Word on the Street
February 2015
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WELCOME!

In our February edition of the Grounded in Philly newsletter, read how community gardening can be a source of community power, think more deeply about community engagement, come out to the Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council's (FPAC) public mayoral forum on food policy, check out local food justice events, job listings & more...

BLOG NEWS

By Kirtrina Baxter & Nicole Sugerman
With all the civil unrest around the brutality and unjust policing of communities of color, people are looking around their neighborhoods to see just how they can make a difference. People are asking their community leaders, "what are the next steps for justice?" and thinking about strategies to gain community adhesion and sovereignty. The topic of community power and how to attain it, is chief among concerns. Creating a community garden can be a strong force for community power. READ MORE

In Seattle, if you're a person of color and you walk down a dark alley late at night and you feel like you're being followed, it's probably someone trying to do some community engagement: "Psst...hey buddy-Go Hawks!-you want to attend a summit? It's about economic inequity. We need your voice." "Daddy, I'm scared!" "Stay calm, Timmy; don't look him in the eye." "Come on, help a guy out! Here, you each get some compostable sticky dots to vote on our top three priorities! You can vote on different priorities, or, if you like, you put more than one dot on-" "Run, Timmy!"

 

This is why you should never take your kid down a dark alley in Seattle.

 

A while ago I was talking to a friend (another Executive Director, since all my regular friends have abandoned me because I make jokes about compostable sticky dots), and he said, "Have you noticed that everyone is getting paid to engage us communities of color except us communities of color?"

 

Sigh. Yes, I have noticed. I've been thinking a lot about this, and have come up with a term to describe it: Trickle-Down Community Engagement (TDCE). 

This is when we bypass the people who are most affected by issues, engage and fund larger organizations to tackle these issues, and hope that miraculously the people most affected will help out in the effort, usually for free. Continue reading

 

Announcements
 
Healthy Foods Green Spaces (HFGS) February meeting was amazing. Thank you Repair the World for hosting us!
 
If you DO NOT KNOW know what Healthy Foods Green Spaces is...It's a coalition of Philadelphia area individuals and organizations who support community-managed green space, gardens, and farms through advocacy grass-roots organizing and education.
 
HFGS January meeting at PILCOP
You may not be able to see how much fun we had in this pic, but our gatherings are getting more interesting by the month. We meet once a month, bring food and ideas, build relationships, share skills & information, create ways to support urban ag in the city and much more.
JOIN US
If you are interested or want more information email [email protected]
 
 

 

On the Ground



SAVE THE DATE

Food Policy and the Next Mayor
Wednesday, March 18th 
5:30pm to 7:00pm


Dear Philadelphian,


 

The Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC) invites you to a public forum on Food Policy and the Next Mayor on Wednesday, March 18, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Free Library of Philadelphia (1901 Vine St). Please save the date on your calendars for an exciting opportunity to discuss the future of food policy in Philadelphia.

 

Diane Cornman-Levy, Executive Director of the Federation of Neighborhood Centers and Co-Chair of FPAC, will provide background on FPAC and the current state of Philadelphia food policy.

 

Jonathan Deutsch, Professor and Founding Director of the Center for Hospitality & Sport Management at Drexel University and FPAC Appointed Member, will moderate discussion.

 

If you would like to attend, please register here. Seating is limited.

 

Stay tuned for more information on the forum agenda. Help us spread the word using the #phillyfood and/or #phillyfpac .

 

If you have any questions, please direct them to event organizer Bryan Fenstermaker, FPAC Appointed Member.

 

Sponsors: Culinary Literacy Center at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Drexel University, The Enterprise Center CDC, Federation of Neighborhood Centers.

 


PILCOP's Garden Justice Legal Initiative will be hosting 
FREE monthly legal clinics
For more information email [email protected]



 

VIP free Legal clinics help provide limited legal services and assistance to clients in their own neighborhoods. These limited representation programs are an innovative way to give clients the information they need to be aware of their legal rights and be familiar with the legal process. 



Starting Seeds & Getting Ready for Spring

Mar 14, 2015 10:00 AM - Mar 14, 2015 12:30 PM

Starting Seeds & Getting Ready for Spring

Get the jump on Spring! Season extenders, garden planning, starting seeds indoors and out. Participants will take home a kit to start seeds appropriate to the season.



Garden Tenders Basic Training

Mar 19, 2015 6:00 PM - Apr 30, 2015 8:30 PM

Garden Tenders Basic Training

Learn what it takes to get a community garden started. Open to groups, individuals, educators, and anyone interested in gardening with others. This is a six-session course.

Read more


 Mariposa's Free 
Grant Writing Basics Workshop

March 4th, 7-8:30pm
Mariposa Food Coop. 2nd Floor  address :4824 Baltimore Ave Philadelphia pa 19143 


In The Know

Click on any of the flyers below for sign-up/registration information



 

 

 



Job Opportunities... 

Seasonal Farmer -Pennypack Farm and Education Center- Ft. Washington, PA 

Join our community and be a part of a great team! Pennypack Farm  a large and successful vegetable CSA  in Southeastern Pennsylvania, is seeking applications for our 2015 growing season. The Seasonal Farmer is a full time position starting in April and ending the Mid November.  Seasonal farmer will work Monday through Friday with some weekend work including Saturday markets on a rotation and weekend water duties.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to build their sustainable agriculture resume while working in a professional environment on a successful CSA farm.  

One  season of experience farming is preferred with an interest in organic agriculture. Applicants with tractor and equipment experience are preferred.  Duties will include but not limited too; planting, weeding, watering, setting up irrigation, repairing items, harvesting, working with volunteers, washing produce and working at a farmer's market. 

Ability to lift 50 pounds, maintain a positive attitude and professional attitude, to walk, stand, kneel, drive, bend for long periods of time, ability to engage in other strenuous tasks as necessary including but not limited to tractor and implement operation. A valid Driver's License and a criminal background and child abuse clearance are also required. 

See our website for more information about our organization, www.pennypackfarm.org

To apply send a letter of interest and a resume [email protected] 

 

Greensgrow West is Hiring! Two positions starting in Spring 2015!

In 2014, Greensgrow opened a brand new retail space - a pop-up garden center on Baltimore Avenue, and had a very successful first season. We are looking for the right candidate to work as a key member of a small team, specializing in providing excellent customer service and supporting the growth of the Greensgrow West location. This individual will have some level of horticultural knowledge and a strong affinity for urban greening, horticulture, and gardening. Please read full job description here.

 


 Norris Square Neighborhood Project is hiring

Food and Landscape Coordinator
Gardens and Culture Educator
NSNP Seeks Unpaid Urban Garden Interns