Policy and Advocacy for Food Systems Change Series – Equity Advocate Sessions 1 and 2, and Q&A/Office Hours

This April, join the Wallace Center’s Food Systems Leadership Network for a virtual series dedicated to building our collective knowledge around policy and advocacy for food systems change. We’ll first be joined by Equity Advocates for two sessions that debunk the misconceptions around nonprofits and advocacy and offer tips for how to get started and stay involved.  The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition will then walk us through a Farm Bill 101 session as we gear up for the reauthorization of this critical piece of food systems legislation. The series will round out with a dynamic panel discussion featuring seasoned food systems policy leaders who will offer their learnings from decades of food systems advocacy and share their vision for its future. Read more about the full series here.

Session 1: Using Advocacy to Build an Equitable and Sustainable Food System with Equity Advocates

April 5 from 1-2pm EST

Register here

A useful 101 to get any advocate started! The community and systems-level changes in the food system that many of us are working towards requires public policy. This session will introduce you to the power of and need for advocacy, including why nonprofit staff, community leaders and food systems practitioners can and should be at the policy making table. We will explore the broad range of activities nonprofits can engage in to influence public policy as well as define and differentiate between legislative, regulatory, budgetary and legal advocacy. Finally, the session will include a brief lay of the land in terms of key federal legislation that impacts the food systems and opportunities to engage in advocacy.

Session 2: Best Practices for Meeting with Elected Officials with Equity Advocates

April 6 from 1-2pm EST

Register here

Research shows that engagements with elected officials are an impactful and necessary piece of any organization’s or coalition’s advocacy strategy, but many are intimidated or scared of meeting with policy makers. This training provides an overview of why meeting with elected officials is an effective advocacy strategy. Learn practical tips and skills to prepare advocates, community residents and nonprofit leaders to engage policy makers at the city, state or federal level. We will cover the how to’s- how to schedule, plan for, create impactful materials for, and run a successful meeting with a policymaker or staffer as well as how to leverage these relationships to advance an organization and/or campaign goals. Participants leave with tips for a successful meeting, as well as a sample scheduling email, agenda, talking points, and thank you email to adapt for personal usage.

Q&A Session with Equity Advocates

April 7 from 1-2pm EST

Space to connect with the trainers to ask questions and troubleshoot challenges. The join link will be sent directly to session registrants.