2010 SAFSF Forum - June 15-18, in Philadelphia

September 30, 2010

Promises, Panaceas, and Problems: A Closer Look At Emerging Technologies

Promises, Panaceas, and Problems: A Closer Look At Emerging Technologies A Funders Briefing Join us for a critical conversation about new technologies that may sound like science fiction, but are already starting to change our bodies, our communities, our environments, and how we think about life at every scale. Prepare to explore the brave new worlds of nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and geo-engineering. Find out what next generation products and industries could mean for you and your grantees, and how fellow funders are engaging in emerging technology issues

When: September 30, 2010 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. lunch will be served RSVP by September 22 to: Bridget Dobrowski, bridget@safsf.org Monica Moore, monica@csfund.org Moderator: Amy Shannon, environment program officer, CS Mott Foundation, MI Speakers: Maria Powell, founder, Nanotechnology Citizen Engagement Organization, WI Jim Thomas, programme manager, ETC Group, Ontario Pat Mooney, co-founder and executive director, ETC Group, Ontario Andrew Kimbrell, founder and executive director, Center for Food Safety, and International Center for Technology Assessment, DC Mike Wright, director of Health, Safety, and Environment, United Steelworkers, PA Sponsors: Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders Grantmakers without Borders Environmental Grantmakers Association The Funders Workgroup on Sustainable Consumption and Production Donors Forum (Illinois)

Supporting Transformative Food Justice In Detroit

Funders Briefing Call

Friday, June 11th at 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern

Co-Sponsored by The Funders Network on Transforming the Global Economy (FNTG) and the Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Funders (SAFSF)

Detroit has a long history of urban farming, linked to migration by African-Americans who brought their connection to the land and their knowledge of how to grow and preserve food from agricultural areas in the South.  Today residents are turning abandoned lots into productive agricultural resources, mini farmers markets are springing up around the city, and food enterprise developments are taking root.  Indeed, despite the economic crisis, many Detroiters are working to create a local food system that provides good, affordable healthy food, learning opportunities, income and employment.

Please RSVP with Melissa Cari, melissa@fntg.org

This funder briefing is particularly timely, as the work described will be showcased during the US Social Forum at the end of June. Participants will also learn how urban food system development can fit within the broader context of green collar job initiatives, and how such initiatives can explicitly address race, gender and economic inequities.  Join the call to get the back story now on what is happening in Detroit, and find out how you can become involved.

Resource people:

Malik Yakini, Director of the Nsoroma Institute Public School Academy, and co-founder of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, will describe a collaboration with the East Michigan Environmental Action Council to develop a Re-circulating Aquaculture System that will provide affordable fish and herbs for local residents. 

Minsu Longiaru, Coordinator at ROC-Michigan, will provide an overview of efforts to launch a cooperatively owned restaurant and job training center, and to improve conditions for restaurant workers throughout the city. 

Rinku Sen, President and Executive Director of the Applied Research Center will talk about their new toolkit to help those interested in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating Green Collar Jobs initiatives to ensure that they provide real benefits and build equity.  

Resources:

Green Toolkit - http://www.arc.org/downloads/Green_Toolkit_112009.pdf
Join the more than 50 funders who have registered for FNTGs delegation to the USSF in Detroit, from June 22-26 - https://www.regonline.com/fntgUSSF2010

  Detroit Community projects organized in association with the US Social Forum - http://www.fntg.org/news/index.php?op=read&articleid=7644

Slow Money National Gathering

The beautiful grounds of historic Shelburne Farms. A phenomenal roster of speakers, including Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, Stonyfield Farm's Gary Hirshberg, Robert Zevin, the 'father' of the socially responsible investment movement, and Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm, made famous by Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma and the film Food, Inc. The chance to hear investment presentations from two dozen small food enterprises and collaborate with folks from around the country who are finding new ways to connect money, culture and the soil. Slow Money. It's not an ISM - as in capitalism, socialism, consumerism, market fundamentalism. It's a new kind of social investing for the 21st century. It's what comes after industrial agriculture and industrial finance. Join this emerging network of thought leaders, investors, donors, entrepreneurs, farmers, and activists for our Second National Gathering this June in Vermont. Together, let's fix America's economy from the ground up...starting with food. Go to http://www.slowmoneyalliance.org/national-gathering.html for details and to register.

School Food: A Lever to Change the World or Just a Great Opportunity to Do Good?

SAFSF Funder Briefing Call

10 am PST / 11 am MST / 12 noon CST / 1 pm EST

RSVP to bridget@safsf.org by May 21st

The First Lady’s recent announcement of a campaign against childhood obesity has raised the awareness of most Americans for the importance of school food.  But it’s not just a hot topic. School food is a multi-billion dollar business that reverberates across the economy and all of society.  For funders, more of our interests intersect at school food than perhaps at any other funding opportunity.  Whether your foundation’s mission is health, education, environment or social justice – whatever you care most deeply about – it’s affected by, and affects, how we feed our children at school.     

Join us and learn about the current state of school food in America, the opportunities to affect it, and why it’s critical to do so.  Our panelists will share cross-sector insights from across the country and share stories about the many different ways folks are working to improve school meals - from working with school districts directly to partnering with new and evolving third party healthy food vendors.

Moderator: Khanh Nguyen is senior program officer for The Colorado Health Foundation overseeing their Healthy Living team.  She also serves on the Governor’s Rural Health Care Grants Council.

Speakers:
Kate Adamick is Principal of Food Systems Solutions LLC, a New York City-based consultant specializing in institutional meal reform.  Her clients have included the Orfalea Fund and the Berkeley Unified School District in California, the Colorado Health Foundation and The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, among others. 

Rochelle Davis is the Founding Executive Director of the Healthy Schools Campaign, a national not-for-profit organization based in Chicago that advocates for healthy school environments.    

Nicholas Saccaro is vice president and general manager for Revolution Foods Colorado, a progressive, mission based company pioneering healthy food solutions for charter and private schools.

Short Course on Farm to Institution Research & Evaluation

Farm to Institution Research: Current Status, Opportunities and Resources With interest in farm to institution programs at an all time high, this short course seeks to promote a more coordinated evidence-based research effort among researchers, practitioners and advocates in order to strengthen programs, practices, and policies. The course will include a mapping of research interests and projects, discussion on the establishment of a coordinated research agenda and sharing of evaluation strategies and tools. Presented by: Michelle Markesteyn Ratcliffe, Oregon Department of Agriculture; Gail Feenstra, University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program; Anupama Joshi, National Farm to School Network; Phyllis L. Fleming, University of North Carolina Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Allison Karpyn, The Food Trust; Katherine Ralston and Constance Newman, USDA Economic and Research Service. Part of 'Taking Root: 5th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference' in Detroit, May 17-19, 2010 For more information, see http://farmtocafeteriaconference.org/5/schedule/pre-conf/

Investors' Circle 2010 Spring Conference & Venture Fair

Where Investing for Impact Happens Investors’ Circle has been identifying pioneers in the mission-based sector for close to 20 years. Are you ready to join the movement? Mobilizing Capital and Community Investors’ Circle is the premier meeting place for social entrepreneurs, impact investing, business professionals, foundations, non-profits, and those passionate about creating a sustainable economy. IC Spring 2010 Conference & Venture Fair Chip Conley, CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality and author of Peak: How Great Companies get their Mojo from Maslow, will kick off the Conference Day program, which also features informative breakout sessions, interactive moderated discussions, exhibition booths, a lively plenary, and a networking reception. Learn more and register for the conference at www.investorscircle.net

WK Kellog Foundation PRIs Food Scan: Opportunities, Challenges, and Perspectives

Funder-only call

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

12 noon Pacific / 2 pm Central / 3 pm Easter

WKKF conducted a Program Related Investments (PRIs) Food Scan recently to examine the range of possibilities for making non-gift commitments for sustainable food enterprise. The Food Scan included an online survey, interviews of funders making PRIs and interviews of non-profits with strong potential for receiving PRIs. Over 160 organizations representing a diverse array of approaches, experiences, and capacity completed the online survey.  Fourteen were interviewed to collect in-depth information. Six funders that make or will make PRIs in sustainable food enterprise were interviewed. The preliminary findings from the Scan will be presented.

We will hear from:

William M. Buster, Program Officer for Food, Health and Well Being programming at WKKF; and

Keecha Harris, President of KHA Inc, a public health consulting firm.

Virginia Clarke, SAFSF Coordinator, will moderate the call

RSVP by April 9th to bridget@safsf.org

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

Community-Based Renewable Energy Webinar

Renewable energy will be key in the fight against global warming. It can also help revitalize rural and urban economies. Most renewable energy projects are done by corporate investors, but enabling citizens and communities to invest can spread the benefits of the new energy economy. The revenue from renewable energy projects has provided significant benefits to smaller farmers. Community energy also offers a tangible way for funders to engage in ADRESSING global warming, from local projects to international collaboratives. But the success of community energy is highly dependent on policy. Find out what is being done and what needs to happen to make this a reality. RSVP to jkb@ega.org, with your your name, title, foundation, email and phone for the webinar instructions and details. This webinar for funders only. Speakers Adam Browning, Executive Director, Vote Solar Initiative; Lisa Daniels, Executive Director, Windsutry; Ben Paulos, Program Director for Renewable Power, Energy Foundation

Funder-only call
Low-hanging fruit: Helping ensure better access to urban markets through increasing and reforming federal food assistance

Additional Materials - click here

You are cordially invited to participate in our next monthly Learning Network Call for funders only taking place January, 13, 2010 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm EDT. The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities is pleased to have the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders as a co-host for this call as part of a joint series of events focusing on Urban Agriculture. To reserve your spot for January 13th, please RSVP to Doris Almonte at doris@fundersnetwork.org with your name, title, and foundation.

Background
A recent series in the NYTimes has documented the rapid growth of the 'food stamp' (now the SNAP) program which now helps feed 'one in eight Americans and one in four children'. In addition to SNAP, other major federal food programs are the National School Lunch Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); Child and Adult Care Food Program; and the School Breakfast Program. 2009 Appropriations for these federal food programs total almost $83 billion, up from $60.7 billion in expenditures in 2008.

With demand for federal food assistance rising dramatically, an Administration committed to addressing hunger, and a USDA leadership committed to rebuilding local food systems, and increase in urban agriculture efforts, the time is ripe for efforts to improve federal food assistance so that it is adequate, widens access to healthy foods, and increases the amount of food dollar that goes to local farmers.

Speakers on the call will provide background on the major federal food assistance programs and highlight opportunities such as the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act and pilot programs such as 'Double Vouchers' that are attracting SNAP recipients to farmers' markets.

Speakers on the call include:

Mailee Walker, Executive Director, Claneil Foundation, Call Moderator

Duane Perry, Founder of The Food Trust and Trustee, The Philadelphia Foundation

Gus Schumacher, Chair, Wholesome Wave Foundation; consultant to W.K.Kellogg Foundation and Kresge Foundation Additional resource person:

John Cook, Senior Research Scientist and Co-Principal Investigator with Children’s HealthWatch (formerly the Children’s Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program or C-SNAP)

To reserve your spot, please RSVP to Doris Almonte at doris@fundersnetwork.org with your name, title, and foundation. Call-in information and background materials will be sent January 11, 2010. Also, save the dates for more Urban Agriculture learning opportunities at our annual events: TFN March 22-24, 2010 in Pittsburgh and SAFSF June 15-18, 2010 in Philadelphia.