Progress 02/28/13 to 02/27/14
Outputs
Target Audience: AFP activities targeted low income and vulnerable communities in western North Carolina, southwest Virginia, and West Virginia, including WIC/SNAP-Ed recipients and children in the region. Our efforts include engaging service providers, NGO's and state agencies who work with these populations in dialogue and action to create systems level change. Working with these partners, we have collaboratively begun to identify a common agenda around community food security. The project is also developing a curriculum that targets graduate students at the three land grant institutions. AFP continues to develop its CoP through eXtension, but has shifted efforts to collaborate with Community, Local, and Regional Food Systems CoP, which is targeting a national audience of academics, professionals, and community practitioners. Changes/Problems: While the larger scope of the project did not change, the iterative nature of the participatory process did result in some changes to the timeline of the work. 1) eXtension Community of Practice (CoP): The project initially began with its own “Foodshed” CoP. However, the opportunity arose to combine our project efforts with those of the other AFRI-funded projects to support the development of the Community, Local, and Regional Food Systems CoP. The result has been a more robust iteration that has facilitated learning across the country and enhanced the internal capacity of our project. 2) CFSA and coalition-building: As stated in previous reports, the initial grant proposal did not account for the emergent need for coalition building in the region—especially in western North Carolina and southwest Virginia. We have shifted resources and energy to support these efforts, pushing back the timeline for the actualization of the community food security assessments in favor of supporting the coalition process. Utilizing adaptive management, we have allowed these processes to drive our assessment efforts. As a result, we are supporting a new backbone organization in western North Carolina (the WNC Food Security Advisory Committee) and the development of a new food policy council in southwest Virginia (the Appalachian Virginia Food Systems Council). The assessments are now scheduled for phase one of implementation in spring 2014. 3) State and Regional CFSA: Though the AFP is working to support a regional food system, the project has seen different needs emerge in each state. Our community partners have a strong desire to network across state lines and learn from one another, however, the CFSA is developing differently in each state, based on the input and needs of community stakeholders. There is still a desire to identify common areas for regional learning, and the project is looking for ways to utilize the Food Systems Model as a means of accessing appropriate regional indicators. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project has worked to build capacity with its community partners and project collaborators by sponsoring participation in conferences and workshops. One graduate student participated in a Whole Measures fo Community Food Systems: Intensive Training (August 2013). The AFP also sent 7 key stakeholders and two project management team members to participate in a Dynamic Self-Governance training (March 2013 and October 2013), as a means of building capacity in the region, and working toward collective action. In addition, two project management team members (the Project Deputy-Director and a graduate student research assistant) were trained in advanced facilitation skills to increase the project team's ability to utilize Dynamic Governance and manage team interactions. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Project results have been disseminated through the AFP listserv and on the project website. The results have also been shared at state project meetings (April/May 2013, North Carolina and Virginia in Fall 2013) and through project handouts (CFSA Workshop Summary and previous briefs). The project also has a monthly email newsletter, a weekly blog, and a Facebook page for dissemintating information and emergent results. Project management also made presentations at the 2013 Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Conference (Lansing, Michigan, June 2013) and the 2013 National Association Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Conference (Blacksburg, Virginia, June 2013). Project Directors also gave an overview of the project in an eXtension Community of Practice webinar presentation (March 2013) and to other NIFA grantees in a National Institute of Food and Agriculture meeting (Washington, D.C., March 2013). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In Year 4, the AFP will build upon work begun in Years 1, 2, and 3, continuing to strengthen the regional knowledge base and disseminating information regarding best practices to stakeholders and professionals. To this end, the project will focus on continuing to develop content for the eXtension Community of Practice (CoP), the AFP website, webinar series, Facebook page, and blog. The project will also continue to implement the Community Food Security Assessments (CFSA), based on emergent stakeholder needs. This includes supporting the development of coalitions and connecting regional work to the larger state and tri-state work. The AFP will utilize emergent CFSA results to further refine foodshed model dynamics and monitor performance indicators. As part of an ongoing adaptive management approach, the foodshed model will continue to be improved in scope and quality, based on reflection, stakeholder input, and CFSA findings. The project will disseminate results from the CFSA to stakeholders and, based on findings will develop a summative foodshed evaluation mechanism with community stakeholders in each state that emphasizes capacity building. The AFP will modify the CFSA instruments based on field experience and stakeholder input. The project will also begin to develop and compile “Foodshed Security” best practice training resources and outreach materials for community partners and Extension staff. Based on results from student focus groups and a review of community food system curriculums, the AFP will formalize collaborative graduate course pedagogy, goals and outcomes through shared institutional courses. The project will then develop inter-institutional graduate course materials and implement some form of distance education course with an experiential learning format. Utilizing criteria developed collaboratively with project partners, the AFP will implement Community Foodshed Security Enhancement Projects (CFSEP) and select CFSEP from across the tri-state region. Together with project leadership and community participants, the AFP will launch and facilitate the CFSEP.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Appalachian Foodshed Project (AFP) continues to work with community partners to better understand the regional food system, and find ways to address the root causes of food insecurity for vulnerable populations in West Virginia, southwest Virginia, and western North Carolina. To do this, our main efforts have been to support coalition-building in each state and across the three-state region for the purpose of aligning ongoing efforts and achieving collective impact. We are working to address the specific, place-based needs of each state, while connecting the larger, three-state region for shared learning and long-term, systems-level impact. The AFP is using a participatory approach to developing community food assessments in each state, in response to local needs and assets. In North Carolina, the emerging need is the formation of a backbone organization focused on community food security to strategically align community partners for future collaboration, communication, and achievement of collective impact. The North Carolina assessment will focus on how to develop the backbone organization for the region. Key leaders have already come together to form the WNC Food Security Advisory Committee and have created a proposal for a common agenda to “Cut number of food insecure people in WNC in half by increasing availability and accessibility of safe, local, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods for people in WNC.” The Virginia work is focused on how southwest Virginia can collaborate regionally to enhance access and availability of locally produced and distributed foods. To this end, the Virginia coalition initiated the formation of a regional food systems council, and is designing the assessment to support the development of the food systems council agenda. The West Virginia assessment will undertake community food security sssessments in Barbour, Randolph, Upshur and Kanawha counties, targeting low-income consumers and seniors. Their focus will be on barriers to transportation for people who experience food insecurity, especially seniors and other vulnerable populations. In conjunction with coalition building and the emerging community food security assessments, the AFP also continues to develop a system-dynamics model of the food system, based on the Whole Measures for Community Food Systems. This model, fed by data from the assessments, will help identify key leverage points for enhancing the regional food system. The project is also piloting a graduate course, designed to engage students in the real-world considerations necessary to work effectively with communities around food systems issues. In partnership with other AFRI projects and practicioners, the AFP is providing leadership for the Community, Local, and Regional Food Systmes eXtension Community of Practice. Finally, in 2014, the AFP will initiate enhancement grants across the three-state region. These small grants will provide opportunities for community organizations to build capacity for food systems work through collaboration and projects specific to regional needs. Goal 1: The AFP continues to develop the system dynamics model of the food system, based on the Whole Measures for Community Food Security. A preliminary model has been shared with key stakeholders, and the modeling group continues to refine the model based on participant feedback. The model will continue to evolve with the implementation of community food security assessments, so that it will more accurately reflect key leverage points for impacting food systems change, especially for targeted, vulnerable populations in the region. Goal 2, 3: The project continues to engage stakeholders in dialogue around community food security. In Year 3 of the project, building on the Capacity Building Forum (Y1) and the Search Conference (Y2), the AFP brought key stakeholders and university partners (n=30) for a 2-day workshop to develop the community food security assessments. Nutritionists, producers, academics, extension agents, community organizers, and emergency food analyzed the scope of assessments already taking place in the 3 state region. More than just an assessment tool, the CFSA continues to a means of generating transformative dialogue within the region.experiences. West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina each came up with their own purpose for the assessments, which, in turn, determined the scale and scope of the CFSA’s proposed for the region. North Carolina: The emerging need for western NC is the formation of a backbone organization focused on community food security to strategically align community partners for future collaboration, communication, and achievement of collective impact. The North Carolina assessment will focus on how to develop the backbone organization for the region. Key leaders have already come together to form the WNC Food Security Advisory Committee and have created a proposal for a common agenda to “Cut number of food insecure people in WNC in half by increasing availability and accessibility of safe, local, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods for people in WNC.” Virginia: The CFSA will focus on how southwest Virginia can collaborate regionally to enhance access and availability of locally produced and distributed foods. The Virginia group formed a taskforce that initiated the formation of a regional food systems council. The assessment is being designed to support the development of the food systems council agenda. West Virginia: The West Virginia contingent plans to initially undertake Community Food Security Assessments in Barbour, Randolph, Upshur and Kanawha counties, targeting low- income consumers and seniors. They will work with local partners such as Manna Meal in Charleston, Heart and Hand in Philippi, Elkins Farmers Market and WVU Families and Health Extension agents. Their focus will be on barriers to transportation for people who experience food insecurity, especially seniors and other vulnerable populations. Goal 3: Virginia Tech successfully piloted an "Advanced Community Food Systems" course (spring 2013) for graduate students (n=7). The course will serve as the basis for developing a course across the three partner institutions. Students were able to directly engage with community partners through the creation of practicioner profiles, which served to shape their understanding of work happening on the ground, and increased capacity for university-community partnerships. The AFP is also taking leadership in developing the new Community, Local, and Regional Food Systems eXtension CoP. This will provide a national platform for sharing best practices in food systems work, and enhancing knowledge about how to effect food systems change.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
DAdamo-Damery, P., Niewolny, K.L., DAdamo-Damery, N., Ziegler, P. (2013) Negotiating Complexity and Community Food Security in Central Appalachia. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract and presentation), Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society, Lansing,
Michigan. June, 2013.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
DAdamo-Damery, N. (2013) Appalachian Foodshed Project Community Food Security Assessment Workshop. Summary of workshop proceedings and findings, Claytor Lake, Virginia. May 20-21, 2013.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
DAdamo-Damery, N., Gugercin S. (2013) Appalachian Foodshed Project; Cultivation Community Food Security. Project brochure.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Kennedy, R., Niewolny, K., Ciamillo, S., DAdamo-Damery, P., Jonson, S., MacAuley, L., Savran Al-Haik, H., Trutko, A. Co-learning in a Graduate-Level Food Systems Course: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Course-Based Action Research (abstract), National Association Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Conference, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA. June 25-29, 2013.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Misyak, S., Oldham, M., Cruz, A., Dobson, B. (2013) Foodscape Directory. Online directory of participating organizations. April 2013.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Niewolny, K. L., DAdamo-Damery, N. (2013) Cultivating Appalachian Community Food Security through Participatory Action Research. Online webinar presentation, Community,Local, and Regional Food Systems eXtension Community of Practice. March 20, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Niewolny, K.L., DAdamo-Damery, P. (2013) Learning from Practice stories & Reflective Practice: A Narrative Analysis of Community-based Activism by Community Food System Practitioners. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract), 55th Annual Adult Education Research Conference (AERC), Penn State University-Harrisonburg, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. June 5-7, 2014.
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Progress 02/29/12 to 02/27/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Appalachian Foodshed Project (AFP) activities targeted low income and vulnerable communities in western North Carolina, southwest Virginia, and West Virginia, including WIC/SNAP-Ed recipients and children in the region. Our efforts include engaging service providers, NGO's and state agencies who work with these populations in dialogue and action to create systems level change. Working with these partners, we have collaboratively begun to identify a common agenda around community food security. The project is also developing a curriculum that targets graduate students at the three land grant institutions. AFP continues to develop its CoP through eXtension, but has shifted efforts to collaborate with Community, Local, and Regional Food Systems CoP, which is targeting a national audience of academics, professionals, and community practitioners. Changes/Problems: While the original grant narrative cited coalition-building as both a means and an end, no formal process was established for developing a coalition. After much discussion, and in an attempt to align the work across three states, the project implemented Dynamic Self-Governance as a means of bringing stakeholders into the decision-making process. The Appalachian Foodshed Project (AFP) has also established a coalition-building working group, comprised of project faculty, staff, and students, as well as community partners. The project is working to establish a steering committee to help guide the work moving forward. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project has worked to build capacity with its community partners and project collaborators by sponsoring participation in conferences and workshops. The Project Coordinator participated in a Whole Measures fo Community Food Systems: Intensive Training (April 2012). The Appalachian Foodshed Project (AFP) also sent 5 key stakeholders and two project management team members to participate in a Dynamic Self-Governance training (Aug. 2012), as a means of building capacity in the region, and working toward collective action. As a result, two participants have mobilized community coalitions around preventing childhood obesity, and a new food-systems coalition is forming in western North Carolina. In addition, four project partners were awarded scholarships to attend Growing Power's conference in September, 2012. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Project results have been disseminated through the AFP listserv and on the project website. The results have also been shared at state project meetings (North Carolina in May 2012 and November 2012, Virginia in January 2013) and through project handouts (CFSA brief and Search Conference Summaries). The project also began a semi-monthly e-newsletter (Febraury 2013) to share project updates. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The next phase of the project is to implement Community Food Security Assessments in the three state region. A two day workshop is scheduled for May of 2013, during which university and community partners will develop goals for the assessment and identify the scope and scale of the assessments. The Appalachian Foodshed Project is also working to develop a steering committee of committed stakeholders to guide AFP efforts and enhance coalition building in each state and across the region. The place-based model will continue to be developed, and is currently awaiting data and feedback from the CFSA process. The project also plans to develop and utilize a communications plan to enhance learning in the region and facilitate dissemination of project results.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1, 2, 3: The project has made progress engaging stakeholders in dialogue around community food security. In Year 2 of the project, the Appalachian Foodshed Project (AFP) brought 47 key stakeholders together for a search conference (March 2012). Nutritionists, producers, academics, extension agents, community organizers, and emergency food providers dialogued about the importance of their work, and the idea of “community food security” in our regional context. Building on the Capacity Building Forum (Year 1), participants used the values-based Whole Measures for Community Food Systems as a basis for establishing shared values, vision, and understanding around community food security. According to participants, community food security involves: Ensuring that healthy food is accessible and available to all community members, Empowering local communities to determine where and how to focus work for food system change, Cultivating ecologically and financially sustainable agriculture, Balancing food security and farm security, Engaging youth and young people, Fostering a healthier community, and Working for justice and equity. This dialogue created the foundation for the main work of the conference: identifying assets and actions to address food security in the region. Working in state teams, participants revisited the provocative propositions from the Capacity Building Forum, and developed action groups for moving the work forward. The action groups have continued to meet in each state, working towards goals that will enhance the region’s food system. Goal 2: Based on the results from the two conferences, the AFP management team has begun to develop a framework for community food security assessments (CFSA). The process will continue to involve stakeholders in the development of the tool, through state meetings and an upcoming research forum. More than just an assessment tool, the CFSA will also be a means of generating transformative dialogue within pilot communities. The methodology is intended to be transferrable to other Appalachian communities in the region. Goal 3: Virginia Tech piloted an ‘Advanced Community Food Systems’ course (spring 2013) for graduate students that will inform how the AFP transfers the course across our academic institutions. This course is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of current issues related to the emerging study and development of community food systems. Topics include, but are not limited to: local and regional food system development agendas, discourses, and policy; conceptual and programmatic approaches to addressing community food security, and the role of agricultural and community development practitioners/scholars as agents of social change in the food system. The AFP provided course participants with a theoretical and practical backdrop through class discussion and coursework, including site visits to the community partners in region. To this end, community-based participatory research and educational strategies are relevant course themes. Current enrollment = 7 graduate students. In addition, three project directors and one graduate student traveled to Honduras to explore potential international opportunities for the shared curriculum course slated for Year 5 of the project. The trip laid the groundwork for the course by identifying and developing community contacts, community partners, lodging and meal arrangements.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
D'Adamo-Damery, N. (2012) Cultivating Appalachian Food Security. Summary of Search Conference process and findings.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
D'Adamo-Damery, P., Niewolny, K. L., D'Adamo-Damery, N., Ziegler, P.(2013) Negotiating Complexity and Community Food Security in Central Appalachia. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract), Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society, Lansing, Michigan. June, 2013
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
D'Adamo-Damery, P., Niewolny, K. L., D'Adamo-Damery, N.(2013) Enhancing Community Food Security in Rural Appalachia: From the Bottom up. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract), Southern Rural Sociology Association Conference, Orlando, Florida. February, 2013
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Schroeder-Moreno, M., Cruz, A., Clark, S., and Beck, J. (2012)Preliminary Analyses of Food System Courses Nationwide. Electronic conference proceedings (poster), Sustainable Agriculture Education Association, Corvallis, Oregon. September, 2012
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Appalachian Foodshed Project (2013) Community Food Security Assessment Brief. http://www.appalachianfoodshedproject.org/documents/CFSA%20Brief_March%202013.pdf
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Progress 03/01/11 to 02/28/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A project coordinator was hired in June, and 5 graduate students joined the project in August. Together with the 5 co-PD's, the graduate students and project coordinator formed the project management team. In August, the project management team had one on-site meeting and began semi-monthly project phone conferences. In order to better coordinate work across sites, the project began a Basecamp subscription to facilitate project management. The Capacity Building Forum was set for October, and the project coalition team began planning and identifying stakeholder participants. In NC, VA, and WV, graduate research assistants began researching their respective "foodscape"--identifying the scope of community-based organizations or non-profits dealing with food security in the Appalachian Region. The project also initiated the development of the Foodshed Community of Practice (CoP) with eXtension. A formative part of the project coalition team's work was to formalize the name Appalachian Foodshed Project (AFP). The project was featured on the Virginia Tech website and in several regional newspapers, prompting the development of a series of talking points. The team also established a vision statement: A place-based food system that is resilient, accessible, affordable, and healthy for Appalachian communities. October 2011, 45 participants gathered in Blacksburg, VA to dialogue about food security in Appalachia at the Capacity Building Forum. Participants learned from one another through structured dialogue, sharing stories of their successes and opportunities for future work. Participants also explored ways to work together, and identified the keys for effective collaboration. Participants also worked together to create visual diagrams, or "maps" of the food system. The maps identified key components in the food system, and then used visual elements to show how those components linked together. The group maps were then put together into a larger map- the first draft of a "foodshed" model. Parallel to the work on developing a regional coalition and foodshed model, researchers gathered syllabuses from food systems courses, and the project coalition team began discussing ideas for creating a shared graduate course on food systems at NC State, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia universities. After the October Forum, each state hosted a meeting of coalition members, including stakeholders who had not been able to attend the Forum. These meetings were used to continue the dialogue from the Capacity Building Forum, and gather feedback from stakeholders regarding the future direction of project work. In addition to the work with stakeholders, a project website and listserv were established. A summary of the Capacity Building Forum was published on the website and distributed to stakeholders at various events. The website was also used to disseminate general information about the project, and provide a reference point for potential partners (www.appalachianfoodshedproject.org). A February meeting formalized project management team responsibilities and working groups to develop the CoP, curriculum, community food security model, and community food assessments. PARTICIPANTS: The AFP project management team consists of five project directors, the project coordinator, and five graduate research assistants. The project management team has met twice a month via phone conference, plus on-site meetings in August 2011, October 2011 (in conjunction with the Capacity Building Forum), and February 2012. Susan Clark is the Project Director (Virginia Tech), and is responsible for the project budget and finances, the Virginia state advisory group, and the development of the community food assessments. Kim Niewolny (Co-PD, Virginia Tech) is responsible for leading the Foodshed Community of Practice. Steve Hodges (Co-PD, Virginia Tech) is heading up the working group focused on the development of a foodshed model. Michelle Schroeder-Moreno (Co-PD, NC State) is responsible for the North Carolina state advisory group (including the NCSU budget and finances) and the curriculum working group. Cheryl Brown (Co-PD, West Virginia University) is responsible for the West Virginia advisory group, the WVU budget and finances, and is also a major contributor to the modeling work. Nikki D'Adamo-Damery (project coordinator, Virginia Tech) handles internal communication, outreach, general project coordination, and evaluation. Graduate research assistants Sarah Misyak (Virginia Tech), Mary Oldham (West Virginia University), and Angel Cruz (NC State) work on general projects within their respective states, and have been responsible for gathering information on the region's "foodscape". John Beck (graduate assistant, NC State) has focused on gathering information on curriculum, and Phil D'Adamo-Damery (graduate assistant, Virginia Tech) was brought on board to work with the model. Collaborators include Elena Serrano (Virginia Tech), Pete Ziegler (Virginia Tech) and Dan Taylor (Virginia Tech). Mary Emery (South Dakota State University) also worked to help plan and facilitate the Capacity Building Forum. Organizations that participants in the capacity building forum and subsequent state meetings included NGO's/CBO's, Cooperative Extension, health boards, and government agencies. NGO's/CBO's: Be Active--Appalachian Partnership, MANNA Food Bank, Virginia Food Systems Council, Grayson Landcare, SustainFloyd, PLENTY!, Appalachian Sustainable Development, Feeding America Southwest Virginia, Briarcliff Garden Club, WVFMA, Heart and Hand Ministries, WV Food and Farm Coalition, WesMonTy RC&D, Manna Meal, Center for Economic Options, Bountiful Cities, Organic Growers School, The Community Table, and the Watauga County Farmers Market. Government organizations: Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Department of Health, WV Small Farm Center, Region VII Planning and Development Council in Upshur Co., WVU Extension Service, NC Cooperative Extension, NC Choices, Yancey County Health Department, North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness, and the NC Center for Environmental Farming Systems. The project also built regional capacity by sending representatives from each state to the Community Food Security Coalition conference (11/12), including the project coordinator, a graduate student from NC State, and a project partner from West Virginia. TARGET AUDIENCES: AFP activities targeted low income and vulnerable communities in western North Carolina, southwest Virginia, and West Virginia, including WIC/SNAP-Ed recipients and children in the region. Our efforts include engaging service providers, NGO's and state agencies who work with these populations in dialogue and action to create systems level change. Working with these partners, we have collaboratively begun to identify key leverage points for community food systems change, and ways to work together. The project coalition specifically looked at potential policy changes, opportunities to create and utilize shared infrastructure, and requested a directory of organizations working in the region to help facilitate future collaboration specific to community food systems. The project is also developing project materials for distribution and outreach, as well as curriculum, including experiential learning, to train graduate students in the specific context of the region's community food security or systems. To date, the curriculum working group has collected sample curriculum to help shape the course. The project has also developed a website for public engagement and outreach, and has begun development of a CoP through eXtension. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: While the larger scope of the project did not change, the iterative nature of the participatory process did result in some changes to the timeline of the work. The project had initially planned to have a post-doc position to work on developing a Foodshed Model (years 1-3). However, the project decided to turn this position into a graduate assistantship, due to a lack of eligible candidates. A PhD-level student was brought on board in August at Virginia Tech to work on the modeling aspects of the project. The project management team also changed the name of the project to the Appalachian Foodshed Project (AFP), replacing the former "South-Atlantic Appalachian Foodshed Coalition (SAAFC)." The new name was simpler, and more reflective of the region (since West Virginia did not identify with the southern region). Originally, the project had also intended to formalize an advisory council by the end of year one. However, the project management team felt that it was necessary to continue to build the coalition, and in the interest of inclusivity, felt that it was too early to formalized councils at this point. The foodshed model has also morphed, from an instrument that drives the community food assessments and other project work, to an instrument that is shaped by the ongoing work of the project. The Search Conference (originally scheduled for FY1) was postponed to March 2012, to accommodate concerns regarding winter weather and travel conditions in the region. This change effected the development of the Community Food Assessment tool, which is to be informed by the Capacity Building Forum, regional stakeholder meetings, and results from the Search Conference. Because the project is employing a community participatory methodology, the studysheds have yet to be identified. Criteria will be identified in FY2, with more information from stakeholders and based on additional regional analysis. The original timeline for curriculum development included focus groups in year 1. However, the project management team decided to identify existing curriculum before proceeding, and are currently developing focus group questions. Focus groups will be conducted in FY2.
Impacts
The work at the capacity building forum created the beginnings of a regional coalition, and brought together 45 stakeholders working to address different aspects of the food system. As a result of this gathering, one hunger organization in Virginia partnered with the regional health department and developed a WIC garden for their clients. In sharing experiences and successes, many participants took new ideas and practices back to their own communities. In a post-forum survey, 88.9% of respondents indicated that they "[could) see [themselves] developing new partnerships" and that they "learned more about organizations and/or programs that would be useful to my work" as a direct result of their participation in the Capacity Building Forum. Seventy-one percent of survey participants also indicated that they would like to be actively involved in the Appalachian Foodshed Project. The participatory process in the capacity building forum created new, shared understanding of the foodsystem, resulting in the first draft of a foodshed model, as well as long term goals for collective action. These goals were framed using an appreciative inquiry approach, and engaged participants in creating visions of what they would like for their food system to look like ("provocative propositions"). Participants in each state selected the propositions that were most relevant to them. The results were as follows: West Virginia: Policy makes actively engaged in local food policy, Every farmer makes enough for health insurance, Every farmer has access to scale appropriate processing, No one has to choose between food and other basic necessities, Increased community based ownership and entrepreneurship, and Every farmer has the tools to flourish in an unstable climate. Virginia: Schools, state institutions, hospitals purchase 20% from local sources, Every school has a garden, kitchen, infused curriculum, Every school has farm to school and summer feeding, Policy makes actively engaged in local food policy, and Community engaged in wellness dialogue/discourse. North Carolina: Policy makes actively engaged in local food policy, Schools, state institutions, hospitals purchase 20% from local sources, Every school has a garden, kitchen, infused curriculum, Appalachian food wisdom is valued nationally, and Every community provides opportunities for everyone to be involved. Participants then went to work on the proposition that resonated most with them, identifying actions that could actually bring those propositions to life. The conversation created lots of energy, and began to open up the possibilities for collaborative food systems work in Appalachia. Through the Capacity Building Forum and state meetings, the project engaged over 58 key food system stakeholders in the region, representing 32 different organizations or agencies.
Publications
- D'Adamo-Damery, N. (2011) Capacity Building Forum. Summary of Capacity Building Forum process and findings.
- D'Adamo-Damery, N. (2011) North Carolina Regional Meeting. Summary of North Carolina Regional Meeting (December 5, 2012), based on Fountainworks report.
- D'Adamo-Damery, N., Clark, S., Niewolny, K. L., Schroder-Moreno, M., Brown, C., Hodges, S., and Zeigler, P. (2012) Community food security in Appalachia: A collective impact approach to address community health and viability. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract), American Public Health Association, San Francisco, California. October, 2012 (pending)
- Misyak, S., Niewolny, K. L., D'Adamo-Damery, N., Clark, S. (2012) Cultivating Appalachian Community Food Security through Participatory Action Research. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract), Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society, New York, New York. June, 2012 (accepted)
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