCA, evolucionó hasta convertirse en el centro comunitario que conocemos hoy. Durante la década de 1950, una coalición de líderes comunitarios se unió para evitar que el concejo de la ciudad arrasara con “La Gran Casa Verde” reuniendo suficiente dinero a través de recaudaciones de fondos y venta de placas para comprar y operar las instalaciones como un centro comunitario.

EWO ha sido una comunidad históricamente marginada que carece de acceso alimentario desde que Winn-Dixie cerró en 2005, dejando a la comunidad entre dos supermercados fuera de su alcance. Otras comunidades de Greensboro similares a EWO que experimentan inseguridad alimentaria indican disparidades socioeconómicas que perpetúan los malos resultados en materia de salud. Una forma en que los vecindarios como EWO hacen frente a estas barreras sistémicas es colaborando con organizaciones como Greensboro Mutual Aid en iniciativas comunitarias para mejorar el apoyo y el acceso alimentario en el lado este de Greensboro. Pero éste no es el único lado de Greensboro que sufre la desigualdad en el acceso alimentario, ya que la primera Nevera de la libertad se encuentra justo al sur del centro de la ciudad, en la Iglesia Luterana Prince of Peace, en el vecindario de Warnersville.

Este mapa de alimentos locales creado por la Fundación Wesley de UNCG muestra que GMA está combatiendo la disparidad del acceso alimentario en ese vecindario, al igual que EWO. Otros estudios de diversas instituciones muestran que Warnersville y EWO se ven inmersos en un efecto periférico. En esta situación, los minoristas del sector alimentario tienden a elegir sedes directamente adyacentes a carreteras concurridas y de fácil acceso. A menudo se extienden a lo largo de secciones censales y otros límites geográficos, lo que hace que el acceso alimentario adecuado quede fuera del alcance de vecindarios como Warnersville y EWO.

Al final del evento de inauguración, GMA pidió a los jóvenes del vecindario de EWO que cortaran la cinta inaugural de la Nevera de la libertad. Fue refrescante ver la participación de los jóvenes de la comunidad en la inauguración del Mercado realmente gratuito y la Nevera de la libertad. Algunos jóvenes trajeron productos no perecederos para ayudar a llenar las áreas de despensa del contenedor exterior de la nevera. La artista mural y directora de CORE, Bevelyn Ukah, rindió homenaje a un joven llamado Amuarin Niquae Watkins pintando un mural lleno de colores cálidos y vibrantes por todo el contenedor exterior de la nevera, incluido el dibujo de una mochila rebosante de naranjas. Un día, Watkins llevó naranjas al centro comunitario para compartirlas con los demás. Ukah declaró en su discurso: “Nadie le pidio que lo hiciera. Este fue un acto de amor y de bondad. Este acto ejemplificó perfectamente lo que significa ser una comunidad y lo que significa practicar amorosamente la ayuda mutua.” Desde los actos generosos que inspiraron este mural, ver a los jóvenes mantener secciones del Mercado realmente gratuito, hasta los que ayudaron a limpiar el centro comunitario tras la inauguración de la Nevera de la libertad, la ayuda mutua es un acto que se siente a través de múltiples generaciones. Estos momentos, llenos de generosidad mutua y cariño en los eventos organizados por GMA, ponen en perspectiva la urgencia del movimiento por la Justicia Alimentaria, concretamente que GMA y los miembros jóvenes de la comunidad están dispuestos a hacer el trabajo por la equidad en el acceso alimentario.

Caring for Community: Greensboro Mutual Aid Unveils Second Freedom Fridge at Local Free Market

CEFS — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 20:23:53 +0000

To read this article in Spanish, please click here.

Written by Starletta Watson

Community-based action in Greensboro, NC has been in full effect in the East White Oak neighborhood to address its ongoing food access crisis. On February 24, 2024 Greensboro Mutual Aid (GMA) unveiled their second Freedom Fridge and hosted their Really Really Free Market at the East White Oak Community Center (EWOCC). The Freedom Fridge sat on the side of the EWOCC building inside of a container with shelves for perishables, painted with vibrant and warm colors, like a beacon of community support and kindness.

GMA is a community group dedicated to connecting people to share resources across the city to support housing and essential needs. Since its emergence in 2020 during the pandemic, GMA has utilized shared resources or mutual aid for the community through digital and social fundraising platforms, hosted protests, community gatherings, and events, created free markets, and a host of other projects supporting folks in need. This Committee on Racial Equity in the Food System (CORE) community partner has collaborated with several Greensboro community organizers on the Freedom Fridge projects, including the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and the EWOCC.

It was great to see GMA incorporate the celebration of the second Freedom Fridge with another community-run initiative, the Really Really Free Market. During all of their free markets, they ask that community members bring things like clothing and home goods that they don’t need and take the things that they do need. The space at the EWOCC, aka The Big Green House, was filled with household items, clothes, books, toys, medical supplies, small appliances, cleaning supplies, and so much more – including joy from the community.

Freedom Fridges are free and public refrigerators that are maintained by GMA and the community they serve. Similar concepts have been popping up across the country with communities of different backgrounds to help food injustices, like the free fridge by Southside Community Farm in Asheville and the Free Community Fridge in Charlotte. Greensboro Mutual Aid has cited its inspirations behind the Freedom Fridge from projects by organizations across cities in the US. This is the second time GMA has curated a Freedom Fridge, with the first fridge – a collaboration that also included students from N.C. A&T – located at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on the south side of Greensboro.

EWO is no stranger to coming together and being its own leader, as the community center has its own rich history of providing for itself. Before the ribbon cutting of the Freedom Fridge, childhood residents Cathy Gant Hill and Alice Drake, who are board members of the EWOCC, spoke of the center’s past as a school in 1916. East White Oak School opened specifically to educate the children of Cone Mill workers in the neighborhood, and after its 35-year run as the school – as well as a church and a YMCA – it evolved into the community center we know today. During the 1950s, a coalition of community leaders came together to avoid city council’s raze of “The Big Green House” by raising enough money through fundraisers and selling plates to buy and operate the facility as a community hub.

EWO has been a historically marginalized community lacking food access since Winn-Dixie closed in 2005, leaving the community between two grocery stores that are out of reach. Other communities in Greensboro similar to EWO experiencing food insecurity indicate socioeconomic disparities that perpetuate poor health outcomes. One way neighborhoods like EWO address these systemic barriers is by collaborating with organizations like Greensboro Mutual Aid in community-based initiatives to improve support and food access on the east side of Greensboro. But this isn’t the only side of Greensboro suffering from unequal food access, as the first Freedom Fridge is just south of downtown at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in the Warnersville neighborhood.

This local food map created by the Wesley Foundation at UNCG shows that GMA is challenging the disparity of food access in that neighborhood, as well as EWO. Further studies from other institutions show that Warnersville and EWO are situated in an edge effect. In this situation, food retailers tend to choose locations directly adjacent to busy and easily accessible roads. They often run along census tracts and other geographic boundaries, resulting in adequate food access being out of reach for neighborhoods like Warnersville and EWO.

At the end of the unveiling, GMA asked young people from the EWO neighborhood to cut the ribbon of the Freedom Fridge. It was refreshing to see the involvement of young community members at the Really Really Free Market and Freedom Fridge unveiling. Some young people brought non-perishables to help fill up the pantry areas of the fridge’s outside container. Mural artist and CORE Director Bevelyn Ukah acknowledged a young person named Amuarin Niquae Watkins by painting a mural full of warm and vibrant colors all over the fridge’s shell container, including a drawing of a backpack overflowing with oranges. One day, Watkins brought oranges to the community center to share with others. Ukah stated in her speech, “This act wasn’t prompted. This act was loving, it was kind. This act perfectly exemplified what it means to be a community, and what it means to lovingly practice mutual aid.” From the generous acts that inspired this mural, watching young people maintain sections of the Really Really Free Market, and those helping to clean up the community center after the Freedom Fridge unveiling, mutual aid is an act that is felt throughout multiple generations. These moments, filled with mutual sharing and caring at GMA-hosted events, put into perspective the urgency of the Food Justice movement, specifically that GMA and young community members are ready to do the work toward food access equity.