Rhode Island Food Policy Council

Last month, we hosted our "Legislative Debrief & Strategy Sessions" with our work groups! We hosted three sessions July through August, gathering to review this year’s legislative session—what worked, and what didn’t—and kick off planning for the next one!⁠ ⁠ Session 1: Food, Climate, & Environment⁠ Session 2: Food Business & Economic Development⁠ Session 3: Food Access & Nutrition Security⁠ The 2024 legislative session saw the General Assembly introduce 262 bills impacting our food systems, with 60 successfully becoming law. We’re encouraged by the inclusion of key food systems programs in the FY2024 budget and the growing focus from the Governor and General Assembly. However, there’s still significant work ahead to build a just and resilient food system in Rhode Island. For more details, you can read the full 2024 Legislative Debrief here: https://lnkd.in/eeM3ah3j

Have you registered for tomorrow’s Policy for the People? 🤔 Register today! ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eh5ZbggF

This year, the first #HETF Action Group came together to discuss solutions and propose recommendations to the Inter-Agency Food & Nutrition Policy Advisory Council (IFNPAC) to improve food delivery across the state. With these recommendations, HETF believes Rhode Island is well-positioned to become the first state in the country to ensure all in need of food delivery services have access. ⁠ Their recommendations include:⁠ ⁠ 🚛 Conducting a landscape review of food delivery activities serving medically vulnerable, homebound, elder, or food insecure populations⁠ ⁠ 🚛 Develop and fund a pilot, coordinated, statewide food delivery system, based on recommendations from the landscape review, to connect food delivery services with organizations serving medically vulnerable, homebound, elder, or food insecure clients in need of food delivery. ⁠ ⁠ Read the full letter of recommendation 🔗 https://lnkd.in/esTxWtc4 #HungerElimination #FoodSecurity #RhodeIsland

"RIFPC is here to make sure that we can be our own local food superheroes as well. Our network has proven time and time again that real change is possible, and in fact inevitable, when we believe in ourselves, stay open to understanding the perspectives of others, and work together toward the common goal of a just and resilient food system. Thank you all for your ongoing support of RIFPC!" - Nessa Richman, Rhode Island Food Policy Council Executive Director Check out our 2023 Impact Report ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dbUyqPB

Policy for the People is back. It starts in just two weeks. We start things off Tuesday, August 20, with a full legislative download on everything that has happened with RI food policy in 2024--so far. Policy for the People is: Free. A six-part, all-virtual, educational series on local food policy. Detailed, yet approachable. For everyone, no policy or advocacy experience is needed. And it begins in two weeks! Register! https://lnkd.in/e9YrwhJa

Invited 💌: YOU What: Monthly RI Food Access Office Hours When: Each month, first Wednesday @ 9:30 AM Location 🔗 : Virtual, Zoom: https://lnkd.in/eWqDyEzn Whether you're part of an organization or just interested in community food initiatives, we invite you to join us for the RI Food Access Office Hours -- a monthly meeting for the latest updates on Rhode Island food access programs, directly from our state agencies! Just log in 🚫 no registration required. Looking forward to seeing you there!

WereHiring⁠: 2024 Fall Interns! Are you passionate about Rhode Island's local food system? The RI Food Policy Council is hiring part-time, paid interns for the fall: 🆕 Engagement & Storytelling Intern 🆕 Food Climate & Environment (FCE) Program Intern 🆕 Local Food Economy Intern 🆕 Municipal Food Systems Intern ⁠ We're looking for individuals enthusiastic about local food systems justice and resilience, highly organized and accountable team players, and excellent communicators comfortable with data collection and analysis. If this sounds like you or someone you know, apply now! ⁠⬇️

"IN LAND WE TRUST." In June, some of our staff joined the RI Land Trust Council's Annual Meeting at Tilted Barn Brewery. It was a night to celebrate! Last legislative session we joined RILTC and other coalition members in advocating to "Make the Green Bond Greener" -- a powerful effort that influenced the inclusion of $5 million (as opposed to $0) in the state’s Green Bond for farmland preservation. This is a big win, and also a testament to what's possible when legislators and advocates find common ground. Thank you, RILTC! It was great to be with so many old and new friends. p.s. Have you seen RILTC's #riwalkschallenge? These nature-inspired sculptures are at 34 special places along different trails across RI! Have you seen any?

"IN LAND WE TRUST." In June, some of our staff joined the RI Land Trust Council's Annual Meeting at Tilted Barn Brewery. It was a night to celebrate! Last legislative session we joined RILTC and other coalition members in advocating to "Make the Green Bond Greener" -- a powerful effort that influenced the inclusion of $5 million (as opposed to $0) in the state’s Green Bond for farmland preservation. This is a big win, and also a testament to what's possible when legislators and advocates find common ground. Thank you, RILTC! It was great to be with so many old and new friends. p.s. Have you seen RILTC's #riwalkschallenge? These nature-inspired sculptures are at 34 special places along different trails across RI! Have you seen any?

Now accepting applications for our Fall food recovery course. We have a fascinating group enrolled so far including community composters, medical professionals, teachers, our partners at West Elmwood Housing Development Corp’s Sankofa Initiative and Farm Fresh Rhode Island ‘s Hope Harvest. We are open to discussing new partnerships if you have a project our volunteers could support around ⬇️ wasted food and ⬆️food access! Read more about the course and some of the great work our class of 2023 URI Cooperative Extension Food Recovery for RI grads are doing! 🍽️✏️🍎🌱🐖 https://lnkd.in/eaUXxSMT