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.
The Better Food Policy Fund launched as a participatory grantmaking fund, with inclusive governance at its core. This case study shows how I designed board development and facilitated the Independent Advisory Committee, building trust, shared leadership, and decision-making practices that reflected the fund’s values.
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.
I co-presented "Embodied Leadership: Navigating Trauma for Greater Belonging" with renowned transformative lawyer J Kim Wright at the Leading With and Through: Fostering a Sense of Belonging Conference. We shared practical insights into the embodied practices that help leaders navigate and recognize trauma - working from the inside-out - to build trust and increase performance in their teams.