The Better Food Policy Fund piloted a new model of participatory grantmaking. I facilitated a process that reduced burden, built trust, and shifted the tone of philanthropy toward fairness, joy, and shared ownership.
The Better Food Policy Fund was co-developed with food policy councils nationwide. I designed trauma-aware, participatory processes that built trust, celebration, and shared ownership across the field.
This course, which I was invited to develop, offers valuable insights and practical tools for local government staff and officials seeking to build stronger relationships with their communities. Participants explore collaborative approaches to foster trust, improve communication, and create a greater sense of shared purpose.
As a guest speaker at the University of Minnesota, I shared how participatory methods shape my work - from the design of the Better Food Policy Fund to the creative use of visuals as tools for facilitation and storytelling. We explored equity and justice, lessons learned from missteps, and practical advice for those beginning their journey with participatory approaches.
An effort to build the invisible social infrastructure needed to support North Carolina’s local food system - structured around deep collaboration, community voice, and distributed leadership. I conceived and led a statewide effort to knit together regional actors, bridge institutional divides, and cultivate a systems-oriented network poised to adapt and endure.