A Community Forum on Black Liberation and the Food Movement

An artist drawing of black folk buying food

Saturday, November 19, 2016

This forum aims to address how structural racism and violence against Black communities extends into and across the food system, as well as the capacity of food system work to address Black liberation. The afternoon will include a Keynote address by former Black Panther poet and playwright Judy Juanita, a panel of Bay Area community leaders, and audience participatory breakout sessions on topics including: food sovereignty, economic development, Black farmers and agricultural production, police and community violence, food-related disease, trauma and healing. We will also celebrate how our current work connects with the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party. The forum is an opportunity to gather and connect, learn about each other’s work, and strategize concrete steps for change. To wrap up the evening, we will share a local, delicious dinner prepared by Sarah Kirnon of Miss Ollie's and Dig Deep Farms.

This event is co-created by a group of committed collaborators: Acta Non Verba, Berkeley Food Institute (UC Berkeley), Bryant Terry, Farms To Grow. Inc., Food First, Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society (UC Berkeley), HOPE Collaborative, McGee Ave Baptist Church/Center for Food, Faith, and Justice, Oakland Food Policy Council, PolicyLink, The Way Christian Center/LIVE FREE Campaign, with involvement of the Bay Area #BlackLivesMatter Chapter.

Free and open to the public. Registration recommended. Register here.

Saturday, November 19, 2016, 2–6:45pm

AGENDA:
2:15: Opening ceremony: Marvin K. White, poet and performer
2:20: Welcome/introduction: Organizing Collaborators
2:20–2:40: Keynote: Judy Juanita, novelist, poet, and playwright, former Black Panther
2:40–3:45: Panel:
Shaniece Alexander, Executive Director, Oakland Food Policy Council
Kelly Carlisle, Executive Director, Acta Non Verba
Karissa Lewis, Interim Executive Director, Center for Third World Organizing/Program Director, People’s Grocery, #BlackLivesMatter Bay Area Chapter
David Roach, Co-founder, The Familyhood Connection (aka Mo Better Food)
Pastor Michael McBride, Lead Pastor, The Way Christian Center/National Director for Urban Strategies/LIVE FREE Campaign
Moderator: Bryant Terry, James Beard Leadership Award-Winning Chef, Activist, Author, and Chef-in-Residence, Museum of the African Diaspora
3:45–4:00: Snack/stretch break
4:00–4:30: First breakout session: Topics:
• Food sovereignty
• Economic development
• Black farmers and agricultural production
• Connection between violence and food security
• Race through the Lens of the Food Justice Movement
• Policy
• Trauma and healing: restorative justice and/or transformative justice frameworks
• Organic session generated by the audience
4:30–5:00: Second breakout session (topics repeat to allow for audience rotation)
5:00: Closing remarks: Wanda Stewart, Obsidian Farm
5:15–6:45: Dinner and socializing

Artwork by: Dalila Mendez