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Regional & National Networking

Regional & National Networking . What is working & why?. Today’s Discussion . Introduction: Vanessa Zajfen, CFJ Farm to Institution Program Coordinator Networks developed by UEPI & CFJ National Farm to School Network

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Regional & National Networking

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  1. Regional & National Networking What is working & why?

  2. Today’s Discussion • Introduction: • Vanessa Zajfen, CFJ Farm to Institution Program Coordinator • Networks developed by UEPI & CFJ • National Farm to School Network • Healthy School Food Coalition • Barriers & what is working • Southern California GFN

  3. National Farm to SchoolNetwork • BASIS: Coordinate & support the development of a rapidly growing movement. • OBJECTIVE: Institutionalize and promote farm to school programs as viable models for improving the economic viability of family-scale farmers and supporting child nutrition efforts. • TOOLS: National staff, RLAs & national partners /advisors, working framework around 5 programming priorities, pooled resources, website, consistent marketing & media identity, policy advocacy. • SUCCESS: Unifying identity, outreach potential, shared tools & strategies & more F2S programs.

  4. Healthy School Food Coalition • SCOPE: Regionally specific, LAUSD specific. • BASIS: Developed from direct need for quality food & improved food environments. • OBJECTIVE: Develop & implement comprehensive food and nutrition policies in the LAUSD through community organizing. • TOOLS: Community mobilization (regular meetings & trainings), focused goals, resources (newsletter), participation in LAUSD committees, identity & community. • SUCCESS: Soda & junk food ban, healthier & vegetarian lunch options, & student representation on menu selection committees.

  5. Barriers in Network Development • Scope of network: geography & stakeholders • Allocation of resources. • Disparity in skill levels & regional differences. • Establishing effective communication strategies. • Goals & priorities • Grant deliverables influence network development & goals. • Reaching consensus on mission, vision, and goals. • Developing “buy-in”, participant-driven while maintaining focus & providing useful services to members.

  6. What’s working? • Identify members’ strengths & build on them. • Reduce redundancy, identify available resources within the network. • Set realistic goals & expectations for network and its members. • Fulfill a need & provide a service to members. • Trust, flexibility, and embrace collaborative working model on everything. • Building each other into grants!

  7. Southern California GFN • SCOPE: Regional; Ventura/Santa Barbara to San Diego and Inland. • BASIS: Develop concrete solutions to an identified need and need to bridge industry & GF advocates. • Does industry perceive this need, uncertain about industry desire to work collaboratively? • OBJECTIVE: Develop arsenal of tools to assist and/or allow industry to develop local food solutions, primarily through development of business services and providing TA & O. • TOOLS: and framework is TBA… • SUCCESS: Members, scope and singular focus.

  8. Challenges thus far for SCGFN… • Reduce redundancy in network development in CA. • Physical coordination amongst members. • Do we rely on web based social networks? Which one? • How to successfully integrate member projects & GFN objectives? • How to marry unlikely bed fellows?...prove our value, need & strength to industry.

  9. Thank you Vanessa Zajfen Farm to Institution Program Coordinator Center for Food & Justice vzajfen@oxy.edu 323 341 5092

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