SUSTENANCE Festival Highlights

Overwhelmed yet by the number of things to do this month, this week? To help you out, I'd like to highlight two events that I dearly wish I could attend. Both are associated with the SUSTENANCE Festival which, as I mentioned below, is on until October 16th at the Roundhouse.

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Wednesday, October 7th at 4:00pm
FOOD SECURITY IN RECREATIONAL SETTINGS - A MODEL FOR CHANGE
Strathcona Community Centre is using an innovative approach to address food security by integrating food programs right into its many recreation programs for children and families. This community is located in the Downtown Eastside area of Vancouver where the average household income is approximately $15500.00 per year. This is a neighbourhood of increased food insecurity and these integrated programs are reaching hundreds of at risk children and families everyday (a very inclusive model). The Centre has implemented food programs capitalizing on the strengths of community residents, youth and families who run the programs. Issues addressed include decreasing transient hunger, improving nutritional health, improving behaviour, providing needed energy to participate in programs, learning food skills (cook training for youth), engaging children in purposeful activities (a crime prevention strategy) and learning about healthy choices. There are many partners collaborating to support these 15 food programs including Strathcona Community Centre Association, Parks and Recreation, Vancouver Board of Education, City of Vancouver Active Communities, Vancouver Coastal Health, University of British Columbia nutrition students, and many corporate donors (who provide finances to renovate kitchens, purchase food and hire staff). This is “providing healthy food options in public buildings” (Health Inequities in BC Discussion Paper p 69.) targeting the most vulnerable in Vancouver. Currently the Community Centre Association is developing a resolution to the Vancouver Park Board and City of Vancouver for the integration of food security into all programming targeting our most vulnerable children and families. (Ron Suzuki, Strathcona Community Centre)

Tuesday, October 13th at 5:00pm
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT FOOD, IT’S ABOUT JUST FOOD. LIVING A CULTURE OF FOOD JUSTICE.
This will be a workshop for individuals interested in social justice aspects of food. Much media attention to the local food movement has focused on food as a luxury item. But growing a local food system means more that fine dining; it must encompass access to food for people across socio-economic classes as well as fair wages for those growing the food. This workshop will provide a space for discussing how to keep social justice as a central part of the local food movement and an opportunity to network with others interested in addressing this issue. (Chris Bodnar, Glen Valley Organic Farm)

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If you're attending either of these events, I invite you to share your experiences with us. Please post a comment to our blog.