Rethinking Food Charity: Gathering Registration
Presentation recordings from the Rethinking Food Charity Gathering are now available on our main project page and YouTube Channel.
During Rethinking Food Charity: A Community Conversation we’ve heard from food program providers, service users, and people experiencing food insecurity about their experiences and vision for the future. Now we invite food programs and others with interest to gather to talk about what we’ve learned and take a moment to look to the future together.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, November 26th, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Location: Alt Hotel, 125 Water Street, St. John’s
Use the code FOODFIRST to receive a special attendee rate on accommodations
Agenda: See the full agenda below.
Who Can Attend: We welcome all food program providers, including staff and volunteers, and anyone else who is interested in the future of the food charity sector in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Cost: Free to attend. Registration is now closed.
Online Access: This is primarily an in-person event. Some presentations may be recorded and shared online afterward on Food First NL’s website and social media channels, but to participate fully we encourage you to attend in person. Small travel stipends will be available to people attending from outside the Avalon Peninsula, or by special request, to assist with the cost of attending.
Venue and Event Accessibility: The main entrance and conference room are wheelchair accessible. There is an underground parking lot with an elevator that is accessible by a door that must be opened manually. Washrooms are gendered and wheelchair accessible. Sign language interpretation and assistive listening headsets will be available if requested (see registration form).
COVID-19 Guidelines: We recognize that these guidelines exceed what is in place at many events at the moment, but we prefer to be cautious given that many of us are part of and/or working daily with vulnerable populations. As such, Food First NL is taking the following steps to ensure a comfortable and low-risk environment for our Rethinking Food Charity Gathering guests.
Before the event:
Please do not come to the event if you:
have any COVID-19 symptoms
tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days
Are required to self-isolate
Have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive and/or a suspected case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and suspect you may be positive
At the event:
Wearing a mask is strongly recommended except when eating, drinking, or presenting. Disposable masks will be available at the door. Please consider wearing a mask, since many of us are part of and/or interact with high-risk populations every day.
Hand sanitizer will be placed on all tables and in high-traffic areas
Event coordinators will be disinfecting high touchpoint areas throughout the event
The health and safety of our community are top of mind for all Food First NL events. We appreciate your support and understanding. If you have any questions please contact our Event Lead, Vicki, at events@foodfirstnl.ca.
Agenda
9:00 a.m. — Welcoming Remarks
9:25 a.m. — Food Insecurity and Food Charity: What We Know
In this video presentation, Dr. Valerie Tarasuk, lead investigator of PROOF, a research program studying food insecurity, will address the state of food insecurity in Newfoundland and Labrador, the systemic issues underlying the needs that food charities are working to meet, and why we need for more thoughtful policy-making in order to reduce food insecurity
9:45 a.m. — Rethinking Food in Newfoundland and Labrador: Early Recommendations
In this session, Food First NL staff will outline some of the key ideas emerging from the last year of conversations held with food programs and people with lived experience of food insecurity.
10:25 a.m. — Break
10:45 a.m. — A Basic Income: What Would It Mean for Food Access?
The idea of a basic income is top-of-mind in Newfoundland and Labrador right now. We heard about it in our conversations, it is a priority in the Health Accord, and an all-party committee is launching to study it. What would a basic income mean for food access? How can food programs become a part of this movement? Ben Earle, who is General Manager with the Basic Income Canada Network and UBI Works and also CEO of Feed the Need in Durham, Ontario will lead this conversation.
11:15 a.m. — World Cafe: Biting Into the Tough Questions
In this “world cafe” dialogue, attendees will have a chance to move from table to table to discuss some key questions emerging from the Rethinking Food Charity conversations.
12:15 p.m. — Lunch with Live Music by Chris Meyers
1:00 p.m. — Afternoon Energizer
1:15 p.m. — Beyond the Emergency: How to Evolve Your Food Bank Into a Force for Change
Community Food Centres Canada has developed a manual to help food banks discuss the opportunities and challenges that arise when moving from the charity model to one informed by anti-poverty, food justice, and the social determinants of health. In this session, Rekha Cherian from Community Food Centres Canada will join us to walk through some of these ideas and take questions.
2:00 p.m. — Break
2:20 p.m. — Panel on Reimagining Food Access in NL
In this panel discussion, attendees will hear from people working in local food programs that are doing things differently when it comes to food access. What got them there and where to next?
Panelists:
Jennifer Collins — Local Wellness Collective
Debbie Wiseman — Sharing the Harvest
Les Perry — Food on the Move/Food First NL
Jody Williams — Bridges to Hope
Roxanne Notley — NunatuKavut Community Council
3:20 p.m. — Closing Remarks
Lunch and break refreshments will be provided for all attendees.
Contact and Communication
If you have any questions about Rethinking Food Charity: A Community Conversation or the upcoming gathering, please reach out to Program Assistant, Madi, at rethinkfood@foodfirstnl.ca, or call and leave a message at (709) 237-4026.
All updates regarding this event will be shared via email with people who are registered, so it is important that each attendee registers. You can withdraw or edit your registration at any time by emailing rethinkfood@foodfirstnl.ca.
