This year we:
- Developed and launched an innovative Food Leaders Lab pilot with a group of six network members who honed their ability to lead transformative food systems change, and gained a clearer understanding how to engage in public policy advocacy.
- Partnered with the Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association in developing, recruiting for, and launching a new 2-year Environment, Sustainability, and Management Associate Degree program at the Community College of Rhode Island, creating career pathways to living wage jobs in Agriculture and Food systems.
- Doubled the number of offerings in our Policy for the People virtual learning series to six free one-hour, interactive webinars: Data & Resources to Uplift your Food System, Farm Bill 101, Food Systems Advocacy 101, RI Legislative Session Review, State of the State’s Food System.
It is vital that we cultivate, train, and educate the next generation of natural resource professionals who will be charged with stewarding, protecting and responding to a changing environment and feeding our community.
– Shannon Brawley Executive Director of the RI Nursery and Landscape Association