Project Title
Updating Knowledge Networks & Food Justice Blogging
Organization Information
Organization Name
Mission and Vision of Organization
For the BC Food Security Gateway
The Gateway supports knowledge exchange and collaboration to address food security in BC.
For the BC Centre for Disease Control
Mission: Provincial health, Results through caring, leading and learning together
Vision: Province-wide solutions for excellence in health, every time
Guiding Principles + Values
BCCDC Values
Respect people
- We treat people as individuals with unique beliefs, values, lived experiences and cultural norms.
- We value diversity and seek, listen to and respond to suggestions for improvement.
- Patients and families are at the centre of all we do.
Be compassionate
- Whether it's caring for a patient, family member or colleague, being compassionate is fundamental to the work we do.
- We care about the health and well-being of one another and those we serve.
- We believe that simple acts of kindness matter.
Dare to innovate
- As an academic health sciences organization, we achieve excellence through knowledge and innovation.
- We believe in daring to innovate in all areas of our work to provide the best care for patients and families.
- We encourage one another to be life-long learners.
- We learn from the experiences of patients and families and value their ideas.
Cultivate partnerships
- Our provincial scope means we foster partnerships wherever possible to improve health outcomes.
- We collaborate with each other, those we serve and regional, provincial, national and international colleagues.
- We believe cultivating partnerships also means supporting patients and their families to make the health-care decisions that are right for them.
Serve with purpose
- Our shared drive to make meaningful improvements in care helps to guide our services.
- We find joy through serving others.
- We believe that making a profound difference in the lives of others is our legacy.
Contact Information
- Primary Contact Person(s): Zsuzsi Fodor, she/her
- Email: bcfoodgateway@gmail.com
- Address: 655 West 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4 (main office, but mail arriving here will not reach me)
- Website: https://bcfoodsecuritygateway.ca/
- Note: Zsuzsi will be away from the office the week of September 12, so will not receive the group's introductory email right away. She is aware that September 22nd is the anticipated first meeting date, will be available to meet on that day, and will reply to the introductory email as soon as possible.
Preferred Method of Contact
- Best method(s) to contact: Email
- Best day(s) to contact: Tuesdays, Wednesdays. Please note: I work part-time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Other business days (M-F) can also be possible if needed, especially to accommodate class time, but would need to be arranged in advance.
- Best time(s) to contact: Afternoons
Preferred Platform(s) for Remote Collaboration
- Email, Zoom
Project Description
Note: This project will take place online
Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?
The BC Food Security Gateway has convened and facilitated a Community of Practice (CoP) since 2018, and has maintained an online learning hub for a decade or so. In addition to the online learning hub, the Gateway supports a resource hub, blog, food justice newsfeed, and newsletter. The CoP has about 150 members subscribed to our listserv, with dramatic growth in our membership (+65 in the last year). A subset of members comes together every month for learning conversations on food justice topics, most of whom are affiliated with food security and justice organizations across so-called BC.
We are looking for support with managing and updating our data. This includes reviewing our member organization information, and revising where necessary, to ensure we are subscribed to all relevant newsletters, social media accounts, and listservs. As a province-wide knowledge and learning hub, we need to ensure we are paying attention to the work and stories of our CoP members, and amplifying this work where appropriate.
We are also interested in fresh content for our blog, especially content that centre a food justice and food sovereignty approach (these are heavily centered in the CoP, but not reflected as strongly on the website). In reviewing the Gateway's many sources of food systems information, students are certain to encounter opportunities (virtual or in-person) to participate in food systems activities. Students might also come across compelling articles or videos they would like to reflect on. Students are encouraged to attend our monthly CoP meetings. We welcome blog post reflections on any of these experiences!
Main Project Activities and Deliverables
- Organizational data scan and update (Gateway staff to supply organization list and further instructions)
- Ensure Gateway is subscribed to all relevant social media, newsletters, listservs, etc
- Blog content creation: The target word count, key questions to address, and target number of entries will be decided with partner (e.g. 1-2 entries per student member, 1-2 images, 400 words)
Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)
- Food justice and sovereignty analysis/understanding (I understand this knowledge can/will be emerging, as it is a focus of LFS 350)
- Independent research/data collection
- Basic understanding of social media, writing/editing.
Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?
- Students are encouraged to join our Community of Practice calls happening during the term (and ongoing, if of interest): third Tuesday of the month, 12noon - 1:30 PST)
Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?
- No
How much self-direction is expected from the students?
- Deciding on the project deliverable(s): Led by community partner
- Developing the activity plan and timeline: Mostly led by students, with some community partner input
- Scheduling and initiating the communication plan (e.g. weekly Zoom check-in, biweekly email update, etc.): Led by students
- Implementing the activity plan (e.g. surveying stakeholder groups): Led by students
- Finalizing the deliverable(s): Mostly led by students, with some community partner input
Related Community Service Opportunities for Students
- N/A
Required Reading
Project/Partner Orientation Materials
Students should review the following materials prior to the first partner meeting. Additional orientation materials may be provided at the first partner meeting.
- BC Food Gateway website: https://bcfoodsecuritygateway.ca/
- Be sure to look at some of the recent blog postings from the last year that share Community of Practice conversations: https://bcfoodsecuritygateway.ca/blog/
Additional Materials
- The Just Food Educational Resource (developed by former LFS 350 students!)
Expected Outcomes
Intended Short-term Project Outcome
- BC food security practitioners have access to food justice learning and analysis, to be able to centre and push for justice and sovereignty in their work.
Learning Outcomes
Through this project, I think students will learn about...
- The landscape of food security organizations in BC
- Food justice and sovereignty in practice
By working on this project, I think students will develop skills and/or awareness of...
- Some of the challenges facing practitioners wanting to push for justice and sovereignty in their work
- The role of a community of practice in advancing social change
By the end of the project, I believe students will come to appreciate...
- Day-to-day challenges in non-profit and informal organizing around food in BC
- The potential for a community of practice to support the advancement of food justice and sovereignty