Join Us For Three Food Politics Conversations

Julie Kessel jbkessel@verizon.net

Volunteers Needed – to get involved in the Leagues program to engage the community in 3 food politics conversations!

Background:

The St Pete Independent Food Policy Council (IFPC) origins

In August of 2020, the city council’s Health, Energy, Resiliency and Sustainability Committee approved a resolution to establish an independent Food Policy Council (IFPC).  The Council was to be housed under the auspices of the Foundation for a Healthy St Pete.  A first meeting of the Council convened in late 2020.  Its role is to serve as an independent advisory board for city council.  It will work to forward the goals of creating an equitable community-based food system and to remove barriers interfering with equitable access to nutritious food within St Pete.

The Role of the League of Women Voters of the St Pete Area in the IFPC

The League was a strong supporter of the resolution and is a standing member of the IFPC, along with approximately 25 other members.  Most members represent community organizations.  There are very few actual individual or citizen members.  The role of the League is to create a mechanism for community input and to convene community gatherings to inform the IFPC in its work and to offer ongoing input to St Pete city government.

The Food Politics Action Team of the League of Women Voters of the St Pete Area

The League of Women Voters of the St Pete Area launched a Food Politics Action Team as part of its annual program, and are now in our third year.  Our mission is to empower people to make more informed food choices for their health, the environment and democracy.

As such, we have worked with St Pete City Council to pass a resolution advocating for healthy food as a right, to declare meatless Monday as part of the Healthy St Pete Program, to pass ordinances to allow more urban agriculture options for St Pete residents, and we worked to support the development of the Independent Food Policy Council.  We have also met with Senator Rouson, as Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to talk about food access issues in his district.

2022 Proposal for Community Input – Three Community Conversations

The League of Women Voters of the St Pete Area intends to convene three separate meetings of St Pete residents for the purpose of sharing general and St Pete specific information and gathering their input on the following:

1)      The relationship between nutrition, food access and health;

2)      Steps toward equitable food policy;

3)      Programs past, present and future opportunities

Program Structure

We envision a world café style conversation format, where individual tables of 8 are arranged throughout a space, for up to 100 participants. IF COVID prevents such assembly, then a zoom meeting with breakout rooms of 8, which includes a room or table facilitator.