The Florida Food Policy Council (FLFPC) thanks all of our dedicated members, partners and supporters for your commitment to the Food Policy Council and its initiatives.
In 2021, FLFPC was proud to have had the opportunity to host and participate in a variety of events, projects, programs, and partnerships to work towards our mission to strengthen Florida’s food system. Here are some highlights from this year.
Florida Food Forums & Virtual Networking Sessions
Florida Food Forums: Through the Florida Food Forums, FLFPC brings together Florida food system experts, community advocates and residents to discuss emerging issues that impact them.
This year’s Food Forum topics included:
January: Building Bridges: Bettering Florida’s Food System Together
February: Florida Food Festivals
March: Food is Not a Human Right: Issues with Food Democracy
April: Youth in the Food System
May: Sacred Nutrition: Religion and Food Justice
June: Seed Saving Programs and Practices
July: Urban Agriculture Policies and Programs
August: Strengthening Southeast Florida’s Food System: Partnerships and Policies
September: Strengthening Southeast Florida’s Food System Action: Emerging Community Practices
November: Building Resilient Communities Through Cooperatives
Visit here to access a follow up with resources and information on each of our monthly Forums.
Experience all of our past Food Forums on the FLFPC’s YouTube channel.
Virtual Member Networking Sessions: Through FLFPC’s Virtual Member Networking Events, members were able to network on projects, grants, and funding with other members from around the state, as well as envision and shape the future of FLFPC.
In 2021, FLFPC hosted 2 Member Networking Sessions in February and October, and an Annual Membership Meeting in December to further delve into food policy and how to build sustainable local food systems in Florida.
Food System Development
FLFPC focused on convening stakeholders to share ideas, uplift community-based food initiatives, cultivate collaboration, and identify policy needs.
● Signed on to the letter End CAFO Support in the Build Back Better Act
● Joined with 77 organizations in signing on to Farm Sanctuary’s and the Center for Biological Diversity’s letter to the USDA
● 2nd Annual Climate and Food Policy Summer Course Partner: FLFPC partnered with the Climate Leadership Engagement Opportunities (CLEO) Institute for their second annual Climate and Food Policy Summer Course to connect the dots between our current climate crisis, food insecurity, and public policies that can mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases and protect marginalized communities. Read more here.
● Florida Food Waste Prevention Week Partner: Whitney Fung, FLFPC member and Data Insights Manager at Feeding Tampa Bay, represented the council at the special virtual event “Florida Food Policy Update and Road Ahead” to discuss current initiatives on food waste. Read more about the event here.
Conferences & Community Dialogues
Community dialogues aim to create deeper conversations about current issues that are important and relevant. FLFPC was able to lead and participate in a multitude of discussions and conferences regarding sustainability and food justice within Florida’s food systems.
● USF 2021 Tampa Bay Urban Food Sovereignty Summit: Erica Hall was the Keynote Speaker at the USF 2021 Tampa Bay Urban Food Sovereignty Summit. Learn more about the USF Urban Food Sovereignty Group here.
● Climate Justice Summit: Erica Hall presented at the Climate Justice Summit hosted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Central Florida Climate Action and the Miami Climate Alliance.
● 2021 Grantmakers in Health Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy: Erica Hall and Anthony Olivieri presented at 2021 GIH Annual Conference. Learn more about Grantmakers in Health here.
● Community Conversations Series "Hunger in our Midst: Fighting the Rising Tide of Food Insecurity in Pinellas County": Erica Hall joined Indivisible FL-13, Fired Up Pinellas, and other partner organizations as a panelist in their Community Conversation Series about food insecurity in Pinellas County.
● Florida Climate Week 2021: Dell deChant and Erica Hall took part in a Special Dialogue on "The Intersectionality of Policy and Climate Change,” which was sponsored by Volo Foundation. This dialogue expanded on the intersections of public policy and climate change, and further explored the inseparable relationship between our food system and our environment. Watch the full Dialogue here.
● St Pete’s “The Planet for The Future” Dialogue: Erica Hall joined St. Pete Youth Farm for a dialogue on “The Planet for The Future” which delved into the intersections of community, food, and the environment and how we can grow a healthier planet together.
Board and Staff Leadership Development
This year, FLFPC gained new 3 new Board Members: Greg Noonan, Erica Hardison, and Stacy Brown. FLFPC Board Members are exceptional leaders who dedicate their time to better the food system. Many participated in programs to network and promote more equitable leadership in our food systems.
● Food Systems Leadership Network's Organizational Change for Racial Justice (OCRJ) Training: Board members Erica Hall, Rachel Shapiro, Tom Pellizzetti and Staff Kyndra Love participated in racial justice, equity and inclusivity training. Learn more about the training here.
● Facebook’s Nonprofit Growth Program: Kyndra Love was accepted to Facebook’s Nonprofit Growth Program under the FLFPC, a program designed to help nonprofit organizations find the best practices that will be most helpful in reaching their goals through tailored education and peer-to-peer connection and learning.
● Vital Village Networks Community Food Systems Fellowship: Erica Hall was selected as a Fellow along with 9 other food systems leaders for the Vital Village Networks Community Food Systems Fellowship, which is a leadership pipeline to increase opportunities for diverse leaders to build skills, capacity, and networks. As part of her fellowship, Erica will be working to create new opportunities and collaborations for FLFPC and communities around Florida.
● North American Association for Environmental Education CEE-Change Fellowship Program: Erica Hall became a member of the pilot cohort of the NAAEE CEE-Change Fellowship Program, where the goal is to build leadership in civics and environmental education in order to create a more equitable and sustainable future.
Thank you again for your support in our mission and we hope you stay tuned to what’s to come in 2022!