by Monica Schwenke | Mar 29, 2019
This year’s theme is “Creating a Road Map for Change”. Friday will feature a Welcome by Professor Mario Sifuentez, director of the Center for the Humanities at UC Merced, and a day of tracks focused on farmer justice, youth organizing, immigration, labor, climate, incarceration, and story-telling. Art and music will infuse these conversations with inspiration and empowerment.
The goal with the Rural Justice Summit is to open channels of communication between researchers and community members– including advocates and organizers– about historic and current struggles for access to resources in the Central Valley. After our 2016 launch we realized there is a need to continue to host this summit as a place for both conversations and action, the Rural Justice Summit is now a major annual event. Every year our waiting list is almost as long as our list of attendees. We find ourselves booking larger spaces every year and now for 2019 we are expanding our event to two days. Our core organizing team has also expanded to include the UC Davis Center for Regional Change and Dulce UpFront Arts Collective.
The Summit draws diverse participants from across the State of California and from other states with similar challenges. While our audience is primarily rural Californians, we have had participants from Montana, Colorado and Arizona — states where rural residents are marginalized and immigration policies have a negative impact.
Each year, we focus our strategic conversations around a set of key rural issues that Summit participants have decided need urgent attention. These include immigration reform and response; improving access to clean water for underrepresented rural residents; incarcerations impacts on communities; and building political power and voice in youth communities and through local elections. In 2019 the Summit will also be a key organizing space for the Farmer Justice Collaborative.
With our 2019 theme –Creating a Roadmap for Change — we will be focusing conversations on practical, actionable steps for moving the Valley towards justice. We want to change the narrative of rural California– and in doing so, change the landscape.
NOTE: Friday registration is required, Saturday no registration is required
by Monica Schwenke | Feb 23, 2019
Join Suzanne Elliott, Herbalist at ENSO Cafe in Half Moon Bay for a very unique dining experience savoring the rich flavors of natures wild bounty. A delicious family-style dinner will be served using an array of locally foraged greens, edible flowers, and herbs.
RSVP by Wednesday, February 20th.
by Monica Schwenke | Feb 12, 2019
Presented by Peninsula Open Space Trust
Dr. Vandana Shiva advocates for a more equitable and sustainable food system that uses indigenous knowledge and a wide diversity of crops. She sees a return to nature and organic methods of farming as a solution for both food insecurity and climate change.
As a founder of the Navdanya initiative, she has established seed banks around India and programs to teach farmers organic techniques. Dr. Shiva links the degradation of the food system to the marginalization of women, and she is often seen as a leader of the global feminist movement for her work to elevate the importance of female farmers.
In her lecture, Dr. Shiva will touch on the connections between sustainable agriculture and conservation and link intersectional feminism with environmentalism.
This lecture is one hour and fifteen minutes long with no intermission. It is appropriate for those patrons 18 and over due to complex subject matter.
by Monica Schwenke | Dec 1, 2018
On 1st Saturdays at Veggielution the diversity of our community comes to life. Whether through exploration of our Youth Garden, morning stretching during Yoga Class, or the sights and sounds of our kitchen during Veggielution Cocina, our farm instills a strong sense of connection among participants from many different backgrounds. Over 100 community members of all ages flow seamlessly between activities; planting in the fields, joining our free Art in the Garden program and making new friends along the way. Throughout the day local residents shop at our Farm Stand for fresh, organic produce grown onsite and harvested by our volunteer community farmers.
