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On Wednesday, February 23, the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC)
will hold their NYC Farm Bill listening session. Join the conversation at this important event
and read the message below from CFSC, for more information:
Dear friends,
Every five years or so, the US adopts a new Farm Bill.
This massive piece of legislation sets the framework for what we eat,
whether our food is nourishing and affordable, what assistance our
society provides to feed hungry people, what crops farmers grow under
what conditions, global grain and fiber markets, and how rural land is
used.
This cycle is underway again, as the 2008 version of the
law runs its course. This round of debate over food and farm policy
comes at a time of intense and growing public interest in food issues.
It also comes at a time of economic uncertainty for our families,
communities and nation-when the concept of public investment in our
future is under attack.
That is why it's so important for the Community Food
Security Coalition, our members and partner organizations to mobilize
around the upcoming Food & Farm Bill. Over the past 15 years, the
Farm Bill has been a key vehicle for advancing our agenda, including
by: helping low-income people get access to fresh and healthy food,
promoting farmers markets, getting more local foods into schools, and
supporting community projects that generate jobs and improve food
access.
With our partners, we won significant victories in the
2008 Farm Bill. Now we need your help as we gear up to have a major
impact on the 2012 Food & Farm Bill. This month, CFSC is organizing
regional listening sessions around the US to inform our Farm Bill
policy platform. About 250 people have already been involved in this
process. Please join us on February 23 in NYC to learn more and share
your ideas!
These interactive events provide an overview of past
Farm Bill successes, and explore potential areas of action for CFSC,
our members and partners around the upcoming Food & Farm Bill. We
will consider regional policy priorities related to local food
infrastructure, urban/community-based agriculture, food access,
community food projects, farmers markets, linking SNAP (food stamps) to
local and healthy foods, farm to school, and food policy councils.
This regional listening session is hosted by Catholic
Charities Brooklyn & Queens, City Harvest, Hunger Action Network of
NYS, Just Food, and WhyHunger-among the organizations that have already
been collaborating to develop a shared approach to the Food & Farm
Bill rooted in NYC's communities.
If you live in the Northeast, mark your calendar for
this gathering: New York,
NY
Wednesday, February 23 from
4:30-7:30pm
Location: Catholic Charities
Brooklyn and Queens:
191
Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY
11201
between Court and Clinton streets
RSVP online OR call CFSC's Washington, DC
office: (202) 543-8602
Warm regards,
Kathy Mulvey
Policy Director, Community Food Security Coalition
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The newly released Seattle Farm Bill Principles offer a
promising idea of what other cities are doing to help guide these
important national decisions. Read the February 15 press release to learn more.
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