Resist, Build, Heal, Reform by Jeanette Abi-Nader

Working together to cultivate a healthy and just food system requires complex, integrated efforts and partners with multiple forms of activism. During the Uprooting Racism training with SoulFire Farm this past fall, Leah Penniman shared their butterfly model that articulates four powerful strategies for transformation: Resist, Build, Heal, Reform. Each strategy has played a part in the long history of action toward liberation. At Cultivate, we also aim to engage across strategies in our programs, initiatives, values, and action. Is it possible, however, to Resist an institution with whom you are partnering to Reform? To take time to Heal the harm of racism while working diligently to Build new systems?

Over the past several years we engaged in robust community conversations to define the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform articulated below. Hundreds of individuals gave voice to the power of these desired actions. Partnering with Youth Food Justice Interns, Community Advocates, Charlottesville City Schools Nutrition Department, and organizational partners, the Healthy School Foods Initiative emerged with a detailed five-year plan for action. As many of you joined the advocacy efforts this past month, we were faced with the real challenges of balancing resistance and reform. It's difficult and messy and critically important to continue. We rely on working together with you in this effort.

Cultivate is honored to have be selected as a cohort of HEAL Food Alliance's School of Political Leadership. Together with activists across the country we will invest in a six-month process to build our advocacy muscle, hone our message and strategy, and step into the power of community voice and choice. We are excited to update you along the way. 

 CITY SCHOOLYARD GARDEN                                            

Students are Coming Back by Jordan Johnson

Early this month, the Charlottesville City School board voted to move forward with a voluntary return to in-person learning for K-6 students. Almost an entire year later, the Cultivate Charlottesville Youth Engagement & Garden Coordinators are excited and ready to welcome students back to their school gardens! During this time of virtual learning, we have been engaging with CCS students through neighborhood garden clubs at Hearthwood Apartments, Friendship Court, and City of Promise. As we prepare to welcome students back to school, we will continue to prioritize our after school neighborhood garden clubs while simultaneously engaging with teachers and students during the school day. We can't wait to join you growing in the garden!

 URBAN AGRICULTURE COLLECTIVE                               

Spring is Coming by Michael James

It’s hard to believe with all this wild weather, but spring is, in fact, just around the corner. You may look outside and think, “yeah, not likely,” but whether or not we believe it Spring is on the way. Underneath the grey sky, the half melted slush and the piled up, dirty snow is a world ready to bring all the bounties of a beautiful and lush Spring. Colorful flowers and buzzing bees and yes maybe a little pollen here and there will reanimate Charlottesville.

 FOOD JUSTICE NETWORK                                                 

Advocating for Food Equity by Gabby Levet

Food Justice Network released our Policy Platform and launched the Weeks of Action as the City’s budget planning process ramps up. Our coalition called on City Council to invest in food equity priorities and policies as they decide which programs get funded for the next year. The goal was to recommend strategic values, funding priorities and concrete goals for City departments to deepen their capacity for food equity. 

Initially, FJN elevated our Healthy School Foods priorities as part of a larger policy platform release requested by City Council. We called upon City Council and the School Board for direct investment in CCS’ Nutrition Department for school meal transformation and infrastructure improvements. Youth leaders and Community Advocates showed up at a joint City Council/School Board budget meeting to share their vision for healthy school meals! After week one, we pressed on with advocacy towards the broader policy platform. Partners and community members raised awareness to City leadership via social media and email campaigns. 

For more information or to join Food Justice Network full team meetings, contact Gabby Levet at gabby@cultivatecharlottesville.org

 CULTIVATE SOCIAL JUSTICE BOOK CLUB                    

Here are a few of the titles we are reading:

The land-healing work of George Washington Carver, Brianna Baker, Grist

Two Biden Priorities, Climate and Inequality, Meet on Black-Owned Farms, Hiroko Tabuchi and Nadja Popovich, The New York Times

How an Enslaved African Man in Boston Helped Save Generations from Smallpox, Erin Blakemore, History.com

CULTIVATE IN THE NEWS                                                 

From all of us at Cultivate Charlottesville—a hearty thank you to the many new supporters that have pitched in to keep our work going to build food equity during COVID-19 and beyond.

At Cultivate Charlottesville we believe that working together to grow gardens, share food and power, and advocate for just systems cultivates a healthy community for all.