This past weekend, Sustainable Long Island attended the Small Farm Summit; a full-day effort to cultivate active community support of sustainable agriculture on Long Island.

Sustainable Long Island was part of the panel discussion, "Cultivating Food Justice," which focused on how we can expand the concept of Food Justice, linking it with labor and immigration issues, and bringing in the viewpoints and voices of traditionally marginalized communities. The panel explored initiatives in our region and elsewhere that are helping to highlight inequities throughout the food system and, in so doing, broadening the meaning and impact of food justice.

Some of the points we discussed during the panel:

• There are many challenges facing communities on Long Island with respect to food justice and food equity:
  • For example, the recently released County Health Rankings for 2012 indicate that more than 83,000 people (roughly 3%) on Long Island have limited access to healthy food - defined as living below the poverty level and more than 1 mile from the nearest grocery store
  • This measure does not even take into account the more than 50,000 households on LI with no access to a vehicle, making it even more difficult to obtain fresh, healthy food
  • In a national survey, the New York-North New Jersey-Long Island MSA was ranked 11th worst out of 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas for accessing affordable, fresh fruit & vegetables among all households from 2008 to 2010
• Ways communities can practice food justice:
  • Start by sharing information with those who are not yet aware of food justice issues. For example, within your own community, you might raise food justice issues at community or civic meetings, share what you learn and steps you're taking with your family. By increasing our own knowledge and talking about what we know, we become ambassadors of a healthier, more just food system.
  • Support local businesses that provide (grow, produce, sell) affordable, healthy, and locally grown - when possible - produce
  • Help advocate or work for policies that can help to transform the local food system, create opportunities for a healthy, local food system
  • Get involved in food projects. Projects that address food equity can help build resilient communities - Not only do they create a sense of place, and improve community health and the environment, but they can be economic drivers as well - boosting local economies by creating jobs and generating multipliers - additional maintenance or supply jobs. Local or regional food projects can also increase revenue for local farms, in turn, supporting supply vendors, employees, distributors, etc.
    • Support community based farmers' markets
    • Get involved in a community garden
    • Start or get involved in farm-to-school program
    • Improve food in local schools
    • Encourage youth food movement perspectives

The Town of Huntington is advancing Huntington Station's Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) project and continuing the success achieved during the first phase of the process.

A public meeting for the Huntington Station BOA was held on March 27, 2012. With approximately 130 community members in the audience, the Town and consultant team highlighted ongoing revitalization efforts within the Town, reviewed the NYS BOA Program, and provided an overview of the Huntington Station BOA, including phase one accomplishments, opportunities for public participation, and next steps for phase two. The meeting was designed to maximize community input, and many participants asked questions about the project and shared interests and concerns for the revitalization efforts. 

During phase two of the Huntington Station BOA, the consultant team will develop planning and redevelopment programs that incorporate community input received during the process, conduct environmental site assessments and economic and financial analyses, and facilitate public participation. Sustainable Long Island will conduct small group meetings with community stakeholders. These meetings will be held throughout phase two to ensure consistent, sustained engagement. Their focus will be to provide information about the NYS BOA Program, Huntington Station BOA, and project updates, as they are available. If you have a suggestion about the types of groups who should participate in the small group meetings or are interested in taking part, please contact Sustainable Long Island at  info@sustainableli.org.  

Farrell Fritz has announced that environmental partner and Sustainable Long Island Secretary of the Board of Directors, Charlotte A. Biblow, will receive Long Island Business News' "Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business" award at a gala to be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at The Crest Hollow County Club in Woodbury, NY. The Top 50 program recognizes the Island's top women professionals for business acumen, mentoring and community involvement. As Ms. Biblow was selected a third-time honoree (2007, 2008), she will become a member of the program's Hall of Fame.

Charlotte leads Farrel Fritz's environmental practice group and in addition to Sustainable Long Island, also serves on the board of directors of Unisphere, Inc.; the Women's Fund of Long Island (formerly the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls); and the Queensborough College Fund, Inc. From 1993 to 2007, Ms. Biblow served as a board member of the American Heart Association, Long Island region.  

Ms. Biblow was selected by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation as a 2011 (Local Hero) awardee through their Neighborhood Excellence Initiative (nominated by Sustainable Long Island). In 2008, The Ward Melville Heritage Organization honored her with the "Heritage Partner" award for her outstanding achievements in community service. In 2007, Ms. Biblow was honored by The Queens Courier and Queens Business Today as a "Female Professional of the Year."