It Takes a Region Conference - 2015

Mixers & Meal Discussions

Thursday, November 12

NESAWG Meet 'n Mingle!
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Are you new to NESAWG? New to the "farm and food systems" scene? Are you a long-time NESAWGian? A savvy, seasoned sustainability maven? Then come join us for the NESAWG Meet 'n Mingle, a gathering for new and seasoned leaders! A 15-minute maven panel will respond to these two questions: How were you mentored? and What advice do you have for new leaders? The brief panel will be followed by a cocktail hour, munchies and mingling. Mavens will wear a gray sticker and Newbies will wear green stickers. Hope to see you there!

Session Organizers: Arthur Lerner, NESAWG Steering Committee & Fresh New London; Ruth Katz, NESAWG; Niaz Dorry, Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance; Ali Berlow, author and founder, Island Grown Initiative; George Reistad, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

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People of Color Caucus
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
The People of Color Caucus is an annual gathering specifically for POC conference attendees to meet informally and network ahead of the conference. Our conference keynote speaker Shirley Sherrod will join us as we re-connect over light refreshments and have time to share with one another any highlights from our respective work as well as our personal experiences—in and out of the food movement—from the past year. Anyone who identifies as a person of color is welcome to attend the Caucus. Please RSVP to Qiana Mickie.

Session Organizer: Qiana Mickie, NESAWG Steering Committee & Just Food

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Film: The YES MEN Are Revolting
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
For the last 20 years, notorious activists the Yes Men have staged outrageous and hilarious hoaxes to draw international attention to corporate crimes against humanity and the environment. Armed with nothing but thrift-store suits and a lack of shame, these iconoclastic revolutionaries lie their way into business events and government functions to expose the dangers of letting greed run our world. In their third cinematic outing (after The Yes Men and The Yes Men Fix the World), they are now well into their 40s, and their mid-life crises are threatening to drive them out of activism forever – even as they prepare to take on the biggest challenge they’ve ever faced: climate change. More than the first two films, The Yes Men Are Revolting is as much a character study as it is an entertaining depiction of their latest interventions. Revealing the real people behind the ruses, at its heart lies a hopeful message about fighting for change. Let's watch this film together and consider how creative acts and outrageous deeds can help put “move" in the farm and food movement! theyesmenarerevolting.com

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Friday, November 13

FoodBargeHack Lunch
1:00 - 2:30
Brainstorm an energy efficient, sustainable regional food system using our waterways. We will focus on how to connect mid-sized upstate farmers with underserved NYC neighborhoods using a barge on the Hudson River, and challenge the status quo. Help envision an ambitious alternative to food-filled trucks on our roads. We seek experts in transportation logistics, food distribution, agricultural product aggregation, food hubs, sustainable technologies and/or regional food systems. Sponsored by Lower Hudson Long Island Resource Conservation & Development Council.

Light lunch is provided for those who RSVP in advance. To RSVP, email Jill Slater and please include your area of expertise.

Session Organizer: Jill Slater, Lower Hudson Long Island Resource Conservation & Development Council

Communications Professionals Post-Lunch Discussion
1:40 - 2:30
Calling all communications and outreach folks! Join us for a post-lunch networking session to connect with your counterparts in other food system organizations across the Northeast. Through a fast-paced World Cafe-style activity, we’ll share communications strategies and brainstorm ways to collaborate. You’ll leave with a list of ideas to hone your messaging, reach your target audiences, tell better stories, and establish partnerships that support your mission.

Lunch is not provided - get lunch beforehand at one of the many restaurants on Broadway.

Session Organizers: Johanna Rosen, Food Solutions New England; Kaitlin Haskins, Farm to Institution New England

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Saturday, November 14

Race and Equity Breakfast Discussion
This interactive plenary discussion will build on last year’s breakfast experience focused on the "Continuum on Becoming an Anti-Racist, Multicultural Organization." There will be opportunities to discuss progress made since last year (for those in attendance then), as well as challenges, and to look at other strategies for building greater multi-racial collaboration and solidarity in our food systems work, including use of racial equity impact assessments.

Session Organizers: Qiana Mickie, NESAWG Steering Committee & Just Food; Curtis Ogden, Institute for Social Change