POSTPONED: Food Justice: Creating Equity Through Sustainable Food Systems

**DUE TO THE RISING CONCERNS OF THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN INDEFINITELY POSTPONED.**

Due to the rising concerns of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Food Justice event on Wednesday, March 18 has been cancelled. Following the President's address last night and Governor Ducey declaring a public health emergency in Arizona, we have decided that this is the safest option for everyone involved. Although this is an incredibly difficult decision to make, we are first and foremost committed to our community's safety and wellbeing. We hope to reschedule this event at a later date but do not have any immediate plans to do so just yet, as we are unsure of how the COVID-19 outbreak will continue to develop.

With inequity plaguing the community at large, the food justice movement aims to solidify the community's right to grow, sell, and eat healthy foods that are culturally appropriate and economically accessible. This focus on equity in food systems helps to provide a more sustainable future for the earth and workers, bridge gaps between various demographics, and remain respectful to cultural traditions.

Join us for our Food Justice: Creating Equity Through Sustainable Food Systems conference as we discuss topics within this movement, engage with local industry experts, and hear from renowned author of Farming While Black and Co-Director and Program Manager of Soul Fire Farm, Leah Penniman. This event, hosted by the Sustainable Food Systems program at Rio Salado College, is the perfect opportunity to contribute to the larger discussion on equity and food justice.

Dietetic professionals may earn up to three CPEUs for this event. Maricopa Community College faculty may earn up to three Faculty Professional Growth (FPG) credits for participation in this event.

Event Schedule

9:00am - 9:30am: Registration and Networking

9:30am - 10:45am: Keynote Speaker

10:45am - 11:00am: Break

11:00am - 12:00pm: Breakout Sessions

12:00pm - 1:00: Lunch and Closing Remarks

Speakers and Breakout Sessions

Keynote Speaker

• Leah Penniman, author of Farming While Black

Land and Food as Tools to End Mass Incarceration

• Darren Chapman, TigerMountain Foundation

Restorative, Carbon-Negative, Biodiversity-Positive Farming Practice

• Joshua Sundberg, Rio Salado College

Nutrition-Related Health Disparities

• Jessie Green Gruner, Pinnacle Prevention

Faith Responses to an Unjust Food System Panel

• Rev. Doug Bland, Arizona Interfaith Power and Light
• Imam Omar Tawil, Islamic Community Center of Tempe
• Eddie Calderon, Arizona Jews for Justice
• Souta Calling Last, Indigenous Vision

Special thank you to our sponsors, who have helped make this event possible!

Harvest Sponsor:

• Prescott College

Cultivation Sponsors:

• LocalFirst
• Giving Tree Cafe

Organic Sponsors:

• Vitalyst
• TigerMountain
• AZ Jews for Justice
• Islamic Community Center of Tempe
• Indigenous Vision
• AZ Interfaith Power & Light
• Pinnacle Prevention
• True Made Foods

Seedling Sponsors:

• Rhiba Farms
• Bon Appetit
• MarCo

In an effort to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, we have instituted event health guidelines to protect guests amid the recent COVID-19 outbreak. There have been no domestic travel restrictions at this time, and there is a very low rate of community transmission in the Phoenix area. However, we will be monitoring these details daily. For the safety and wellbeing of all attendees, please practice safe hand washing procedures, use hand sanitizer, disinfect surfaces frequently, avoid touching your face, and follow our "no handshake" event policy.