Join us for our upcoming RCE Americas’ Webinar!
Growing Food and Community During the Pandemic
Tuesday, September 21
2:00 – 3:00 PST
During the COVID-19 pandemic, college students in the U.S. faced a sudden decrease in food security, which exposed many underlying issues of community food sovereignty. To address these issues, higher education institutions in the greater Portland region created a variety of innovative solutions. Introduced by Serena Dressel, Portland State University Student Sustainability Center’s Interim Coordinator and Vice President of RCE Greater Portland, and led by AmeriCorps Food Systems Outreach Coordinator Jeanell Innerarity, this webinar will highlight the creative thought processes and practical implementation tactics used by RCE Greater Portland’s College Network and Portland Community College. Jeanell and her supervisor, Dr. Peter Ritson, saw a deep need for community connection and social support while operating remotely, so they implemented a series of programs designed to:
- increase long-term community food sovereignty
- educate students about the nature of the food system
- weave equity and diversity education seamlessly into hands-on experience
- build community remotely
- teach students how to grow their own food on a tight budget with limited access to space
- engage faculty and staff
These efforts resulted in a high involvement in food systems conversations across the region and an increase in student leadership and empowerment.
Webinar participants will leave with a broader sense of how to engage participants in a remote environment around food systems, equity and diversity, and community building and models that can be replicated in their own institutions and communities.