California Food & Justice Coalition

:: April 2009 Newsletter ::

IN THIS ISSUE:
:: CFJC News & Events
:: Events and Announcements
:: In The News
:: Member of the Month
:: Fundraising & Grant Opportunities
:: Jobs, Internships & Programs
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CFJC News and Events

:: The Garden — free screening, April 30, Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater. The Public Health Institute, the Oakland Food Policy Council and CFJC
present the 2009 Academy Award-nominee for Best Documentary Feature. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with South Central
farm leaders, Rufina Juarez and Tezozomoc. Donations benefitting CFJC and OFPC will be accepted at the door. To request an invite and ticket,
please email Andrea at abinger@phi.org

:: Cool Cuisine — a delicious fundraiser, Sacramento, May 7. Join us at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op for an edible tour of Cool Cuisine:
Taking the Bite out of Global Warming. Chef and author Laura Stec will lead discussions on different issues addressed in the book while preparing a
variety of seasonal, local, organic and sustainable foods. Our menu includes: local honey sparkler, a platter of California cheeses and roasted
vegetables, pasture-raised beef tagliata on crostini with arugula and green peppercorn tahini, carrot-daikon canápes with black olives,
international stir-fry over grains three ways, and high-vibe ice cream with popping chocolate gomasio. Local wines will be served to complement
the menu. To register, please visit: http://www.sacfoodcoop.com/pages/classes/class_reg.htm
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Events and Announcements

::ENACT 2009: Nutrition and Activity Day. On April 29, hundreds of people from all over the state will gather in Sacramento to create positive change
in the areas of nutrition and physical activity. The morning consists of a policy training, and in the afternoon, ENACT participants will have time to
meet with some of our key policy makers to inform them about the work we need them to do related to nutrition and physical activity. Scholarships
are available to cover travel costs. For more info: http://www.cfpa.net/ENACT2009/mainpage.htm

::Gardening Workshop at L.A. Eco-Village- May 2. Gain hands-on experience on how to start growing your own food. The workshop will cover soil
preparation, starting and planting seedlings, composting, and many other topics. $40-70 sliding scale. Pre-registration required by April 27, 2009. For
questions or additional information, contact Brad at bdmowers10@yahoo.com or 213-382-2228

:: Rebuilding local food systems through Climate Action Plans. The Ella Baker Center is building a cross-sector, community-based coalition to
influence the creation of Oakland’s up-coming Energy and Climate Action Plan. The mission of this new partnership, called the Oakland Climate
Action Coalition, will be to make sure the city's planning process receives input from a broad range of constituents -- especially those from the most
disadvantaged communities. Let’s make sure measures to localize our food system are included in the plan. If your organization is interested in
joining, contact Emily Kirsch of the Ella Baker Center at 510-285-8228. The City of Oakland's Public Works Agency will be hosting the next Energy and
Climate Action Plan Public Workshops on Thursday April 30th at City Hall in Hearing Room 3 from 3-5pm or 7-9pm (identical sessions). Anyone can
intend.

:: Cultivating Food Justice: Growing a Local Movement San Diego Food Not Lawns is hosting a free 2 day conference (in Spanish and English).
Workshop topics range from: “What is the Farm Bill and how can it be used for change?” to “Cooking with solar ovens: tasty recipes for an afternoon
treat (sun willing)” to “Race and Class and the Food System”. To register, go to http://www.sdfoodnotlawns.com/conference2009/index.php .

:: Hunger Action Day -- Get Trained. On May 20th, hundreds of anti-hunger advocates from all over the state will meet in Sacramento to educate
their legislators about hunger and support anti-hunger legislation. In these weeks leading up to Hunger Action Day, the CA Hunger Action Coalition
will be hosting training sessions around the state to prepare anyone interested in participating in Hunger Action Day on how to advocate for anti-
hunger legislation. For more info on training times and locations, please visit http://www.hungeraction.net/hungeractionday.php#

:: “A Day on the Farm” -- Soil Born Farms, Sacramento, May 2, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm Work, Learn, Eat & Celebrate! The day's events include: Outdoor
Cooking Classes, Children’s Garden Activities, Storytelling, Farm Tours, Education Tables, Workshops & Demonstrations, Local Arts & Crafts, Morning
Food & Organic Lunch. $5 suggested donation. For more info: http://www.soilborn.org/events.html
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In the News

::Small Farms Fear Bearing Brunt of New Food Safety Regulations: In a NYT article, Taryn Luntz writes, “Small farmers argue that they are already much
more accountable to their customers for the quality of their product than are mass-production facilities” and that they will be “crushed under the
weight of well-meaning laws aimed at large industrial offenders." read the full article here http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/04/03/03greenwire-
small-farms-fear-bearing-brunt-of-new-regulati-10431.html

And while much of the internet debate around HR 875 and the other food safety bills has died-down, we wanted to present some of the analysis
that comes from organizations we trust.

From Food and Water Watch: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/foodsafety/background-on-h-r-875

From Organic Farming Research Foundation: http://ofrf.org/action/ofan/090401_update.html#foodsafety

From California Certified Organic Farmers: http://www.ccof.org/foodsafety.php

::Monsanto's Roundup Residues in GM Food Cause Cell Damage: Residues of Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide found in GM food and feed can cause
cell damage and even death, even at very low levels. We’re not surprised. Read the article here
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/07/Monsantos-Roundup-Residues-in-GM-Food-Cause-Cell-Damage.aspx

::Communities Demand Clean Air Now: Two hundred people from 37 communities and 19 organizations across CA recently rallied in Bakersfield and
Sacramento to demand that the Department of Pesticide Regulation strengthen their draft regulations regarding smog-causing pesticides. For more
info: http://www.pesticidereform.org/article.php?id=337

:: Farm Worker Rights, 70 Years Overdue "Poverty, brutal working conditions and legally sanctioned discrimination persist for new generations of
laborers, who are now mostly Latino immigrants" reads a recent NYT Op Ed, which highlights movements in NY and on the federal level to give farm
workers the rights that others have long taken for granted. To read the full article go to http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/opinion/06mon1.html

::USDA Agriculture Leadership Institute Graduates 26 Minority Farmers from its small farmer agricultural leadership training program. The Leadership
Institute is the only of its kind to specifically train marginalized farmers.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/03/0073.xml
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Member of the Month

This month, we profile the South Central Farmers Health and Education Fund.

South Central Farmers Health and Education Fund (SCFHEF) is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization with the mission to preserve, maintain, acquire
and cultivate farm land in urban areas for the purpose of improving the health and welfare of individuals, families, and communities.

SCFHEF formed in June of 2006 as a response to the destruction of the 14-acre urban garden, South Central Farm, which was slated to be replaced
by a retail warehouse. While SCFHEF was created in 2006, the roots of their work date back to 1992 when riots erupted in response to the racist "not-
guilty" verdict of the cops that beat Rodney King. As a symbol of peace and inter-race harmony, the city of LA designated a vacant piece of land
for a community garden, what would become the South Central Farm.

SCFHEF believes that the widespread prevalence of cheap and unhealthy fast-food disproportionately affects low-income communities. Given that
low income communities are systematically denied access to healthy, organic food, SCFHEF aims to provide training for farmers, subsidized CSA
shares for low-income individuals, and offer culturally appropriate culinary education, in order to transition to a healthy diet.

SCFHEF acknowledges that seasonal, organic fare, and a connection with the Earth, is our cultural heritage, and has only recently been illegitimately
replaced by unhealthy fast food. With this awareness, SCFHEF aims to empower the communities of South Central Los Angeles by reviving healthy,
organic culinary traditions as well as a connection with the Earth.

To learn more about the South Central Farmer's Health and Education Fund, please visit http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/

A free screening of The Garden, an Academy Award-nominated documentary about the circumstances surrounding the destruction of the South
Central Farm will be held on April 30 at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater. To request a ticket, please email Andrea Binger at abinger@phi.org

If your organization is a CFJC member and would like to be profiled in a future newsletter, send us a message at info@cafoodjustice.org
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Grants and Fundraising Opportunities

::Organic Farming Research Foundation: Organic farmers and researchers seeking funds to support organic research and education projects have
until May 15, 2009 to submit proposals. Visit http://ofrf.org/grants/apply.html for more information.

:: The Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards Program Distributes Cash Grants ($7,000 maximum award) to outstanding grassroots organizations in the
United States that have moved beyond charity to creating change in their communities. Organizations selected as Harry Chapin Self-Reliance
Award winners are judged outstanding for their innovative and creative approaches to fighting domestic hunger and poverty by empowering
people and building self-reliance. To learn more: www.whyhunger.org/hcsra

::The USDA's Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program provides the major funding source for community-based food and
agriculture projects nationwide. . Proposals are Due May 13.The Request for Applications is available at
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/community_food.html <http://www.grants.gov>

:: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Active Living Research and Healthy Eating Research are accepting proposals for 2009 Rapid-Response
Round 2 Grants. The call for proposals supports time-sensitive, opportunistic studies to evaluate changes in policies or environments with the potential
to reach children who are at highest risk for obesity. For more info: www.activelivingresearch.org or www.healthyeatingresearch.org
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Jobs and Internships

::SOUL Summer School is an intensive 8-week introduction to community organizing and social change, designed for young activists who have been
involved with social justice organizing for at least one year. The summer program is eight weeks long, (June 15th - August 6th). SOUL Summer School is
a full-time commitment for the whole eight weeks. For more info, email soul@schoolofunityandliberation.org or call 510. 451. 5466 x 300.

::Oakland: City Slicker Farms Is Looking For a Community Market Farms Coordinator. This is a new position that will be running the operations of CSF's
new Community Market Farm. Cover letter and resume due by May 15th, 2009. More information go to www.cityslickerfarms.org
::Carpinteria High School seeks Agricultural Fellow to oversee planning, planting, maintenance and harvesting of a one acre plot, and to mentor an
Ag Assistant. For more info: http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/edu/1093188378.html

:: The Ecology Center in Berkeley is hiring for two positions: a full-time Farmers’ Market Operations Manager and a part-time Accounting Assistant.
For more info, visit: http://www.ecologycenter.org/jobs/
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The California Food and Justice Coalition is a statewide membership coalition committed to
the basic human right to healthy food while advancing social, agricultural and environmental justice.
We collaborate with community-based efforts in California working to create a socially just, ecologically
and economically sustainable food supply. We envision a California food system in which all activities,
from farm to table, are equitable, healthful, regenerative, and community-driven.

California Food and Justice Coalition

2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite F, Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: 510-704-0245
FAX: 510-548-8896
http://www.CAFoodJustice.org <http://www.cafoodjustice.org/>
email: info@CAFoodJustice.org

CFJC is a fiscally-sponsored project of the Ecology Center