What is the Buffalo Food Equity Network and who is it for?
Food for the Spirit facilitates the Buffalo Food Equity Network (BFEN or “the Network”), a movement for Western New York’s new food economy led by communities of color, for communities of color.
You can join the Network if you identify as a person of color.
What is the new food economy?
That is a great question! And it is a question that we will be answering continually as we learn and grow together…
What we do know (though) is that a new food economy will provide economic benefit around food. Perhaps that economic benefit will take the form of accessing food or growing our own food, offering food-related jobs for our communities, ensuring access to fresh healthy food for all of our communities, building up neighborhood capital and resources around food and food access, and so much more.
We also know that the new food economy will be led by communities of color, directly benefitting our communities.
Who do we mean by “communities of color” and why do we use that language?
The term “communities of color” is sometimes used to describe communities made up of folks who identify as being from Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, Pacific Islander ancestries, and more.
We have used the term “communities of color” to identify communities of people who make up our network because that is language that is being used by many communities across the country who identify in those ways, and across diverse ancestries.
Why should I join the network?
You should join the network if you identify as a person of color and you would like to connect with other people of color throughout Western New York who are engaged in and/or leading food justice projects in their communities. Again, “people of color” is the term we use to describe people of Black (African and African American), Indigenous (Native American), Asian, Middle Eastern, Latinx, and/or Pacific Islander ancestries.
The ways that you can connect with the network are:
- Join and participate in our listserv.
- Share information with the listserv.
- Come to a BFEN potluck or event.
- Host an event for BFEN.
How can I join the Buffalo Food Equity Network?
To join the network listserv, you can request access to the listserv by sending a message to Rebekah (@) foodforthespirit.org with the Subject Line: “Request to join Buffalo Food Equity Network”.