California Food &

Justice Coalition

:: August 2009 Newsletter ::

IN THIS ISSUE:

:: CFJC News & Events

:: Member of the Month: Community Services Unlimited
:: Events and Announcements
:: In the News
:: Grants & Fundraising Opportunities
:: Jobs & Internships

____________________________________________________________
CFJC News & Events

::Savor Summer with CFJC -- Fundraising Soiree is this Saturday!

CFJC is pleased to partner with Bocanova restaurant to host a
dinner featuring local, organic ingredients and a talk by Laura
Stec, chef and author of Cool Cuisine: Taking the Bite Out of
Global Warming. All proceeds from the dinner benefit CFJC's
newest campaign, Grow Local, focused on rebuilding local food
systems. We hope you can join us. Buy your ticket at
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/77497

:: Find the California Food and Justice Coalition on Facebook and

become a fan! This is a great way to get the latest updates on
Grow Local events and trainings as well as the latest food policy
news. Just click here
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/California-Food-and-Justice-
Coalition/82280994569?ref=ts#/pages/California-Food-and-
Justice-Coalition/82280994569?ref=ts> .

____________________________________________________________
Member of the Month

This month, we profile Community Services Unlimited

Community Services Unlimited is a 501c(3) non-profit that is

working in South Central Los Angeles to rebuild a local food
system in South Central Los Angeles “from the ground up”. Since its
establishment in 1977 as the non-profit arm of the Southern
California Chapter of the Black Panther Party, CSU has worked
with the community to address the inequities and systemic barriers
that make self-reliant life-styles unobtainable in their community.
Today CSU uses food as a tool to engage community residents,
especially youth, in building a healthy and sustainable community.

Two local schools, Normandie Avenue Elementary and John Muir

Middle School, and the EXPO Center, a multi-faceted recreation
facility, have been the sites for many training programs. CSU’s
Growing Healthy program teaches school age children about
nutrition, farming, and the environment through learning that
emphasizes the cultural histories and traditions of the students and
community. Teens and young adults deepen their knowledge
and build critical skills for rebuilding their community through the
From the Ground Up program. Young adults focus on research
and projects that help them understand the local food
environment and learn how to address the problems of
accessibility to fresh and healthy local food in their schools and
community.

CSU maintains four mini-urban farm sites and a weekly community

farm stand. These sites provide fresh beyond organic produce to
the community, and also serve as a training site for at-risk youth
who learn farming, gardening, entrepreneurial and leadership
skills. These youth learn the multiple elements of running a farm
related business, from harvesting, to packaging and to distributing
of product. CSU markets its fresh produce, produce from local
farmers and processed products (like dried herbs, jams and
sauces) through the Village Marketplace. They also operate a
produce bag subscription program that provides subscribers with
a weekly delivery of fresh local produce.

In 2006, Community Services Unlimited acquired a bus, which was

used to train community members on how to convert diesel
engine’s to run on recycled veggie oil. The bus is now used to
support CSU’s programs and can be hired by organizations for
their field trips. Today CSU hosts a Sustainable Transport Collective
that maintains the bus, a fleet of bicycles, and soon, a work truck
that will be converted to run on veggie oil.

To learn more about Community Services Unlimited, visit

http://www.csuinc.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
____________________________________________________________
Events and Announcements

:: Eat Real Festival - Street food, fresh summer fruits and veggies,
live music, handcrafted local beers, ice cream sold from the back
of a bicycle. Come find it all and more at Eat Real, a free festival,
taking place August 28-30 at Jack London Square. Buy from your
favorite street food vendors, pick up a ticket for the Beer Shed and
sample from among the 40-something microbrews, or shop in the
market for local produce and artisanal snacks. In between the
good eats, enjoy the non-stop entertainment and activities that
include chef demonstrations, dance performances, bands, films,
food competitions, and lots more, for free. All Street Eats are $1-$5!
More information at www.eatrealfest.com

:: Global Women's Project and Ecology and Development have

released a new report, Seeding Justice: A New Value System for
Food and Agriculture. Abiosseh Davis and Theresa Polk contend
that the global food crisis cannot be addressed by a mere
tweaking of our current model of agriculture; a system that has
driven many into poverty and hunger while devastating Earth's
natural resources. The authors argue that the most effective way
to address the unequal power, wealth and access that
underscore poverty and hunger is through the creation of a new
food system; one based on values that promote the global
common good. Read the analysis and recommendations here:
www.coc.org/system/files/Seeding+Justice_0.pdf

:: School Garden Sustainability Summit- Life Lab is hosting a

summit in Santa Cruz on September 10 and 11, 2009. This summit
of school garden leaders will focus on documenting successes
and challenges of school based garden programs. At the summit
leaders will help create regional support models and empower
others to lay the foundations for long-term sustainability. Leaders
will also have the opportunity to share experiences, learn from
others in the field, and visit a local school garden. Early registration
ends 8/24. To register go to www.lifelab.org/summit.php
____________________________________________________________
In the News

:: Illinois – Local Food, Farms & Jobs Legislation. Illinois Governor

Patrick Quinn recently signed landmark legislation that will pave
the way for Illinois residents to have more access to locally grown
food. A small fraction of the $48 billion a year spent on food by
Illinoisans goes towards produce grown within the state’s borders.
The signed legislation creates incentives for farmers to grow for
local markets and provides a system for processing and
distribution for Illinois markets. For more information:
www.familyfarmed.org/ffjpressreleases.html

:: TIME Magazine’s recent coverage of the food system in

“America’s Food Crisis and How to Fix It” by Bryan Walsh is not
news to CFJC members and allies. However, its concise and clear
explanation of the major issues and their solutions is an excellent
primer for the person who is less familiar or comfortable with the
information. Additionally, the solutions, such as the need to focus
on a distribution system that encourages local production, fit
CFJC’s mission. You can check out the here
www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458-1,00.html, and
if you’re interested in further discussion, click here
www.grist.org/article/2009-08-20-sustainable-ag-meets-the-msm-
and-wins.

____________________________________________________________
Grants and Fundraising Opportunities

::National Gardening Association Announces 2009 Healthy Sprouts

Awards Program Deadline: October 17, 2009 The awards support
school and youth garden programs that teach about nutrition
and hunger issues. For more info:
www.kidsgardening.com/healthysprouts.asp

:: National Gardening Association Announces Continuation of

Youth Garden Grants Program Deadline: November 2, 2009 NGA
annually awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community
organizations with child-centered garden programs across the
United States. 100 grants, paid as gift cards to Home Depot and
Gardening with Kids Catalog, are available. For more info:
www.kidsgardening.com/ygg.asp

::National Gardening Association Invites Applications for 2009

Hooked on Hydroponics Education Grants Deadline: September
18, 2009
The program will provide thirty-six schools with equipment and
learning materials for hydroponics projects that involve at least
fifteen children between the ages of 6 and 18 during the 2010
school year. For more info:
www.kidsgardening.com/grants/HOH.asp

___________________________________________________________
Jobs and Internships

:: The Community Food Security Coalition is looking for a new

Policy Director- CFSC is a national organization promoting local
food systems and access to healthy food for everyone. The Policy
Director will work full time to coordinate the CFSC’s federal policy
program from the Washington, DC office. Applications are due
September 17, 2009. Applicants should send resume, cover letter,
salary history and contact information for three references to Andy
Fisher at andy@foodsecurity.org. To see the ob description, visit
www.foodsecurity.org/

:: Redwood Heights Elementary School in Oakland is looking for a

Garden Instructor- The Garden Instructor will be responsible for
creating a curriculum, maintaining the garden and coordinating
with the Green Lunch Program. If you have knowledge of organic
farming practices, enjoy working with kids, and have previous
teaching experience then this may be the job for you! For more
information contact Mary Dalzin at marydalsin@yahoo.com

::Small Organic Farm near Santa Cruz seeks Farmer – The Linden
Croft Farm is looking for someone who wants to learn all aspects of
no-till farming on a small farm which caters to two of the best
Santa Cruz restaurants. Applicants must be willing to work around
25 -40 hours a week. Interested individuals should call Linda Butler
at 831-206-7126. For more information about the farm, visit
www.lindencroft.com

::TLC Ranch is looking to hire a Live Stock and Poultry Assistant-

Key responsibilities include providing water and feed to all
animals, set-up fencing and moving animals. Please send a
resume and cover letter to TLC Ranch, 2598 San Juan Rd., Aromas,
CA 95004 or email it to tasteslikechickenranch@yahoo.com.
Applications will be received until September 19, 2009.

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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/>
<http://www.cafoodjustice.org/>
email: info@CAFoodJustice.org
CFJC is a fiscally-sponsored project of the Ecology Center