Regranting as Relationship: How Storytelling and Shared Resources Drive Food Justice in Central New York
Food justice organizations are often asked to compete for the same limited dollars – isolated from each other, measured against each other, and underequipped to tell their own story. It doesn’t have to be this way. What if the act of seeking funding could itself become an act of coalition-building?
For the Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA), regranting is not a workaround or a side project. It is a core strategy for redistributing resources, deepening trust among coalition members, and shifting the local food system away from scarcity and competition toward something more collective. Through its Food Justice Fund, SOFSA moves money directly to food justice organizations serving residents of Syracuse, Onondaga County, and Onondaga Nation using a participatory model: a community Leadership Council selects finalists, and anyone 14 or older in the region can vote on recipients.
But the Food Justice Fund is bigger than the check. It's a vehicle for matchmaking between funders and grassroots organizations, a platform for storytelling and visibility, and a lever for advocating – from the inside – for more equitable funder practices. Grantees gain partnerships, clarity of purpose, and a wider network. SOFSA gains the trust of its coalition and a concrete opportunity to ask funders harder questions about what real support looks like.
In this webinar, SOFSA's team will walk through the full arc of the Food Justice Fund: why they built it, how it works, who it supports, and what they've learned. You'll also hear from Amy Tao Woodley – an inaugural Food Justice Fund grantee who later joined the Leadership Council – whose own journey traces the ripple effects this model can set in motion over time.
Regranting as Relationship: How Storytelling and Shared Resources Drive Food Justice in Central New York
Join the 2025 CFF Champion Award winner, Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA), for this year’s Champions Briefing, an event wholly designed and created by the award recipient:
Food justice organizations are often asked to compete for the same limited dollars – isolated from each other, measured against each other, and underequipped to tell their own story. It doesn’t have to be this way. What if the act of seeking funding could itself become an act of coalition-building?
Collective Impact: From Ideation to Action
Collective Impact (and its updated versions throughout the years) is a framework for community-based change. Processes grounded in Collective Impact have successfully supported groups in addressing complex issues - issues that require more than one sector to work together. Collective Impact can bring us out of our silos and help us strategically contribute to the whole.
In this Connection Session, two guest speakers from Illinois join us to discuss Collective Impact and how it is different from other types of collaboration. Through an interactive discussion, we will gauge interest in further conversation on this topic.
Guest speakers: Anya Knecht, Knecht Research Consulting & Design, and Owner and Farmer at Anya Farm Megan Murphy, Food Systems Coordinator, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Trauma-Informed Nutrition Security: Building Resilience Through Food Programs
This webinar will overview key concepts in trauma-informed nutrition and provide best practices for building resilience in your programs and communities. Learn how trauma affects community health, how food and nutrition programs can provide much more than information and calories, and ways to integrate trauma-informed practices into your work.
A Fresh Approach to Senior Nutrition: Integrating Trauma-Informed Care
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to eating well, and older adults have unique needs and priorities. This free one hour webinar highlights important considerations when running food-related programs for older adults, such as how their nutritional needs differ from other groups and how trauma-informed principles, such as building social connection through food, can help older adults thrive. Join us to learn strategies and gain tools and resources for supporting older adults. Note: This is a repeat of the webinar held in March, 2026.
Get the FAACTS: You Are Where You Eat
Within less than two years, San Francisco will have lost three full-service grocery stores in neighborhoods with already limited grocery access. But how did we get here? Grocery chain corporations will point to theft, profitability, or changing consumer behavior as reasons for their closure, but there is another side to this story that should be talked about - corporate consolidation.
In this webinar, we will explore how corporate consolidation in the supermarket industry impacts food access, worker conditions, food prices, and the long-term wellbeing of our communities. Melanie Canales from RAFI will walk us through their Grocery Gap Atlas - why it was developed and how to use it - and examine what happens to smaller grocery stores when policies like the Robinson-Patman Act are not enforced.
We will then ground these national trends in San Francisco’s local reality. Worker-Owner of Other Avenues Grocery Cooperative, Celia LoBuono Gonzalez, will brief us on the history of SF’s grocery retail landscape and a community membe will share their experience in responding to the recent closure of the Fillmore Safeway and the impacts it has on those living in the neighborhood.
At the end of this webinar, you'll have a better understanding of how where you are impacts what you eat and how corporate consolidation reduces access to local food stores.
Sowing Sovereignty: Growing Seeds and Cultivating Resilience
Join on the UCSC farm for a focused conversation on organic seeds — from seed economics and profitability to hands-on care and stewardship practices. We’ll explore varietal selection, storage, germination, and seed saving, along with a practical discussion on the role and legitimacy of community seed libraries in strengthening regional seed security. Perfect for farmers, gardeners, and anyone interested in resilient, locally adapted seed systems. Come walk the fields and dig into the future of organic seed.
Roanoke's Food & Farm Trail: A Blueprint for Producer Engagement and Network Change
Join Mo McGonagle, Director of the Roanoke Foodshed Network (RFN), for a look at how RFN has evolved over the past six years—its structure, governance model, and collaborative approach to building a more equitable, resilient food and farming system across the Roanoke region.
The session will also feature RFN's newest initiative, the Roanoke Region Food & Farm Trail—a community-driven guide to the farms, flavors, and stories of a seven-county, two-city region, connecting residents and visitors to local farms and food businesses through a dynamic website, on-the-ground experiences, and multimedia storytelling.
You'll gain insight into how this work has strengthened regional partnerships, expanded community engagement, and opened new pathways for diversified local and regional funding.
Farm to Food Assistance Community of Practice Monthly
Are you working to connect food insecure communities with free, locally grown food while also paying farmers a fair price? These types of programs exploded over the course of the pandemic, and are a powerful way to build community food security. But there is a lot to learn! Join the Food Systems Leadership Network's monthly Community of Practice calls to troubleshoot, share stories, and build skills around these efforts.
Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee
The 18th Annual Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee and Small Farm Expo is coming up next month on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 4–7:30 p.m. at the Kingsburg Historical Park. This event brings farmers, families, and food lovers together for an evening celebrating the peak of Central Valley stone fruit season.
The Jubilee highlights the region’s vibrant organic agriculture community with fresh tastings from local growers who produce some of California’s most delicious peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, and other stone fruit varieties. Featured farms include Blossom Bluff Orchards, D.E. Boldt Family Farms, Nicholas Boldt Farms, Olson Family Farms, and Valliwide Organics. Guests will have the opportunity to sample fruit at peak ripeness, connect directly with farmers, and purchase produce to enjoy at home.
Join us for an afternoon of fresh fruit, food, and fun at the Kingsburg Historical Park on June 27, 2026 from 4-7:30 p.m.! Tickets are $10, children under 12 are free.
From Pantry to Plate: Nutrition Literacy for Food Distributions
How do we bridge the gap between complex nutrition science and the daily reality of a food pantry?
This 60-minute webinar is designed specifically for food bankers, SNAP-Ed staff, and pantry volunteers without formal nutrition backgrounds who support community health every day. We’ll begin by establishing a shared language, breaking down basics like macronutrients and food groups to ensure everyone feels confident with the terminology.
From there, we’ll take a "virtual tour" of a food distribution site. Together, we’ll explore common pantry items to discuss their health benefits and best practices for storage and food safety. We’ll also spend time busting common myths and navigating special dietary needs. You’ll walk away with a robust list of resources and the clarity to effectively communicate essential nutrition concepts to your guests.
Note: This is a repeat of the webinar held in February, 2026
Building a Biological Powerhouse in Your Soil Webinar Series
Building truly healthy soils can unlock tremendous symbiotic benefits from the relationship between plants and microbes, including highly nutrient-dense produce, carbon sequestration, water retention, and resilience in the face of stress, extreme weather, and pest and disease pressure. The use of compost extracts, compost teas, and other low-cost amendments to inoculate soils with beneficial microbes is a growing soil health practice with incredible potential. Backed by fascinating emerging science and proven through remarkable in-field results, these practices can be done at any scale and in any context, from backyard gardens to large commercial pastures, orchards, and vineyards.This webinar series will explore the science behind the workings of soil microbes, and why microbial inoculants are so effective in plant and soil health; describe and / or demonstrate practical, low-cost methods of creating quality composts and extracts; and share case studies and success stories of farmers using microbial inoculants on their farms.
Community Food Projects CoP
The Community Food Projects Community of Practice is a space for monthly discussions on a variety of community food systems-related topics - both around organizational development & management (like evaluation, community engagement, etc.) as well as programmatic / thematic areas (think cooperative development, community kitchens, etc.).
It is co-hosted and facilitated by the Food Systems Leadership Network and the Institute for Social and Economic Development.
The community is open to all, but is designed for CFP grantees, applicants, potential applicants, and anyone implementing food system change projects in urban or rural communities. Participation is free and you can attend as you're able.
Uprooting Racism Training (URFS)
The Uprooting Racism training is a theory and action workshop for environmental and food justice leaders to uproot systemic racism in our organizations and society. We delve deep into the history and structural realities of racial injustice and develop an understanding of the movement strategies of frontlines communities struggling for food sovereignty. We will examine our personal and societal roles of complicity in and resistance to the system. Much of the time will be spent developing tangible action plans – to use our sphere of influence to uproot these oppressions. True to Soul Fire Farm’s values and culture, this work will be rooted in fierce love, courageous self-reflection, and healing connection to land.
Uprooting Racism Training (URFS)
The Uprooting Racism training is a theory and action workshop for environmental and food justice leaders to uproot systemic racism in our organizations and society. We delve deep into the history and structural realities of racial injustice and develop an understanding of the movement strategies of frontlines communities struggling for food sovereignty. We will examine our personal and societal roles of complicity in and resistance to the system. Much of the time will be spent developing tangible action plans – to use our sphere of influence to uproot these oppressions. True to Soul Fire Farm’s values and culture, this work will be rooted in fierce love, courageous self-reflection, and healing connection to land.
Building a Biological Powerhouse in Your Soil Webinar Series
Building truly healthy soils can unlock tremendous symbiotic benefits from the relationship between plants and microbes, including highly nutrient-dense produce, carbon sequestration, water retention, and resilience in the face of stress, extreme weather, and pest and disease pressure. The use of compost extracts, compost teas, and other low-cost amendments to inoculate soils with beneficial microbes is a growing soil health practice with incredible potential. Backed by fascinating emerging science and proven through remarkable in-field results, these practices can be done at any scale and in any context, from backyard gardens to large commercial pastures, orchards, and vineyards.This webinar series will explore the science behind the workings of soil microbes, and why microbial inoculants are so effective in plant and soil health; describe and / or demonstrate practical, low-cost methods of creating quality composts and extracts; and share case studies and success stories of farmers using microbial inoculants on their farms.
USDA-NIFA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program: Informational Overview and Application Next Steps
Join us for our May Community Food Projects Community of Practice session!
This monthly series is a partnership between the Food Systems Leadership Network and ISED, and is a space for folks doing community food systems organizing work to learn from each other, connect in solidarity around shared experiences. Rooted in FSLN's cultural agreements, it is a space for respect, conversation, and safety.
May Topic: USDA-NIFA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program: Informational Overview and Application Next Steps
Time: May 27th, 2-3:30 EDT
Facilitators: Alyssa Thayer (FSLN) & Emma Bliss (ISED Solutions)
Description: Ahead of the release of the USDA-NIFA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program, the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED) staff members Andy Fisher and Emma Bliss will break down the grant’s purpose, application process, and how to determine whether this opportunity is a good fit for your organization.
Participants will also hear from two current grantees about their experiences applying for and managing the grant, offering insight into the organizational capacity and preparation needed to put together a competitive grant application.
If you work with or for an eligible entity (nonprofit, fiscally sponsored organizations, or federally recognized Tribal entities) and are engaged in holistic food security work in communities experiencing high levels of food insecurity, we encourage you to join us! Examples of eligible work include community gardens, land access initiatives, food systems job training, farm-to-school programs, and food-as-medicine efforts.
As the Technical Assistance Provider for this grant, ISED will help you assess whether this funding opportunity aligns with your organization's goals, identify support needs, and connect you with next steps and available resources.
Bring your questions and an openness to brainstorm and strengthen your project ideas with peers and technical assistance providers
If you are receiving this email, you are already registered for the series. If you have misplaced the Zoom link, a reminder email containing the link will be sent before the meeting.
You are welcome to share the registration with partners and collaborators.
Food Justice: From Policy to Practice
This is a live webinar that will be recorded. Part I of this Conversations on Food Justice examined the policy landscape and justice implications of restricting SNAP purchases. Part II brings the conversation to the ground.
What actually happens when restrictions are imposed or proposed?
How do independent grocers, corner stores, and community markets navigate new rules, and at what cost?
What do frontline workers and community organizations see when theory meets practice?
And whose voices are missing from the policy table when these decisions are made?
Join Food & Society at the Aspen Institute and the Global Food Institute at George Washington University for a candid conversation with practitioners who live and work inside these realities every day. This is a free, one-hour live webinar open to the public.
Register to attend the live event and receive the recording.
Meet the Panelists
Moderated by Corby Kummer, executive director, Food & Society
Celia Cole, chief executive officer, Feeding Texas
Justin King, policy director, Propel
Rachel Newman, health manager, RestoreOKC
Food Policy Council Voter & Candidate Engagement Strategies
Webinar: Food Policy Council Voter & Candidate Engagement StrategiesMonday, May 18, 2026 · 4:00 - 5:00pm ET Register HERE.
We know folks are holding a lot right now--the recent Louisiana v. Callais ruling, ongoing action on the Farm Bill, and the continuing challenges facing our sector. With so much converging, we want to lift up space for councils to plan and activate around voter engagement heading into the fall.
You'll hear from three councils:
Alaska
Broome County, NY
Jefferson County, CO
…on their experiences with candidate forums, voter registration, and broader candidate/voter engagement strategies--what's worked, what they've learned, and what they're planning next.
This webinar is for you if you are:
A council, coalition, or alliance already doing voter registration, get-out-the-vote, or candidate forum work
Curious about getting started heading into the fall and want to hear how peers have approached it
Looking for a space to connect with others navigating this moment together
We'll also use part of our time to gauge interest and readiness across the network so we can support councils who want to take on this work in the coming months.
Accessibility: Spanish interpretation will be available. For additional interpretation or accessibility needs, please contact foodpolicynetworks.us@gmail.com.
Looking forward to being together with each of you,
The Food Policy Networks Team
Food Democracy Lunch and Learn - May: "Improving Food Systems through Cross-Sector County-level Collaboration" | Virtual
Counties are often an ideal level of the food system for various stakeholders and interests to collaborate at to address local challenges. From administering nutrition programs to supporting agriculture and public health, county agencies shape key outcomes for residents and farmers alike. But without coordination across sectors, opportunities for impact are often missed.
This Lunch & Learn will provide an overview of New Jersey’s county-level authorities—including Boards of Social Services, Cooperative Extension, County Commissioners, and County Agriculture Development Boards—and explore how they influence food access, farming, and local economies.
Participants will also hear examples of county-level food policy councils and collaborations, offering a glimpse into what coordinated, cross-sector food system work can look like in practice.
The session will include time for Q&A and discussion, and participants will be invited to share interest in future support opportunities, including Food Policy Council planning office hours.
Registration required: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6tLdl4rSQs-bH45F03wgJg
Foraging in Oakland: Herb and Mushroom Talk & Tea Tasting, Vol 2
What grows around us? Join Cindy (@cindydoedee) for a short presentation on common, local herbs & mushrooms we find growing wild in the Bay Area. From edible to medicinal to poisonous and deadly, our Bay Area abundance is hard to match. We’ll have a short discussion about the ethics and policies around foraging. Cindy will bring in a collection of foraged goodies to share. Enjoy a sampling of foraged fresh and dried herbs during and after the talk!
Make sure to bring your own mug or cup to reduce waste of single-use cups.
*Tickets for this event are $22 or pay-what-you-can/NOTAFLOF
Cindy is a forager and tea enthusiast passionate about healing our connection with nature, promoting food sovereignty, land stewardship, and creating safe spaces for marginalized communities outside. She shares her Bay Area foraging adventures on social media, hosts community herb & mushroom walks, and runs Uproot Teas, a small-batch loose leaf tea company. Currently, she is working on campaigns to legalize foraging and clean up trash in neglected parks in the Bay Area.
Reimagining School Food Systems: Policy Pathways to Reduce Ultra-Processed Foods and Expand Scratch Cooking
Join the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute for a timely conversation on how to improve the quality of school meals and advance health equity by reducing reliance on ultra-processed foods and expanding scratch cooking in public schools. This forum will highlight findings from the Chefs in the Schools (CITS) initiative, a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership with New York City Public Schools that combines chef-led menu innovation, workforce training, and nutrition education. The program has demonstrated that it is possible to introduce plant-forward, culturally inclusive, scratch-cooked meals at scale, while building the skills and capacity of school food staff and engaging students in healthier eating habits. With growing evidence that ultra-processed foods contribute to diet-related disease and dominate children’s diets, including in school settings, this conversation comes at a critical moment for rethinking school meals as a cornerstone of public health policy. The panel will bring together leaders from policy, nutrition, advocacy, and implementation to discuss how successful models like CITS can inform broader efforts to transform school food systems nationwide.
Moderator:
Jennifer W. Cadenhead, PhD, RDN, Assistant Professor, CUNY School of Public Health; Faculty Fellow, CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute
Panelists:
Donna Martin, EdS, RDN, SNS, Past President (2018–2019), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Former Director, School Nutrition Program, Burke County (GA) Board of Education
Stephen O’Brien, Founder and President, SOBx2 Strategic Operations and Business Consulting; Former Senior Leader, NYC Department of Education Office of Food and Nutrition Services
Nancy Easton, CEO & Co-Founder, Wellness in the Schools (WITS); Former Educator, NYC Department of Education
Meghan Maroney, MPH, Campaign Manager, Federal Child Nutrition Programs, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
Reimagining School Food Systems: Policy Pathways to Reduce Ultra-Processed Foods and Expand Scratch Cooking
Join the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute for a timely conversation on how to improve the quality of school meals and advance health equity by reducing reliance on ultra-processed foods and expanding scratch cooking in public schools. This forum will highlight findings from the Chefs in the Schools (CITS) initiative, a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership with New York City Public Schools that combines chef-led menu innovation, workforce training, and nutrition education. The program has demonstrated that it is possible to introduce plant-forward, culturally inclusive, scratch-cooked meals at scale, while building the skills and capacity of school food staff and engaging students in healthier eating habits. With growing evidence that ultra-processed foods contribute to diet-related disease and dominate children’s diets, including in school settings, this conversation comes at a critical moment for rethinking school meals as a cornerstone of public health policy. The panel will bring together leaders from policy, nutrition, advocacy, and implementation to discuss how successful models like CITS can inform broader efforts to transform school food systems nationwide.
Opening remarks:
Julia McCarthy, JD, Senior Program Officer, New York Health Foundation
Moderator:
Jennifer W. Cadenhead, PhD, RDN, Assistant Professor, CUNY School of Public Health; Faculty Fellow, CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute
Panelists:
Donna Martin, EdS, RDN, SNS, Past President (2018–2019), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Former Director, School Nutrition Program, Burke County (GA) Board of Education
Stephen O’Brien, Founder and President, SOBx2 Strategic Operations and Business Consulting; Former Senior Leader, NYC Department of Education Office of Food and Nutrition Services
Nancy Easton, CEO & Co-Founder, Wellness in the Schools (WITS); Former Educator, NYC Department of Education
Meghan Maroney, MPH, Campaign Manager, Federal Child Nutrition Programs, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
Healing Justice: Caring in a Carceral World
In a political moment where we are witnessing the carceral state intensifying tactics of detaining, deporting and imprisoning people, how can we practice care in a way that truly prioritizes healing over harm? What does care work look like when removed from the confines of a carceral state? In this workshop we will critically examine care practices that exist within carceral systems and confront power dynamics between providers and those that receive care. We will also delve into Lavender Phoenix’s healing justice approach that challenges these systems and offers alternative ways of support. Learn to shape your practice in a way that aligns with your vision of a liberatory system of care.
“Private Food, Public Harm”: From Evidence to Action in Carceral Food Service
Join Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and Carceral Nutrition Project (CNP) on May 11 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET for “Private Food, Public Harm”: From Evidence to Action in Carceral Food Service.
In this timely, action‑oriented webinar, field experts will share and discuss findings from a new CSPI and CNP report examining how privatized food service – particularly by Aramark, the dominant corporate actor in this industry – impacts the health and dignity of incarcerated people.
Register to attend here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7-PNQ1NKQ2SQcgpwUjbMKw
Grounded in both data and lived experience, this webinar will bring together research, firsthand accounts, and state‑level perspectives on food service privatization in prisons and jails. Report stewards CSPI and CNP will examine together how these practices relate to wellbeing, safety, and human rights, all while fueling collective action toward industry accountability and meaningful change.
We invite you to attend to engage now in this critical conversation, as advocates; policymakers; legal and public health professionals; those committed to transforming harmful food systems and industry practices; and especially those of you moving the needle around health equity, dignity, and harm reduction in prisons and jails.
This session will be designed to equip attendees to:
1. Understand the human impact behind the data, hearing how inadequate and unsafe food affects the health, dignity, and daily lives of people incarcerated in prisons and jails
2. Examine evidence of systemic shortcomings in privatized carceral food service, including considerations around current contracting and oversight structures
3. Explore practical pathways for accountability and reform, informed by lived experience, community advocacy, and policy engagement across states and counties where Aramark holds carceral food service contracts.
Register HERE to connect with us in this critical moment as we learn together, lift up impacted voices, and mobilize efforts to challenge concerning prison food service practices. We invite you to share this webinar broadly to ensure these findings and calls to action reach those positioned to make change.
This event is hosted as a part of CSPI’s Resource Hub Training Series. We invite organizations and community advocates to join us, as we at CSPI learn alongside our partners and community at large to build power and share knowledge across disciplines on a myriad of social, economic, and environmental justice issues.
Este seminario virtual será en inglés y lo ofreceremos con interpretación y traducción al español en tiempo real.
FINDING YOUR FUTURE IN FOOD SYSTEMS
Are you an emerging food systems professional? Are you in career transition, seeking a job in community food work?
This series is for you!
Finding Your Future in Food Systems provides participants with connections and insights to help them identify next steps for their careers.
The series includes speakers from a wide variety of sectors within the food systems profession: policy & advocacy, market development, food access initiatives, value chain development, education, and farming, both urban and rural.
The series features speakers from job-creating organizations, agencies, and businesses, some working locally in their communities, others with national and international scope. Produced by college students for college students and other emerging professionals.
Featured speakers for Wed May 6, 2026:
Rachel Brice of Land For Good
Tommy Bass of Montana State University Extension
Janel Hutchison of Food Finance Institute
This episode is sponsored by the Organic Career Network.
SFHSA Benefits 101: Upcoming Changes to CalFresh and Medi-Cal in Summer 2026
We invite you to join our upcoming webinar with information on how low-income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities in the city can access public benefits like food, health care and financial assistance. This webinar is for local community-based organizations and other partner agencies to learn about the benefits and services that the San Francisco Human Services Agency (SFHSA) provides to support the health and well-being of San Franciscans. The Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) will also present resources available to our immigrant community members. The webinar will take place on Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM.
Labor Across the Food System
Join CSPI for a panel discussion on the role of labor in the food system, one of the most important industries in our economy. Representing different perspectives in the food system, each panelist brings expertise based on years of protecting workers' rights and fighting for social justice.
This session will aim to:
Raise awareness about the current conditions of laborers in the food system at different points in the food supply chain
Discuss which policies and initiatives would improve the conditions and livelihood of laborers and how the current political system views labor rights
Share resources and steps for further awareness and action for consumers
This event is hosted as a part of CSPI’s Resource Hub Training Series. We invite organizations and community advocates to join us, as we at CSPI learn alongside our partners and community at large to build power and share knowledge across disciplines on a myriad of social, economic, and environmental justice. Please reach out at resourcehub@cspinet.org if you or your organization are interested in providing or facilitating a future training.
The Farm Bill Is Coming — Do You Know What's at Stake?
The Farm Bill may be headed to a House vote as early as next week—at a moment when inflation remains high, food prices continue to strain family budgets, and states are already struggling to absorb the impacts of H.R. 1 SNAP cuts.
Join FRAC on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. ET for a timely discussion on what this moment means for states, counties, and communities and why decisions made now will shape our food system for the next five years.
You’ll hear from:
— A county representative on local impacts
— Two state legislators—one from a blue state and one from a red state on how H.R. 1 has affected state budgets and policy choices
— A congressional expert staffer on what to expect in the weeks ahead
This conversation will connect the dots between federal decisions, state fiscal realities, and real‑world access to food.
Sustainable Food & Wine Expo
SHOWCASING THE FULL CIRCULAR STORY OF FOOD
Hosted by Serotonin Creative Consultancy
Join us for an inspiring afternoon of tasting, sipping, learning, and mixing it up, where climate-conscious foodies and industry leaders come together to explore the full circle of food—from soil to table and back again. Located in the beautiful One Market Plaza, this event celebrates the innovators and stewards of a more regenerative and resilient food future.
Exhibitors Including:
Almond Board of California | Advancing California almonds through innovation.
Farming Hope | Culinary job training and food justice
IWCA (International Wineries for Climate Action) | Taking collective action to decarbonize the global wine industry
Lost Valley Wines | 100 years of Napa Valley stewardship & storytelling
Benni Pops | Organic Dairy-Free Frozen Treats & Ice Pops
Azizam Wines | Climate-adaptive, uniquely Mexican varietals
Napachar | From woody waste to carbon-capturing soil
The Circular Vineyard | A documentary film project highlighting sustainable winemakers in California
Recology | Eliminating waste through resource recovery
Tablas Creek Vineyards | certified organic and biodynamic Paso Robles wines
Rootless | Seaweed-powered hormone health
Three Sticks Wines | Rooted in Place. Crafted from Legacy.
Frontier Energy | Pioneering energy possibilities for a resilient tomorrow
Cakebread Cellars | Passion and tradition meet to create world-class wines in Napa Valley
St. Supery | 100% estate grown, certified Napa Green wines
Frog's Leap | Responsibly farmed, sustainably produced, and joyfully shared wines from the Napa Valley
Jackson Family Wines | Long-lasting commitment to sustainability and quality.
Growing Justice | Justice-impacted job training in controlled environment agriculture
DIRT Wines | Championing transparency in wine
California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance | Promoting Sustainability from Grapes to Glass
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines | Sustainability in the vineyard for generations.
The EVERY Company | highly-functional, animal-free protein ingredients
Serotonin Creative Consultancy | The official branding & marketing firm for SF Climate Week
Green Thumb Farms | Certified organic & naturally grown veggies, fruits, & flowers
Hobo Wine Co | Unforced winemaking from Sonoma County
BEAM Circular | Transforming waste into opportunity
Sonoma Syrup Co. | Artisanal handcrafted simple syrups, extracts & bar mixers
North American Press | Crafting honest wines that tell the story of heirloom orchards and resilient vines.
Eme's Baked Goods | Indulgence meets wellness
Neolea | Fresh olive oil for everyday moments together
And more...
Discover the latest in regenerative farming, sustainable harvesting, winemaking, and culinary innovation while diving deep into critical topics like food waste, composting, and food accessibility. The expo invites you to not only taste the innovations but also reconnect with the systems that feed us—and to imagine a food culture that nourishes both people and planet.
SFDPH April Community Meeting
The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) will host the next in-person meeting to provide a budget update.
Dear Community Partners:
Thank you for joining the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) recent budget listening sessions.
Attached, please find follow-up documents for our partners:
CBO List: As part of budget planning, SFDPH committed to providing a list of all CBO contracts. The attached list will beis being reviewed as part of the current funding reduction process and has been categorized into subgroups based on program characteristics to facilitate consistent, like-for-like comparisons across similar services. Please note, we’ve attached two versions of the documents, one sorted alphabetically and one sorted by contract amount.
CCR Policy Update: SFDPH has updated its Contract Change Request (CCR) review process, effective immediately, as part of broader budget planning efforts to manage growth and improve contracted services. FY25-26 CCRs were due February 27, 2026, and going forward, a new cross-divisional committee will oversee all CCR approvals — meaning program-level determinations are no longer final and require committee sign-off. This applies to all submitted FY25-26 CCRs and beyond, with further guidance to be shared once finalized.
Finally, we will be hosting a CBO Budget update on Thursday, April 16 from 4-5pm at 25 Van Ness Ave, Conference Room 610. This session is part of a series of budget planning meetings with our community partners during the FY 26-27 budget season.
Thank you for all that you do to support of San Francisco's communities.
SFDPH
Free Citizenship Workshop in San Francisco
The SF Pathways to Citizenship Initiative is hosting a FREE in-person citizenship workshop on Saturday, February 28, 2026. You must have an appointment to attend. Call 415-662-8901 and leave a message to register.
La Iniciativa Caminos a la Ciudadanía de San Francisco presenta un taller personal GRATUITO el sábado, 28 de febrero de 2026. Necesita hacer una cita previa para acudir. Llame al 415-662-8902 para inscribirse.
「三藩市公民途徑倡議」（SF Pathways to Citizenship Initiative）現定於2月28日星期六舉行「免費」現場公民入籍工作坊。要求佩戴口罩。 您必須預約方可參加。致電415-295-5894，並留下口訊方便登記。
Ang SF Pathways to Citizenship Initiative ay magsasagawa ng libreng Pagkamamamayan (citizenship workshop) sa Sabado, Pebrero 28, 2026. Kailangan ang appointment upang dumalo. Tumawag sa 415-498-0735 at mag iwan ng mensahe upang magpatala.
Присоединяйтесь к Инициативе г. Сан-Франциско по предоставлению путей к гражданству, приняв участие по предварительной записи в предстоящем Семинаре по вопросу гражданства, который состоится в ССуббота, 28 февраль 2026 г. Предварительно записаться можно, позвонив по телефону 415-692-6798 и оставив сообщение.
San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative sẽ tổ chức hội thảo nhập tịch trực tiếp MIỄN PHÍ thứ Bảy, ngày 28 tháng 2. Quý vị phải lấy hẹn để được tham dự. Gọi 415-295-5894 và để lại lời nhắn để đăng ký.
Defending Basic Needs Programs Against Claims of Fraud
Citing claims of fraud, the Trump administration has made efforts to freeze or delay funding for basic needs programs. You’ve seen the news about frozen child care funding in Minnesota, and attempts to extend such a freeze to other states. Now, members of Congress are claiming fraud as they propose cuts in many other programs that serve people with low incomes.
What do voters think about these claims? How can advocates make the strongest defense of basic needs programs? What messages are persuasive; which ones aren’t?
Join us to learn about timely new public opinion polling from nationally known and respected Hart Research, and the messaging advice drawn from these findings. You’ll get what you need to know from Guy Molyneux, Hart Research Partner and experienced analyst, joined by others to provide the policy context and practical message tips you need. Whether you are working on local, state, or federal advocacy, these findings will help you be more effective. This webinar is sponsored by the Partnership for Basic Needs (PBN), of which CHN is a member; the Hart Research polling was commissioned by PBN.
All registrants will get the webinar recording and follow-up materials. A lot is at stake – don’t miss this.
Time Limits Across Economic Mobility Programs: Lessons from SNAP and Emerging Risks for Health and Housing
Time limits have long been used within SNAP as a policy tool intended to promote work. In practice, however, these policies function primarily as documentation requirements that can push extremely low-income individuals off assistance — even when they are working or facing barriers to stable employment.
As policymakers consider expanding similar approaches into other programs, including healthcare and housing, it is critical to examine the real-world consequences.
Join FRAC, National Low-Income Housing Coalition, and Families USA as they bring together experts across food security, healthcare, and housing to explore:
The history and policy design of time limits in SNAP
Evidence of their impact on hunger, health, and economic stability
Lessons from state-level pilot programs and administrative implementation
What expansion into healthcare and housing could mean for vulnerable communities
At a time when families are facing rising costs of food, rent, and healthcare, understanding how these policies intersect is more important than ever.
Demilitarizing Police in California: Intro to AB 481 Advocacy
Contesting Militarized Policing. Please join us for the online workshop, Demilitarizing Police in California: Intro to AB 481 Advocacy, on Thursday, March 26, 4:30-6pm. California state law AB 481 was enacted to increase transparency and accountability for police and sheriff’s acquisition and use of militarized weaponry, from tanks and rubber bullets to drones and assault rifles. This workshop will empower you to organize and address police narratives and use of this weaponry. You can learn about AB 481 at this 1-page handout or on the American Friends Service Committee’s AB 481 hub. Organized by the statewide network on AB 481 and Demilitarizing Police in California. Register here. Further information: CAHealingJustice@afsc.org
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Recently we’ve watched as community members have been met with extreme state violence.
Meanwhile local police continue to build up their arsenals of military weapons. Do you know what weapons SFPD and the San Francisco sheriff possess? Do you know when they are authorized to use those weapons against the community? If you are unsure how to answer these questions…
Join fellow community advocates in learning about organizing for local police demilitarization in California.
State law AB 481 was enacted to increase transparency and accountability for police officers’ use of military equipment.
Another law, AB 48, restricts the use of chemical agents or kinetic energy projectiles by California law enforcement against crowds and First Amendment protected assembly.
Please share the word on social media. We attach two graphics you can use. I’ve posted on Instagram here and on X here (which you can repost).
Register to join us on Thursday, March 26 4:30-6:00pm to learn about what these laws mean and how you can advocate for compliance and demilitarization of law enforcement. And share this invitation and attached materials with trusted advocates who may be aligned with our goals.
Together, we can support each other in organizing to restrict local police violence in our communities.
From Seed to System: Black-Led Strategies for Food, Farming, and Community Wealth
What does a liberated Black food future look like - and what will it take to get there together?
Join CSPI for an honest, deeply grounded conversation on Black food sovereignty and the community-led efforts reshaping how food, land, and power intersect. Through lived experience and on‑the‑ground models, panelists will explore how Black-led organizations are reclaiming food systems, restoring cultural memory, and building collective power in the face of structural inequities and state violence.
This session will equip participants to:
· Develop a shared understanding of Black food sovereignty by exploring its meaning, its future possibilities, and the personal and historical roots that shape this work.
· Recognize what authentic community leadership looks like by examining how Black-led organizations center community power, navigate immediate needs, and uplift community members as decision-makers.
· Build systems-level awareness of the forces shaping food, land, and economic justice and understand how solidarity economics, cultural enterprise, and policy advocacy reinforce food sovereignty.
· Identify pathways toward liberation, healing, and collective action through land-based practices, trust-building in the face of state violence, and concrete strategies for supporting Black-led food sovereignty efforts.
3rd Annual SF Food Action Summit: Growing Connections to Feed Action
The SF Food Action Summit is San Francisco’s only cross-sector convening of people working in all parts of the city’s food system – including, but not limited to eaters, community organizers, producers, educators, policymakers, service providers, business owners, and distributors. Over the past two years, this event has drawn 225+ stakeholders committed to building a more just, connected, and community-led food future.
In a city celebrated for its diverse, creative, and innovative culinary scene, it can be surprising that we are still struggling with persistent food insecurity and systemic inequality. This annual event is where we can come together to ask the hard questions and imagine a good food system that works for all. Each year builds on the last – from establishing a shared Good Food Vision, to identifying building blocks for a long-term food system strategy, to this year’s focus of Growing Connections to Feed Action.
DPH community listening sessions
The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) will host an in-person budget listening session on Monday, March 23rd from 2pm to 3pm.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) will host an in-person budget listening session on Monday, March 23rd from 2pm-3pm at 25 Van Ness Ave, Conference Room 610. This session is part of a series of budget planning meetings with our community partners during the FY 26-27 budget season.
The meeting will be a dialogue and feedback session on prioritizing and strengthening outcomes‑focused contracts and services, aligned with the Mayor’s budget guidance to DPH. There will be specific focus on CBO services related to prioritizing connections to treatment and guidance on harm reduction services.
Please review and consider the following prompts when preparing feedback to ensure a smooth and efficient meeting:
How do your organizations support clients with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder in moving through the stages of change towards recovery?
How should we design our services to meet people where they are and move them into treatment, in ways that balance individual needs with community impacts?
How can we better measure the longitudinal relationship building required to move people along the stages of change? And how do we also meet the need of providing more immediate measurable outcomes?
Please note, each speaker will be limited to 2 minutes for their comments, so that everyone will have a chance to speak. If you have suggestions you’d like to share in advance, please submit them to DPHBudgetideas@sfdph.org.
DPH community listening sessions
Save the date for two upcoming DPH CBO listening sessions:
Thursday, March 19, 9-10 am at 25 Van Ness, Room 610
Monday, March 23, 4-5pm, location TBD
We will share additional information and registration links as these become available. Comments can be sent to DPHBudgetideas@sfdph.org through March 13, 2026.
Resources:
Understanding H.R. 1's Impact on SNAP and CalFresh in California
Join the Berkeley Food Institute for a timely discussion on what the changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by H.R.1 mean for California. As these cuts to CalFresh (California’s SNAP) take effect, California families, advocates, and policymakers are working to understand what comes next. UC Berkeley Professor Hilary Hoynes and Monica Saucedo from the California Budget & Policy Center will draw on research and policy analysis to discuss the role of SNAP in family wellbeing, and what these federal changes will mean for Californians.
Attendees will learn about how the changes to SNAP from H.R. 1 will impact California families in the short and long term, the timeline for these changes to take effect, and the fiscal implications for the California state budget. The conversation will conclude with a forward-looking discussion on what can be done to limit harm and support families affected as these changes unfold.
FAACTS Summit Kickoff Event at Moongate Lounge
Join us for a special SF Food Action Summit kickoff event at the Moongate Lounge!
On Tuesday, March 17th from 6 - 8PM, we’ll hear from food writer and author Nancy Matsumoto and food justice leader Shakirah Simley.
March is International Women’s Month, and 2026 was designated by the United Nations as the Year of the Woman Farmer. The conversation will reflect on women’s leadership in food and agriculture, the power of cross-cultural collaboration, and what it means to build a food future rooted in dignity, equity, and abundance.
Your ticket comes with:
A welcome drink
Canapes and light appetizers
A copy of Nancy’s newest book, Reaping What She Sows: How Women are Rebuilding Our Broken Food System
Come early, stay late, and connect with fellow food lovers working toward a more just and connected food system in San Francisco.
Doors open at 6:00 PM
Conversation begins at 6:30 PM
Questions from the audience taken at 7:15 PM
Book signing and mingling 7:30 - 8 PM
We encourage everyone to continue the conversation and learn how to get involved with FAACTS at the 3rd Annual SF Food Action Summit: Growing Connections to Feed Action on March 25th to 26th at UCSF Rutter Center!
**Tickets to the kickoff event are available through the 3rd Annual SF Food Action Summit Eventbrite**
Vetting & Infiltration training / Amenazas: Investigación y infiltración
Presented by Equality Labs in collaboration with Aspen Collective Safety, LLC
This workshop will introduce you to common infiltration and vetting threats we’re seeing on the ground, especially those targeting electoral, community defense, and movement work. We'll look at real-world examples and discuss the major players behind these efforts—many of whom pose as volunteers, funders, journalists, potential partners, or even romantic interests.
You'll learn how to recognize warning signs, understand common tactics, and respond effectively to suspicious situations. We’ll also explore how phishing often overlaps with infiltration, how organizations can unknowingly share sensitive information, and how to reduce these risks without sacrificing trust or relationship-building in your work.
You will receive a link to join closer to the event date.
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Presentado por Equality Labs en colaboración con Aspen Collective Safety, LLC
Este taller les presentará las amenazas comunes de infiltración e investigación que estamos viendo en el campo, especialmente aquellas dirigidas al trabajo electoral y de la defensa comunitaria y de movimiento. Veremos ejemplos del mundo real y hablaremos de los principales responsables de estas acciones, muchos de los cuales se hacen pasar por voluntarios, financiadores, periodistas, posibles socios o incluso pretendientes sentimentales.
Aprenderá a reconocer las señales de alerta, comprenderá las tácticas comunes y cómo responder de manera eficaz a situaciones de sospecha. También exploraremos cómo el “phishing” a menudo se superpone a la infiltración, cómo las organizaciones pueden compartir información confidencial sin saberlo y cómo reducir estos riesgos sin sacrificar la confianza o las relaciones en tu trabajo.
Recibirá un enlace para unirse a la sesión cuando se acerque la fecha de la capacitación.
Schools and Summer EBT
Join FRAC for a webinar exploring the connection between schools and Summer EBT, including what responsibilities schools have to ensure eligible children receive their benefits, as well as additional supports schools can provide to expand access. Hear from a state agency who has supported schools' involvement with the program, an anti-hunger organization who is creating space for school districts to get involved, and from a school district about what they are doing on the ground.
SUPPORT THE PEOPLE IN THE WOMEN'S JAIL! PUBLIC HEARING
Join community groups to attend an important public hearing about conditions in the SF County Women's Jail. Formerly incarcerated people will be testifying at the hearing and there will be a chance for everyone to offer public comment.
The hearing was catalyzed by abusive strip searches that were conducted in the jail in May 2025. The hearing will address the overall problematic conditions in the women's jail rather than the strip search itself since that incident is currently under legal investigation.
Your presence and solidarity are deeply needed as we call for safety, accountability, and dignity for incarcerated women and trans people in San Francisco!
The Future of Independent Commissions in San Francisco
The Future of Independent Commissions in San Francisco:Responding to the Recommendations of the Commission Streamlining Task Force
Where: The Women’s Building, 3543 18th Street
When: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM, Doors open at 5:30 PM
RSVP: https://luma.com/qg8naqks?tk=m01ulO
Overview
In November 2024, voters approved Proposition E to streamline City commissions to better serve the people of San Francisco. Instead, the Commission Streamlining Task Force is attempting to strip power from the public and expand mayoral power.
Join us and community members on March 11, 2026, for an educational event to build action in the city and protect commissions. We will hear from commissioners and we'll educate the public on the recommendations’ impacts, and share how folks can take action as the recommendations come before the Board of Supervisors next month in March and then to voters in November 2026.
Hosts
Real Reform SF (www.instagram.com/real_reform_sf/)
League of Women Voters (www.instagram.com/lwvsf)
San Francisco Women’s Political Committee (www.instagram.com/sfwpc/)
The Women’s Building (www.instagram.com/thewomensbuilding/)
the roots of change agency (www.instagram.com/roots.of.change/)