MIFFS is HIRING!!!! Come join our fabulous team as our new Field Organizer!
MIFFS is seeking a passionate, organized, and self-directed individual to fill the Field Organizer position. This person will have a combination of experience and knowledge in community organizing, food systems, and/or sustainable agriculture policy, and is motivated to learn more. This position is responsible for establishing a grassroots and grasstops action network across Michigan leading up to the 2023 Farm Bill. The Organizer will lead critical strategies in Michigan using an environmental and equity lens to advance policy priorities that can impact climate change mitigation, foster racial equity, and shape more resilient food systems.
Application deadline: July 31, 2022
Desired start date: August 2022
Status: Full-time; 2-year contract
Salary: Starting at $50,000
Location: Remote, must be based in Michigan or able to travel around Michigan regularly.
Position description attached and at https://bit.ly/miffsfieldorganizer
MIFARMTOSCHOOL is a listserv that links farm-to-school stakeholders and practitioners in Michigan, from school food service directors and school administrators to growers and distributors. Content posted to MIFARMTOSCHOOL does not necessarily reflect the views of Michigan State University or the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.
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Friday, June 24, 2022
Saturday, June 18, 2022
Funding Opportunity through Newman's Own Foundation
Hello,
This may be of use to you or to those in your network, please spread the word! We would like to let you know about an exciting grant opportunity being offered by the Newman's Own Foundation that will support organizations working on behalf of their communities and states toward systemic solutions in schools in the areas of food education, local procurement, school nutrition leadership development, educator engagement, ensuring adequate time to eat, supporting school kitchen infrastructure and scratch cooking, and increasing access to school meals.
Grants will support 501(c)(3) organizations (or those with fiscal sponsors) in various stages of their systems change work. Grant review criteria will prioritize projects and organizations that are BIMPOC-led (Black, Indigenous, Multiracial, and People of Color) and honor the grassroots wisdom and expertise of local communities.
The grant will focus on work based in the following 13 states and the District of Columbia: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Oregon.
Examples of projects to be funded may include:
Coalition building and goal-setting: capacity to effectively build and facilitate a network of organizations working toward a common set of goals
Case studies and research: gathering examples of successful programs, policies, and factors that should be elevated as proof points to scale and replicate
Raising awareness through communications campaigns: all aspects of communications campaigns to raise awareness and engage key target audiences in pursuit of systems change will be considered including message testing, material development, and PR
State policy and advocacy work: educating and building relationships with legislators to ultimately pass policies that support and resource this work (note: direct lobbying is ineligible for funding)
Annual convening and/or training: resources to cover in-person convenings with the goal of strategic planning, goal setting, and training will be considered as a key foundational activity of this work
The timeline, funding details, and application information can all be found on the Newman's Own Foundation website at this link.
As a partner and grantee of Newman's Own Foundation, FoodCorps has been supporting the development of this grant opportunity by offering the Newman's team equity and strategic support. One of our staff will participate in the review of applications alongside folx from Newman's Own Foundation and two independent reviewers.
If you would like to speak with someone at FoodCorps about project or initiative eligibility, please reach out to Impact Partnerships Director, Beth Zschau at beth.zschau@foodcorps.org. If you have questions about how to apply or need technical assistance, please contact the Newman's team at info@newmansownfoundation.org
If this doesn't feel like a fit for your work but you know another organization that might be a fit, please feel free to share with your networks and partners.
Thank you,
Seema
| -- Seema Jolly | FoodCorps | |
| Michigan Program Manager | she/her | |
| — | |
| FoodCorps.org Cell: 269.352.6224 |
Thursday, June 16, 2022
FW: Racial Equity in Farm to School Training Series
Greetings,
Please see more information below about an upcoming Racial Equity in Farm to School Training offered by the Farm to School Coalition of North Carolina and North Carolina State University's Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Farm to School Initiative. The sessions start next week, so do take a look and register if you're interested!
Best,
Colleen Matts
(she, her, hers)
Director, Farm to Institution Programs
Coordinator, Michigan Farm to Institution Network
Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems
matts@msu.edu | 517.432.0310
foodsystems.msu.edu | cultivatemichigan.org | mifarmtoschool.msu.edu
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems team members are primarily working remotely. Our response time may be a bit slower than normal.
From: 'Kirsten Blackburn' via NFSN Partners <partners@farmtoschool.org>
Date: Friday, June 3, 2022 at 8:43 AM
Subject: Racial Equity in Farm to School Training Series
Good morning,
Please share across your networks.
The Farm to School Coalition of NC and CEFS Farm to School Initiative are hosting a FREE five-session training series on Racial Equity in Farm to School. We hope you will join us for this training that is sure to be filled with important information, compelling discussions, and accessible action items.
Register here: Racial Equity in Farm to School
This free, 120 min workshop series will be led by a team from we are. The series has been structured to allow for extended learning for past attendees while remaining accessible for new participants. Session dates are below and every session will take place from 3:00-5:00pm ET, virtually. Join us!
Session Dates (register for one or all!):
June 21, 2022 (Implicit Bias)
July 19, 2022 (Language Analysis & Speak Up)
August 30, 2022 (History and Policy)
September 20, 2022 (Curriculum and School Meals)
October 25, 2022 (Community Praxis Sharing in Farm to School)
Key Objectives:
- Understand how biases contribute to systemic harm
- Make connections between language and power
- Apply a racial equity lens to farm to school practices
For questions, contact Kirsten Blackburn, kblackb@ncsu.edu.
Warmly,
Kirsten Blackburn | she/they (why pronouns?)
Center For Environmental Farming
Farm to School Outreach Coordinator
Living and learning on land originally stewarded by the Lumbee Tribe and Shakori Tribe
** Please know that I honor and respect boundaries around personal time, well-being, caretaking, and rest. Should you receive correspondence from me during a time that you're engaging in any of the above, please protect your time and wait to respond until you're working next or in front of a computer. Prioritize joy when and where you can** ~ Adapted from Dr. Jennifer A. King
Friday, June 3, 2022
FoodCorps - Help us find Service Members for the '22-'23 year, receive $250 as a thank you!
Hello!
MIFARMTOSCHOOL is a listserv that links farm-to-school stakeholders and practitioners in Michigan, from school food service directors and school administrators to growers and distributors. Content posted to MIFARMTOSCHOOL does not necessarily reflect the views of Michigan State University or the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.
FoodCorps partners with schools and communities to nourish kids' health, education, and sense of belonging. Every year we have a cohort of FoodCorps AmeriCorps Service Members who teach kids about nourishing food and help schools become healthier places for them to learn and grow (e.g. gardening/cooking lessons in schools, cafeteria taste tests to highlight local produce). We also have a cohort of service members who will work with school nutrition directors in supporting districtwide food systems change. We are recruiting for our next year (Aug '22-July '23) and we're looking for service members who are 18+, passionate about working towards a more just food system and excited to work with kids in schools! I've attached the position description to this email.
In exchange for 1,700 hours service, Service Members receive:
• Up to $27,500 living stipend, paid bi-weekly. • $6,495 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award, upon successful completion of your term of service • Health insurance • Partial childcare reimbursement, if you qualify • Student loan forbearance, if you qualify • Training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities
In Michigan, we'll be working near Alpena, Detroit and Metro Detroit, Flint, and the Petoskey regions. Please help spread the word to folks who would be a good fit to serve and, as much as possible, we'd love to have Michiganders serving in our Michigan schools.
If you know anyone who may be a good fit to serve next year, please encourage them to apply to be a Service Member.
We have a "referral program" where if YOU refer an applicant who is accepted to FoodCorps and serves at least 90+ days, you will receive $250 as a thank you for the referral. Here is how the referral process works:
For each candidate you refer to the FoodCorps service member position that's selected and remains in service for at least 90 days, you'll receive $250. You can expect this gift after the 90 day period (~November-December 2022).
The application will ask candidates if they were referred by anyone. Please let your referrals know to include your name and contact information when they complete their application. Otherwise, we won't know who to thank or to connect the referral back to you!
Thank you, feel free to reach out with any questions!
Best,
Seema
| -- Seema Jolly | FoodCorps | |
| Michigan Program Manager | she/her | |
| — | |
| FoodCorps.org Cell: 269.352.6224 |
Friday, May 6, 2022
Tricky farm law questions? Farm Commons is here for you.
Hi Folks,
As agricultural professionals, you shape the future of farming. You empower your community by responding to real-life issues in real-time and providing practical advice and resources because improving lives is not just what you do; it's who you are.
But sometimes, even the most knowledgeable and understanding agricultural professional needs support. This spring, as you respond to the ongoing HPAI outbreak, enduring pandemic crises, and supply-chain issues, are farmers and ranchers in your community asking you tough legal questions? Not sure how to respond?
Don't worry-- find solutions, reassurance, and community at Farm Commons.
This June, learn how to help your producers avoid legal stress, and join your peers on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, for Guiding Resilience – our popular, five-week, highly-interactive, in-depth legal workshop designed specifically for you as an agricultural professional.
Guiding Resilience will teach you the ten best legal practices you can share with producers without overstepping due bounds. Along the way, you'll be able to network with fellow service providers and educators to keep each other on track.
In the past year, over 100 agricultural and service providers have taken Guiding Resilience, and here is what your peers are saying:
"This was one of the best built and most clearly delivered workshops I've ever attended. It gave me immediately applicable tools and also helped me consider ways that I want to stretch and grow to improve my knowledge toolkit and instincts as a farm support provider."
"Thank you for hosting the Guiding Resilience course. It has truly been a valuable class. You have done a great job at keeping virtual (adult) education exciting, engaging, and easy to follow. I have especially enjoyed the way you walk through scenarios to keep us analytical and working through problems/solutions."
Interested? Limited spots are available, so be sure to register here today. This workshop is free for Institutional Members. Not a member yet? Sign up here. BIPOC Scholarships are also available. And don't forget - with membership, you will also have access to our robust library of resources, get answers to your individual questions on the Commons, and receive discounts on memberships for the producers you work with and other free workshops.
Thank you for your time. We can't wait to meet you.
-Rachel
Upcoming 10 Cents a Meal Network Meeting and #SLHD22
 |
We are two weeks away from our next 10 Cents a Meal Network Meeting and wanted to make sure you got an invitation! Then hear from Wendy Crowley from the Michigan Department of Education who will share a new pricing guide for 10 Cents a Meal grantees to help them invoice products from gardens such as school gardens and those run by 4-H or Future Farmers of America, school farms, and other programs that may be connected to grantees. We hope you can join us! By the way... |
Melanie Wong MA, RDN Farm to ECE Specialist/Program Communications Manager
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities
Sign up to receive our Groundwork Voice e-newsletter!
You can donate to Groundwork by clicking here!
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Michigan Awardees for High Quality Summer Meals
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