April 2015

News

WhyHunger Launches Agroecology Publication

WhyHunger is proud to release its first agroecology publication, "Agroecology: Putting Food Sovereignty into Action." Agroecology is an agricultural method based on the traditional knowledge of those who cultivate the land and a way of life. The publication shares the knowledge and perspectives of 10 social movement leaders that are working to "scale up" agroecology around the world. It also highlights the social, political, cultural, nutritional and spiritual meanings of agroecology from within communities that have been negatively impacted by the commodification of food. Throughout this publication, grassroots organizers share how the practice of agroecology can transform societies and build a sustainable food future. Read and share the full publication here.

How Can the Right to Food Inform Emergency Food in the US? Webinar Posted

On March 17th, 2015, WhyHunger hosted a webinar on the Right to Food and how the human rights framework can inform emergency food in the US. We discussed how WhyHunger engages around the Right to Food, ensuring emergency food is provided with dignity, the Right to Food framework and how it can inspire action. Speakers included Nadia Lambek, a public interest lawyer who served as an advisor to former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter; Stephanie Solomon, Director of Education and Outreach at Mother Hubbard's Cupboard in Bloomington, IN; Jessica Powers, Director of the Nourish Network for the Right to Food at WhyHunger; and Alison Cohen, Senior Director of Programs at WhyHunger. Presentation slides, additional responses to questions and a video of the webinar are available here.

Help Update the Find Food Database

WhyHunger is expanding the comprehensive Find Food database of emergency food providers (food banks, food pantries, food access sites) to include more information about healthy food and nutrition. We need your help! Please verify that your organization's profile is accurate in the database. We have new categories that will better capture the work that organizations are doing to better serve their communities, including addressing hunger and health. . If you need to update your record, please email database@whyhunger.org. If your organization is not in the database, please join us here.

Hunger & Health

USDA Promotes Healthy Recipes

In an effort to promote healthy eating and access to healthy foods, the USDA's What's Cooking? USDA Mixing Bowl website brings together household recipes, large quantity recipes and recipes in Spanish. If you'd like to refine your search, you can search by food group, specific nutrients or cooking equipment. Recipes include Three Sisters Stew, Alaskan Ceviche with Mango and Apple Corn Chili. Feel free to click around on the website and take advantage of these easy-to-use recipes!

Building The Movement

Social Justice For Lunch

"Social Justice for Lunch: Delta Fresh Foods Initiative at the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference" explores the work of the Delta Fresh Foods Initiative (DFFI) to transform the food system in the Mississippi Delta region into one that is more equitable and just for all.

Social Justice for Lunch gives insight into an equity-based approach to address the lack of access to nutritious food and the direct connection to decades of persistent poverty and oppression. DFFI was created from the ground up by organizers who recognized the importance of having a justice lens on their work and the necessity to include marginalized voices at the table. Together they chose to use Farm to School projects to strengthen the local food economy, promote healthy lifestyles and build social equity for Delta residents. Read and share the full publication here.

Funding Opportunities

Specialty Food Foundation Grant Application

The Specialty Food Foundation, founded in 2014, develops and supports tangible and lasting solutions to hunger and food recovery, amplifying the innovation and passion of the specialty food community. The Specialty Food Foundation makes grants to charitable organizations that have been recognized by the IRS. The Foundation makes grants to the following types of projects in keeping with the Specialty Food Foundation mission and vision:

General operating grants - not linked to a specific program but aimed to support an organization overall
Project/program support grants - specific to a project which leads to solutions regarding hunger
Innovation grants - innovative solutions to hunger
Capacity building grants - leadership, management, organizational management, education
Seed grants - money to kick start an effort

The one-year grants covering the January 1-December 31, 2016 calendar year range from $5,000 to $30,000 and will be awarded to organizations fighting hunger and aiding in food recovery in the domestic US. The deadline for the letter of inquiry is April 30, 2015. Learn more here.

In This Issue

WhyHunger Launches Agroecology Publication

How Can the Right to Food Inform Emergency Food in the US? Webinar Posted

Help Update the Find Food Database

USDA Promotes Healthy Recipes

Social Justice For Lunch

Specialty Food Foundation Grant Application

Please verify that your organization's profile is accurate in the database. To update your record, email
database@whyhunger.org. If your organization is not in the database, please join us here.

Our Hotline number has changed to 1-800-5-HUNGRY. Please update your records and find outreach materials here.

Nourishing Change is meant to encourage conversation and dialogue about transforming communities, community food security and the emergency food system. We want to hear from you! Email us at nourish@whyhunger.org

Nourish Network for the Right to Food

WhyHunger

505 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2100

New York, New York 10018

nourish@whyhunger.org

212-629-8850

Contributors: Betty Fermin and Jessica Powers.