The OpEd Project - Increasing diversity of voices & topics in national publications (seminars in various cities)

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Debbie Hillman

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Mar 24, 2016, 10:35:50 AM3/24/16
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cc:  The OpEd Project

Hi, all --

The OpEd Project is not a food-and-farm project, but it is an organization dedicated to increasing the diversity of voices and quality of ideas on op-ed pages of major publications.   I think that many of us in the food-and-farm arena think that "food + farms + democracy" is a high quality idea and many of us write about the issues and solutions all the time.   Unfortunately, I think that many of us would also agree that as an idea it is still not fully fleshed out, mainstream, or unified.   

Currently, we food system practitioners don't even agree on a term for our collective work:  Food sovereignty, farm justice, good food, real food, sustainable agriculture, community food security, local foods?   I think that The OpEd Project can facilitate the conceptualizing and messaging process -- one op-ed at a time, from more and more voices -- so that we can start drafting national food system policies that we can all understand and that work for everyone.  

CORE SEMINAR.  A few weeks ago I took the all-day Core Seminar and would like to recommend The OpEd Project as a potentially valuable partner to  food-and-farm groups and advocates, especially those working on public policy. 

Attached are details about the organization as well as my brief report on the seminar I attended (in Chicago).  Taking advantage of The OpEd Project's high quality services can take a variety of forms, including:
1.  PERSONAL.  Attend one of their  public workshops to improve your own writing.  
2.  ORGANIZATION.  Bring The OpEd Project to your location for a variety of programs (seminars, keynote speech, fellowships)

Multiple cities.  The OpEd Project is based in New York City but they are committed to traveling around the country.  The Core Seminars are multiple cities around the country.
Women priority, men included.  The Project's highest priority is to increase the number of women's voices, but men are invited to attend the workshops or partner in all the other ways listed on the website.  

-- Debbie


Debbie Hillman
Evanston, Illinois

FOOD, FARMS & DEMOCRACY
Getting specific about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
D. HILLMAN STRATEGIES:  Food Policy for Voters

A.  The OpEd Project

1.  Mission
The OpEd Project's mission is to increase the range of voices and quality of ideas we hear in the world.  A starting goal is to increase the number of women thought leaders in key commentary forums to a tipping point.  We envision a world where the best ideas - regardless of where they come from - will have a chance to be heard, and to shape society and the world. 

Our starting goal is to increase the number of women thought leaders contributing to key commentary forums—which feed all other media, and  drive thought leadership across all industries—to a tipping point.  We envision a world in which the best ideas—regardless of where or whom they come from—will have a chance to be heard and shape society and the world.

2.  Core Seminar
a.  Other locations
Up Next: 
 
T
​ucson on April 9​.  
May & June:  Washington, DC, New York City, Austin, Denver, San Francisco, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston are coming up in  July - August:  Seattle, Detroit


b.  Cost
$325 - $425  depending on when you register and other payment variations:
$50 credit.  Anyone that I refer can get a $50 credit by registering with the code PayItForward
​Chicago​
 and my name (Debbie Hillman). 
Scholarship.  For those in need, click scholarships. 


B.  Chicago Workshop (February 28, 2016)
1.  Photos, etc.

2.  My Report
This was an all-day gathering, on a Sunday (10:00 - 5:00 PM plus a post-workshop happy hour) 
12 participants and 2 facilitators (all women)    
It took place in a wonderful co-working space in downtown Chicago (WeWork at 111 W. Illinois).  
I was probably the oldest (almost 65), but the age range was a good mix -- most 20s-30s, some 40s-50s.  The career paths were unbelievably varied.   

Value of Workshop
a.  Networking:   Every attendee is serious about making her voice heard -- both as a woman and in her particular area of expertise or concern.   We are now all connected through email and some of us have already helped each other with new connections, etc.
b.  Handout:  33 pages
a.  writing an op-ed, pitching it, etc.  
b.  published op-ed pieces (by famous people and by former workshop participants)
c.  data about op-ed submissions (framing the issue)
c.  Activities:  role-playing, drafting and sharing a statement of our individual expertise. learning how to establish our individual credibility
d.  Access to OpEd's mentors for 1 year
e.  Learned etymology of op-ed:  "Opposite the editorial page"  ("op" does not stand for "opinion")

Value of Organization
a.  Well-established organization with action-oriented goal:  Reach tipping point of women's influence by increasing op-ed submissions by women to 15,000 per year (by 2020 ?)
b.  Website:  lots of practical information including top 125 print outlets (with how to submit op-eds to each one)




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