Slow Food USA released an
Equity, Inclusion, and Justice manifesto in 2018.
"An Equity Manifesto is a starting point to keep us on track in this work and accountable to our mission.
As people who love food, farming, land, fishing, oceans, freshwaters, and healthy communities, we believe deeply that a fundamental shift needs to happen in order for all of us to take part equitably in the joy and well-being that healthy communities can bring." - Slow Food USA, EIJ Manifesto
A movement that stands for good, clean, fair food must essentially stand for opposing evil, cleansing our history of oppression by acknowledgment and reparations, and creating spaces that are safe for all people to grow, cook, eat, and compost food.
We’ve been a place to connect with joy over food.
We have a rich history of hosting farm dinners and ‘foodie’ events to highlight chefs like Alan Bergo and Yia Vang. We’ve worked with farmers, chefs, restaurants, breweries, authors, and policymakers who are committed to local, sustainable food.
We’ve been a place to connect with joy over food. To discover and share the joyful work of people in our community. But hosting farm dinners and foodie events are not enough. Today, we are renewing our commitment to connecting you with the work of joy and justice in our community.
Food justice means good, clean, fair food for all. It’s a commitment to connecting you to the incredible work that is happening in our own backyards. And, to connect community leaders doing the work with national and international leaders and resources to help them along the way.
TAKE ACTION: COMMIT TO SIX ACTION ITEMS
In holding the Minnesota Slow Food community accountable to our mission, we've committed to six initial action steps. It's only a start, but it's a start that we can be held accountable for.
LOOK
Conduct a membership analysis to assess: what does our membership look like now, what do we want it to look like, and how do we bridge that gap?
LISTEN
Pick 2-4 keystone/annual events led by indigenous and people-of-color led, grassroots organizations and rally our membership to show up, support, and listen.
LEARN
Partner with Food Solutions New England (FSNE) to take part in their 21-day Racial Equity challenge each April.
EXAMINE
Make a rubric/equity lens for all SFMN activities to ensure we are actively working to dismantle systems of oppression and white supremacy.
REFLECT
Check where we are in intercultural awareness, skills, and language as a group by taking the IDI inventory (Intercultural Development Inventory).
SHARE
Make a food justice resources page for the website—highlight organizations and leaders doing the work in our community (with permission).
Will you join us in composting our past in order to create fertile soil—soil that can support the growth of the incredible food organizations, leaders, and businesses that call Minnesota home?
We recognize that injustices — theft of land; farmworker, fisher-harvester and other food and seafood chain worker exploitation; lack of access to land, oceans, freshwaters, and healthy foods; food apartheid neighborhoods; and diet related health problems — are rooted in race, class and gender disparities.
Will you join us in pulling up these rotten roots?
EXPLORE FOOD JUSTICE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SLOW FOOD NETWORK
Podcasts, videos, and articles from leaders in the local, national, and international Slow Food communities.