Outreach & Diversity Committee

(Note: The following information is from the 2007 Outreach and Diversity Committee. We will update this section when the CFSC Board finalizes the new strategic and dismantling racism plan.)

The Outreach and Diversity Committee works to increase presence and participation of diverse constituencies in the coalition; increase awareness that racism, classism, and sexism are part of the food system and are issues that need to be addressed when addressing food security; advocate for anti-racism and diversity philosophy within the CFSC; and, assist the CFSC Board and staff in incorporating anti-racism principles into all CFSC programs. The committee envisions a food and justice movement that is based on and driven by the knowledge and understanding that all people have a right to affordable, healthy and culturally appropriate food.

The members of the ODC envision a food and justice movement that is based on and driven by the knowledge and understanding that all people have a right to affordable, healthy and culturally appropriate food.

As our core values, we:

• bring diverse groups of people together to engage in purposeful, goal-directed dialogue to learn about one another and begin to reduce the stereotypes and myths that support all forms of oppression.
• work to empower individuals and institutions to develop, implement, and support systems of inclusion
• work to dismantle the systems that provide power and privilege to some groups while denying other groups these advantages

As a committee of the Community Food Security Coalition, we work to:

• increase presence and participation of diverse constituencies in the coalition
  
• increase awareness that racism, classism, and sexism are part of the food system and are issues that need to be addressed when addressing food security
  
• advocate for anti-racism and diversity philosophy within the CFSC
  
• assist the CFSC board in incorporating inclusionary principles into all CFSC programs

Read the Outreach & Diversity Committee Workplan for FY 2006 (Word document).

Dismantling Racism in Community Food Work (pdf). A paper presented by the members of the Outreach and Diversity Committee to help community food security organizations understand how Racism shapes the food system.

Resources and links related to dismantling racism.

CFSC Staff Liaison
Jeanette Abi-Nader

434-973-4435