PVGrows Working group meeting

Food Access & Community HealthPVPC

August 18, 2010

Agenda1:00 – 1:10 Update on what has happened since the July 15 PVGrows Meeting -- by Katie Stebbins (Working Group Point Person) 1:10 – 1:20 Intros: go-round: name, affiliation, and a question, like: what is your interest in food access & community health? Or what brings you to the Working Group? 1:20 - 1:35 3 presentations

1. Jessica Collins give an overview of the 55 Springfield partners she works with on Food Access issues2. Marcos presents “SUAGGER” partnership 3. Sam present model for function of this Working Group

1:35 – 2:00 Discussion 2:00 – 2:15 Next steps

– Maybe go round again, this time saying what each of us can bring as resources. (What model we think works best? How much time we can offer before now & the next meeting?)

– Some possible next steps items:– Volunteering for tasks?– Where can we host the next meeting? Pick a date and schedule it right now?

“Strawman” proposal for discussion

• Name: Springfield Urban Agriculture Germination (SUAGGER) Partnership

• Vision: Springfield as a model metropolis of healthy eating, environmental quality and green economic development.

• Mission: To lead an urban agriculture movement that increases the production, availability and consumption of fresh food in the Springfield metropolis.

Knowledge: Outreach & Advocacy

Know-How: Education &

Training

Gardens: Land, seed &

equipment

Food:Labor for

Harvesting

Consumption: Sales and/or Distribution

SUAGGER

“Strawman” proposal for discussion

• Goals: The membership will set measurable goals for the organization. These will be used as SUAGGER’s short and mid-term targets, and will help to track the organization’s progress.

• Membership: SUAGGER will be composed of member organizations that share resources towards its common mission.

• Structure: This organization does not aspire to dissolve its member’s identities nor impose a hierarchical structure above them. Instead, SUAGGER is will be a forum where its members can coordinate their efforts, increase their resources, be more effective and improve the City’s urban agriculture profile.

• Projects: Members are encouraged to engage any subset of its membership to structure and execute projects that meet the organization’s mission. SUAGGER will sponsor these by consensus of the full membership.

“Strawman” proposal for discussion

• Common Resources: SUAGGER sponsored projects will enjoy letters of support from all members, common branding and communications from its website, an increased profile and access to other member’s shared resources (space, equipment, administrative capacity, etc).

OutsideStakeholders and

Funders

Partner Set 3 Third Project

Partner Set 1 First Project

Partner Set 2 Second Project

SUAGGER• Goals• Branding/

Communications• Funding• Capacity

Andrew Morehouse The Food Bank of WMass

Brian Markey Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

Catherine Sands Fertile GroundEmily Chiara Community Involved in Sustaining

Agriculture

Jessica Collins Partners for a Healthier Community

Jono Neiger Regenerative Design Group, PVSN, CSLD, WMAPC Guild

Katie Stebbins Mass Mentoring / New Growth

Larry Dixon Liz L'Etoile Four Star FarmsMarcos Marrero Springfield InstituteRobert Valenti Robert Valenti Design Build

Sam Stegeman PVGrowsSarah Barr Amherst College, Center for

Community Engagement

Shelley Zimbalist Solidago FoundationVina Lindley

Dawn DiStefanoYWCA of Western Massachusetts

Ibraham Ali Gardening the Community

Katie StebbinsMass Mentoring / New Growth

Kim Lee Square OneMarcos Marrero Springfield Institute

Mary JohnsonYWCA of Western Massachusetts

Mary Gervais MCDIPete Merzbacher New Growth Springfield

Robert ValentiRobert Valenti Design Build

Ruby Maddox Gardening the CommunitySam Stegeman PVGrows

PVGrows Working Group on Food Access & Community Health “SUAGGER”