Blogs

This summer, the Real Food Challenge invites all young activists concerned with agriculture, nutrition, social justice, climate change, sustainability, and the health of our communities and economy - to join us at a Real Food Student Leadership Training. Former participants will tell you that this is an incredible opportunity to get recharged with amazing new skills, friends, and resources--everything you need to make real change in your community.

This summer, close to 100 students from all parts of the country will attend one of three RFC Leadership Trainings.  Equipped with new skills and connections, we will be at the forefront of a vibrant and diverse national youth movement, getting real about organizing for real food.

The Farm-Based Education Association (FBEA) was established in 2006 to support the professional needs of the fast-growing farm-based education community. Through professional development events, support materials, and online resources, we inspire, nurture, and promote the individuals and organizations committed to this very important work. The FBEA was founded by an enthusiastic group of experienced farm-based education organizations who continue to support the organization.

Position Summary: The demand for the work of FBEA has grown rapidly over the past three years. To expand the capacity of the organization to meet this demand, the organization seeks an Operations Coordinator to support and enhance all programs and administration. The Operations Coordinator will join the founding Executive Director and the very active board of the FBEA in carrying the work forward.

For a complete job description, click here.

July 11th-13th, Ames, IA
Cost: $25, housing and food provided. Scholarships available on need basis.

REGISTER NOW! Space is limited: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PlJdA5WPuy3nzTjaVVVjvg_3d_3d.
Registration closes June 10th, and preference is given to students in the midwest. (Trainings in the northeast and California coming soon!)

Get to know other youth who are passionate about real food and learn how to think more strategically about your campaigns on campus.  At the Real Food Midwest Training you will:

• Connect to a national student movement and develop your potential to be a leader
• Create a plan for your school to take the Real Food Challenge, directing more dining dollars toward real food
• Build essential organizing skills
• Develop relationships with other youth who are doing similar work

This summer, many students are turning to internships on the farm as a way to live out their values. As one student says, “By actually waking up every day and working in the field and putting my principles into action, I am making a conscious political decision."

Check out the article from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/dining/24interns.html?_r=1.

CALLING ALL REAL FOOD STUDENT LEADERS!

The Real Food Challenge is seeking up to 10 committed and enthusiastic student leaders and campus organizers for a position as a Real Food Challenge Regional Field Organizer.  Student leaders ready to expand their skill base and take on a new leadership role in the growing Real Food Movement are encouraged to apply. 

Through this opportunity, Field Organizers will have the chance to:

• Connect with inspiring young leaders around the country
• Get an inside perspective on food justice and sustainable agriculture work being done in the nation
• Provide the energy needed to kick the student food movement into overdrive.

The Regional Field Organizers will play a critical role in the Real Food Challenge campaign by providing direct support to student organizing effort, extending the network to additional campuses, and planning regional events. The organizers will help to shape the Challenge in its second full year of operation. We are looking for organizers in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Northwest, and California.

For a complete job description and TO APPLY, see http://realfoodchallenge.org/get-involved/jointeam.

Deadline for applications = July 1.

http://sustainableaggies.blogspot.com/2009/05/keepin-it-real-food-week.html

Join Students for Sustainable Agriculture in celebrating...

Keepin it REAL FOOD Week!
May 26th-29th, 2009

Working together towards educating the campus community in a more
socially just and ecologically balanced approach to our food system.

Dine with Dignity Campaign -Movie Screening
Tuesday, May 26th - 5:45-7:00pm
Immokalee: From Slavery to Freedom
Live conversation with a member of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW)
UC Davis Coffee House - Southwest Dining Room
Free popcorn from the Student Farm…

Take the REAL FOOD taste test!
Wednesday, May 27th - 11am-1pm
UC Davis Coffee House – outside of the hot food area

The Berkeley Student Food Cooperative (BSFC) was built out of a desire to offer an alternative to Panda Express – something that was student-owned, community-based, and a truly healthy and sustainable part of our food system. A group of dedicated students have developed a business plan and won over $100,000 in grants toward the creation of the BSFC, with hopes of opening our doors in the fall. The BSFC will provide fresh, healthy, environmentally sustainable, and ethically produced food at an affordable price to Berkeley students, using the Real Food guidelines as our purchasing standard. It is a member-worker owned fresh grocer, cafe and deli aimed at addressing current economic and health concerns, as well as global climate change and local student community involvement and leadership. It will highlight the human element in the food system through true collaboration with local farmers, other cooperatives, and our community.

So how did Berkeley students take down Panda Express? Read the motivating story of their battle, submitted by Alli Reed, a co-founder of the Berkeley Student Food Cooperative (alli.a.reed@gmail.com).

By David Hamilton

The first Southeast Youth Food Activist Summit (SYFAS), which happened from February 13-15, brought together over eighty students, youth activists and young farmers from six different states for a weekend of workshops, community building, real food and action!  The summit was a collaborative effort on the part of many groups, including The Real Food Challenge, FLO Food (Fair, Local, Organic), a student group at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Crop Mob, an organization of young farmers in Central NC.  On the first night of the summit participants got to hear from Ellie Kinnaird, a state senator who has worked long and hard for social justice in North Carolina. She encouraged students to get organized and to lobby public officials on food justice issues, emphasizing that we needed to take the future into our own hands!

Seven cases of modern-day slavery. Eight years of the campaign. 30 years of stagnant wages.

What is the food service industry waiting for?

The next phase in the Campaign for Fair Food launches today!
Students demand Aramark, Sodexo and Compass to do their part to end the human rights crisis in Florida's fields... it's time to 'Dine with Dignity!'

Ready to bring the campaign to your campus?  Click here to join SFA's new 'Dining with Dignity' food service campaign!

The Real Food Challenge has the opportunity to win $10,000!

Please take just 2 minutes to help raise funds to train a new generation of youth food leaders--this could be you! We've already made it to the finals and are only behind first place by 45 votes, so every vote counts. Now's our chance to win big.

Here's how:

1. go to www.ideablob.com and hit "log in" in the top right corner (it's hard to see, but it's up there)
2. create a username and password (no personal info necessary)
3. confirm your registration with the email they send you (don't worry, they won't spam you--I promise)
4. Go back to http://ideablob.com/ideas/4603-The-Real-Food-Challenge and VOTE FOR US!