CAFN Newsletter: September 2019 🌾

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Summer is almost gone, but the new VISTA is here!

Say goodbye to the hot weather, and hello to the 2019-20 CAFN VISTA.
As CAFN sends Erin off to continue her adventures, it welcomes the newest member to the team, Alana Gilbert.

Here's what you’ll find in our September newsletter:
An introduction to the new VISTA, info on CAFN's session at the Closing the Hunger Gap Conference, ways to get involved in CAFN's new Racial Equity Conversation Circle, and updates on food system events and resources.

Meet the 2019-2020 Development and Strategy Associate VISTA!

Alana is joining CAFN for a one-year term through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. She is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Global Studies. Through her coursework and past volunteer experience, Alana developed a passion for health equity and education, building community resilience, and finding sustainable, equitable solutions for public health issues such as food insecurity and malnutrition.

Alana looks forward to exploring Raleigh as her new home, engaging with the community, and participating in CAFN’s efforts to support healthy lives through vibrant food and farm systems.

CAFN to Co-Present Session at 2019 Closing the Hunger Gap Conference

CAFN is joining Alamance Food Collaborative, CEFS CORE and Community Food Strategies to co-present an interactive panel and discussion session exploring racial equity in food policy councils at the September 3rd-5th Closing the Hunger Gap Conference! Come check out the pre-conference tours on September 3rd!
The conference is still looking for volunteers (who get a discount!)- sign up here.

Centering Racial Equity in Food Policy Councils: Progress, Pitfalls, Possibilities
Using story and dialogue, two food councils will share their early-stage process to center racial equity. Presenters will have a moderated discussion, engaging the audience, to share insights, ideas, and useful tools for moving this work forward in service to better outcomes for our neighbors and communities.

Racial Equity Conversation Circle

CAFN is starting a conversation group around racial equity and the food system. Its goal will be to build a shared understanding within CAFN, and help us discover how we can incorporate the principles of racial equity into our identity and work as a food council.

If you want to be a part of the CAFN Racial Equity Conversation Circle, email Cindy Sink!

Thanks for joining us at our recent Progress Meeting!

CAFN's Quarterly Progress Meeting on August 21st was a success! We are actively working towards accomplishing goals outlined in the Food Security Plan for Wake County. Get involved and join our next Progress Meeting on November 20th from 9 am -11 am at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC!

Healthy Cooking on a Budget

CAFN member and Expanded Food and Nutrition Program Educator, Paula Norris, will be leading healthy and affordable cooking classes using fresh, local food at Moore Square Park this summer. It's FREE to the public- share with your networks!

Classes run Wednesday afternoons August 7th through September 11th from 4:30 - 6 pm.

Upcoming Circle Meetings

All CAFN events, including Circle meetings, are now live on the calendar at the bottom of the Circles page of our website.

Economic Development: Monday, 9/9 at 1-2:30 pm, Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC

Food Recovery: Tuesday, 9/10 at 1-3 pm at the Food Bank of Eastern & Central NC

Communications: Thursday, 9/12 at 10-11:30 am, Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC

Farm Advocacy: Monday, 9/16 at 2-4 pm, Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC

Food Access & Security: Wednesday, 9/18 at 1-2 pm,10 Sunnybrook Rd., Rm. 194, Raleigh

Coordinating: Thursday, 9/26 at 10-11 am, Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC

Missed a meeting? New to CAFN? Read the latest minutes on the Google Drive to get caught up before you go. Let us know if you need Drive access or info on the Circles.

Wake County Farmers Markets Accepting SNAP!

EBT cardholders can get twice the value for their food dollars at participating Wake County farmer's markets! The amount spent will be doubled or matched at the State, Moore Square, Zebulon, Western Wake, and Apex farmers' markets. Get more fresh, local food for a great price!

New Weekend Farmers Market in Downtown Raleigh!

A new farmers market is coming soon to Person Street in downtown Raleigh!
The first Pop-Up Market will be held on September 28th from 10 am - 2 pm.
Apply here to be a vendor.

Know an NC Child Hunger Hero? Nominate them!

Is there someone in your community or school who has worked tirelessly to ensure kids have greater access to healthy food? Click here to enter your Hero to be recognized across the state of North Carolina.

Send us your events!

If you'd like to share your event, job opening, or conference with CAFN, please send Alana Gilbert an email with details by mid-month prior to the event.

You can also find cool stuff on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Happening This Month

9/3-9/5: Closing the Hunger Gap Conference
9/5: Farm to Fork 2019's Annual Sustainable Agriculture Lecture with Dr. Monica White (Chapel Hill)
9/5 from 7-10 pm: The Biggest Little Farm Urban Agriculture Screening and fundraiser for Good Hope Farm (Cary)
9/9 - 9/13: Raleigh Compost Operations Training, US Composting Council
9/11: Fall Tour, Wake County Agribusiness Council
9/16 from 3-5 pm: (Webinar) Food Sovereignty and the Role of Extension: Partnerships that Work. Register here to participate!
9/19-9/20: NC Farm to School Summit: Working Together in Farm to School
9/26 from 6-7:30 pm: Farmer Foodshare’s Speaker Series: Understand the Legacy of Race & Farming with Phillip Daye (Durham)
Registration open for Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s 34th Sustainable Agriculture Conference
Early Bird registration until September 30 for the NC Food Council Statewide Gathering: Cultivating Community Through Food (Rocky Mount)
Registration open for the 2019 Carolina Meat Conference: The Future of Local Meats

Upcoming Months

10/3 from 5:30-9:30: Farmer Foodshare’s harvest dinner and fundraiser (Chapel Hill)
10/6 - 10/7: Carolina Meat Conference - registration now open!
- 10/5: Exclusive NC Cooperative Extension Pre-Conference and Tour
10/9: First Annual Wake County Youth Food Security Summit (attendees will be eligible to apply for a $300 mini-grant!). Registration closes mid-September.
11/1 from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm: Meals on Wheels of Wake County’s first annual “Wake County, #LETSDOLUNCH” with Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. Learn how to combat senior hunger and isolation!
11/1 - 11/3: Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s 34th Sustainable Agriculture Conference
11/20 from 9-11 am: CAFN's Quarterly Progress Meeting at the Food Bank
12/5 - 12/6: Save the Date for the 2019 NC Food Council Gathering - Cultivating Commun ity Through Food

Jobs & Internships

Food Security Coordinator, Greensboro Farmers Market
Development Director, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Part-time Ownership Growth Coordinator, Fertile Ground Food Cooperative
Market Manager, Durham Farmers' Market
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has 5 internships open!
2019 Sustainable Agriculture Apprenticeship Program with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems
Equity at the Table Fellowship with RAFI (deadline: September 30)

CAFN wants YOU!

Want to know more about food councils?
Have ideas for CAFN and want to attend a meeting?
Know someone with knowledge, experience, or interest in food systems?

Click here to get involved, bring your friends and let us know what’s on your mind.

We welcome new voices and volunteers to help us in our work towards an equitable and sustainable food system for all in Wake County.

DONATE TO CAFN

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