Last year, National Farm to School Network (NFSN) issued a bold, new Call to Action for ourselves and for the wider food system: By 2025, 100% of communities will hold power in a racially just food system. We share this Call to Action as a pressing need that none of us can reach alone. It’s going to take all of us, and it’s achievable if we each offer our time, talents, and resources to make it happen.
As part of our work to get us there, National Farm to School Network is restructuring and broadening our network of partners to ensure that our organization reflects our commitment to shifting power and achieving a racially just food system. Join us! We seek Partner organizations from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., the five U.S. territories, and Native nations to join us in moving on our Call to Action.
Who can sign-on to be an NFSN Partner? Any organization! We are dedicated to creating space for organizations that align with our core values. And, while we are committed to building authentic relationships and partnerships with organizations owned and led by Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC), NFSN strongly believes we need everybody at the table to dismantle white toxicity and correct the racial inequities in our food system.
What is the new Partnership structure? Our new structure is now flat - no levels or special categories. There’s also no cap on the number of Partners in our network! We know it takes all of us to achieve our vision of a strong and just food system. All Partner organizations in each place will be given equal recognition by NFSN for their roles in our network.
Why the new Partner structure? Once we identified our Call to Action, we knew there were a lot of changes we needed to make - both internally and externally - to shift power to those most impacted by inequities in the food system and achieve a racially just food system by 2025. In addition to reassessing and adapting our priorities and projects, building a policy platform centered in racial equity and examining our organizational culture, we knew we needed to diversify and strengthen our Partner network. The voices of those in the most impacted communities, including partners in Native nations, have not always been reflected in our past partnership structures. Moving forward, we strive to prioritize building a multiracial and multicultural movement which means we need both BIPOC leaders as well as white allies and co-conspirators to join us in this work.
What are the benefits of being an NFSN Partner? NFSN commits to creating spaces for collaboration and relationship building across our network and to elevating and amplifying the efforts and voices of our Partners through our network and platform. While NFSN will be hosting regular engagement opportunities like webinars, training and networking events, we’ll be looking to you to determine what those look like to better meet your needs as Partners.
What are the expectations of being an NFSN Partner? We expect our Partners to be actively working toward shifting power and centering racial equity in your work. As partners, we ask that you contribute to community-driven policy and systems change; facilitate diverse and multisectoral networking and movement building; and co-create resources and leadership development opportunities to advance community food systems rooted in justice.
Commit to being an NFSN Partner Organization by completing this form. There is no deadline to sign-up to become a Partner. Still have questions? Check out our FAQs here or email Sunny Baker, Interim Senior Director of Programs & Policies, at sunny@farmtoschool.org.