Press Release: 16th Annual Chicago Food Justice Summit

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: 
Stef Funk
Communications Specialist
Chicago Food Policy Action Council
312-687-6484
stef@chicagofoodpolicy.com

THE 16TH ANNUAL CHICAGO FOOD JUSTICE SUMMIT

Radical Reimagination: Reindiginization, Rest, and Renewal

CHICAGO, IL - The Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC), in partnership with Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events (DCASE), is hosting the 16th Annual Chicago Food Justice Summit. The summit will be hosted virtually over two weeks on February 25th and 26th, and March 5th and 6th, 2021. 

Register here.
This event is free. Spanish translation and accessible accommodations will be provided and all sessions will be recorded.

More than 600 local agriculture experts, elected officials, environmental justice authorities, emergency food providers, nutrition and health care advocates, urban farmers, food workers, and students are expected to virtually attend the summit. Together they will reflect on food justice work, accomplishments and future goals in Chicago, Cook County and across the state of Illinois. 

This year’s summit will feature: 

  • Keynote speaker Elena Terry (Ho-Chunk Nation), Food and Culinary Program Coordinator for the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance and Founder and Executive Chef of Wild Bearies will be joined by keynote panelist JoseLuis Ortiz (Genizaro Nation), Community Liaison for the GreenRoots Institute and founder of Dream New Mexico LLC

  • BIPOC farmers, organizations, and leaders who are fighting for an equitable transition to a radically reimagined food system

  • Four days of curated panels, workshops, and interactive sessions from food justice leaders based in the Midwest 

  • Unique programming including cooking demonstrations, artistic expressions, and wellness workshops intended to add flavor and attract a diverse community of attendees

  • Compiled calls to actions, including optional readings and resources, to sustain momentum after the summit concludes 

While it is CFPAC’s 16th year hosting the summit, there are many unique features to this year’s event. For the first time ever, the event will be held in a virtual setting and consist of multi-day programming in order to support rest. Our decision to move the summit virtually prompted two additional shifts: the name of the gathering was changed from policy to justice and CFPAC expanded their summit leadership team. 

Having this summit virtually provides the opportunity to cater a much broader audience. To ensure we were welcoming and considering every facet of our food system, from rural farmers to urban eaters, we decided to establish four working groups to support our leadership team in navigating all of the opportunities and obstacles that come with hosting online events. The four working groups are: Programming and Logistics, Flavor and Reimagination, Strategies for Accessibility, and Communications and Engagement. We are so excited to have had input from these talented and unique individuals. We know that their involvement will lead to a more rich and fruitful summit. None of us individually know everything, but together, we know a lot!

Quotes from the organizers: 

“This year, we’ve decided to rename our annual summit. Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC) as an organization advocates for policies that promote food justice and sovereignty. Rather than placing the focus on our methods of getting to a more equitable food system, we feel we should emphasize our desired outcome: food justice and sovereignty for the Chicago region. While changes like this may seem inconsequential, we believe the intentional language sets the stage for broader conversations to fully address the systemic problems we seek to uproot,” says Stef Funk, Communications Specialist of Chicago Food Policy Action Council. 

“The summit leader process allows for a wide variety of community input for the summit. Learning how to foster a collective learning space intentionally is a skill that I have learned from having the opportunity to participate as a summit leader.” says Ashia Aubourg, Communications and Engagement Summit Co-Leader.

“I jumped at a chance to be part of the summit planning team. The new leadership structure has given me the opportunity to work directly with CFPAC staff and dive deeper into the diverse systems that fuel food justice and sovereignty. I am so thankful for the space to collaborate, share ideas and dream with other summit leaders, as well as volunteers.” says Nora Bryne

Communications and Engagement Summit Co-Leader.

“It’s been an amazing opportunity to be a summit leader for the Food Justice Summit this year to come alongside CFPAC and their efforts, with fellow leaders and volunteers, to create a virtual platform to amplify BIPOC voices in our collective fight for food justice in Chicago. As the world as we know continues to change, I’m excited to pivot from an in-person summit to gathering virtually to continue having these important conversations.” says Michelle Li

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Flavor and (Re)Imagination Summit Co-Leader.

Thank you to the Greater Chicago Food Depository for sponsoring this event.

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Stef Funk