[Rocky Mount, NC – March 17, 2023] — Hundreds of farm and food system leaders, public service and nonprofit leaders, local food councils, key partners, and community food advocates from across North Carolina participated in Forging our Food Future: 2023 Community Food Gathering March 15-16 in Rocky Mount, NC. 

Community Food Strategies’ signature statewide event, the Community Food Gathering brought together food system stakeholders to explore solutions, learn skills, and strategize around how to create a food system built by us and for us. Sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the North Carolina Local Food Council (NCLFC), the 2023 Gathering was held at the Rocky Mount Event & Conference Center. The Gathering also featured additional events in the surrounding area, including a Farm-to-Table Dinner and viewing of the documentary Freedom Hill at Golden Organic Farm in Pinetops, NC and an After Party and StorySLAM held at The Power House at Rocky Mount Mills.

On March 15th, Keynote Speaker Kim Pevia, Founder and Principal of K.A.P. Inner Prizes, Lumbee Tribe, encouraged attendees to ground ourselves and “call in our ancestors” to access the wisdom we need to “…uproot systems and change things that have never even been imagined.” Referencing sheroes Joy Harjo, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Grace Lee Boggs, Pevia offered perspectives and emotional and somatic justice tools to transform our ways of being and of doing our personal and collective work towards living into a just food future. On March 16th, a Keynote Panel moderated by Jesalyn Keziah, Lumbee Tribe, UNC American Indian Center with panelists David Anderson, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Lariza Garzón, Hispanic Federation; and Samantha “Foxx” Winship, Mother’s Finest Family Urban Farms, explored existing and future work at the ground level, in communities to forge a just food future.

Sixteen workshops and panel discussions featured more than 30 speakers, representing organizations from across the state. Workshop topics included statewide policy and advocacy opportunities, existing community food solutions, opportunities to support growing value chains and local food system infrastructure, creative communications and engagement strategies, and capacity building for our own and our communities’ wellbeing. Find workshop descriptions and speaker bios here.

Participants expressed the following:

“One of if not the most impactful conferences I have ever attended. To hear the stories shared altered my way of thinking in how I approach situations in my work. It challenged where I am in deconstructing my old ideologies (raised in a small rural NC town). I truly felt at home amongst people who spoke their truths and work every day towards not only a more equitable and just food system, but in every walk of life. Thank you for everything! It was an amazing time surrounded by beautiful people.”

“As faculty I have an immense responsibility to educate and learn from the next generations how to care about the food system. This is the first time I have come to this conference, and there are great speakers and immense knowledge and information that I will take into my research.”
– Dr. Biswanath Dari, Extension Specialist – N.C. A&T State University

“I am always inspired to be in spaces like this. I started this work on Zoom, I met all the people I work with through Zoom, all of this has been virtual and it had become difficult to relate what we are doing, because we talk about food and agriculture and I spend 90% of the time in my house. Being in spaces like this, with people that have been doing this work for so long and in the places where the work is being done, it’s inspiring. Anytime I am in a space like this, where I can feel the energy and the passion, that’s super inspiring.”
– Dylan Turner, Cabarrus Farm & Food Network

“I feel appreciated, I feel empowered, and I feel thankful when I think about our food future.”
– Tha Dah, Transplanting Traditions Community Farm

“The thing that will open the road to a just food future is giving people information, and encouraging younger youth to participate in farming and agriculture and growing. It is beneficial to become a well-rounded individual, because if you grow something it makes you feel proud.”
– Randolph Keaton, Executive Director – Men and Women United for Youth and Family 

“Food is a social justice fight and a fight against racism, and we continue that fight by doing events like this and speaking up.”
– Terrence Whidbee, ABC2

Interested in learning more about Community Food Strategies and how we can work together in your community? Would you like to participate in a food council? Connect with us here.

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About Community Food Strategies

Community Food Strategies is a multi-organizational, statewide initiative formed in 2012 to support the growth of food policy councils across North Carolina. Community Food Strategies works to inspire connections and amplify collective action so that community voices are heard and food policy shifts toward more equitable outcomes. Our ultimate purpose is to help build an equitable, community driven food system that improves the quality of life for all people. Partners include: Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA), the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), NC Rural Center, Kindred Seedlings Farm, and several consultants.

 

Learn more: 

Event website: go.ncsu.edu/communityfoodgathering 

Facebook and Instagram: @communityfoodstrategies