Regional Food Council
Our goal is to develop a Regional Food Council, or other kind of cross-sector coalition, focused on collaboratively addressing ongoing food systems improvement and policy issues.
Our work:
Our Kick-off meeting took place in July 2021 with 22 participants. After a series of meetings to decide how we could have the best long term impact in WNC, our council voted unanimously in 2022 to pursue 501(c)(3) status. Woo hoo!
Alongside our partner, Pisgah Legal Services, we filed for 501(c)(3) status in late 2023. We now await the approval of our non-profit status.
From the beginning, we knew that if we are going to make positive change across the food system, we need to create a non-profit structure that is equity focused, community oriented, and outcomes driven. To ensure a collaborative and collective organizational structure design process, we conducted multiple open meetings to decide on our Mission & Vision, staffing structure, organizational values and more.
By the end of 2023, we also hired our four founding Board of Director members!
Where we are going:
In 2024, we are focusing on relationship building with other food councils across the state and the greater Appalachian region. Our aim has always been to fill gaps, rather than duplicate services, and we are continually committed to seeking out opportunities to strengthen and bolster work that is already being done. One of our regional council's main goals for 2024 is to help mobilize rural councils throughout WNC to accomplish their goals.
Our regional councils are spread out into 3 sub-regional councils to better meet the unique needs of different counties.
If you'd like to attend a regional advisory council, reach out to the following staff for information:
West: Jenn@wncfoodjustice.com
Central: Gina@wncfoodjustice.com
East: Dana@wncfoodjustice.com
If you would like more information about this Strategy Area, please contact Dana Choquette at Dana@wncfoodjustice.com