Animating Questions
- What does it look like to decolonize a food system?
- How might we shift more power to communities in order to create sustainable and equitable food systems?
- How can we evaluate current efforts in community-led economic development through food?
- How can we inform philanthropic investment in community to enable shared power in decision making and to build sustainable community wealth?
- How can we bring research expertise to bear in partnership with community-based organizations?
People-centered Policy and Practice This conference was co-sponsored by the Equitable Food Oriented Development Collaborative, Communities in Partnership, the Sanford School of Public Policy, and the World Food Policy Center. It was held on April 21, 2022 at Duke University. Facilitated panel discussions explored how to move from charitable interventions to a justice-based approach to food systems reform and community development. The central theme of each discussion is shifting power and working in support of (not on behalf of) community-rooted organizations working on the health and economic viability of historically marginalized communities.…
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Reports
Food Justice Case Study: Communities in Partnership
This report presents a multi-year case study of Communities in Partnership (CIP), a predominantly Black women-led, Black women founded, community-accountable organization that addresses social determinants of health through interconnected programs addressing food justice, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, affordable housing, transformative justice, and leadership development. This case study is intended to maintain its specificity and local contextuality while pointing to some key themes that may have broader utility for other organizations. This report is co-authored by the World Food Policy Center (WFPC) and CIP. These organizations have collaborated on community participatory research & capacity-building projects for over four years. The WFPC…
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Research Brief: North Carolina Food System Resilience Strategy
This strategy brief focuses on North Carolina and contextualizes the current moment against the historical landscape. The audience for this project is philanthropy. As a group with substantial power, it asks how philanthropy can be a partner to address some of the most entrenched inequities. How, in other words, can philanthropy help create more equity and resiliency in the North Carolina food system? COVID-19’s effect on the food system has been complex. Despite the pandemic’s initial shock to supply chains, the system has largely functioned as intended. Yet that is not necessarily a relief for many, who have experienced harm…
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North Carolina Food System Resilience Strategy
This project focuses on North Carolina and contextualizes the current moment against the historical landscape. The audience for this project is philanthropy. As a group with substantial power, it asks how philanthropy can be a partner to address some of the most entrenched inequities. How, in other words, can philanthropy help create more equity and resiliency in the North Carolina food system? A Strategy Brief version of the report is also available.
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How Innovative CDFIs Fund Equitable Food Oriented Development
We Meet Businesses Where They Are This report explores how three Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) drive economic growth in low-income and historically marginalized communities through Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD), a community development model that supports locally owned food-based economies (EFOD Collaborative, 2019). The report presents an overview of systemic financial barriers that business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs face in marginalized communities. The EFOD framework illustrates the types of lending and investing needed to support such businesses. Some financial institutions are more effective than others at providing this support. This research seeks to understand the practices of CDFIs that…
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Concept Paper: Leveraging the Food Economy for a More Equitable Durham
This concept paper develops a case for leveraging Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD) as a strategy for strengthening Durham, North Carolina’s community stability. As Durham prepares to build infrastructure for inclusive and equitable development, it can target food systems for greater impact. Using the EFOD criteria in planning will support the generation of community-owned and led businesses that reflect the unique culture of Durham. The City can create mechanisms for EFOD by providing access to capital and technical assistance. Effective capital will leverage both private and public funds to build a seed fund. Managed by CDFIs, these funds could provide…
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Equity in Access to Capital for Food Entrepreneurship in Durham
Master of Public Policy student Keiley Gaston conducted this research on behalf of the World Food Policy Center. This paper was prepared in partial completion of the graduation requirements for the Master of Public Policy Program. Executive Summary Policy Questions What barriers do minority food entrepreneurs face in accessing capital in Durham? What services can the Duke World Food Policy Center and Self-Help offer to address the challenges minority food business owners in Durham face in accessing capital? Project Team: Keiley Gaston Faculty advisor Douglas Brook, visiting professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University Introduction Food entrepreneurs…
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