ABOUT THE NIAGARA FOOD SECURITY NETWORK
The Niagara Food Security Network is a collective of community members, community groups, networks, non-profit agencies, charitable organizations, faith groups, individuals with lived experience, government, business and agricultural sector representatives, and others working to address food security in the Niagara region. We are collaborating to strengthen the food security system for everyone, especially for vulnerable and at-risk individuals in Niagara. United Way provides backbone support to the Network and fosters collaboration to ultimately improve access to healthy, culturally appropriate and affordable food in the Niagara region. Click HERE to learn more about the Collective and the work being done to address food insecurity through the Network.
The Collective’s Theory of Change
The purpose of the Network is to make Niagara a food secure community for everyone. We will achieve this by focusing our efforts on the Theory of Change and four foundational strategies and key activities to achieve a set of outcomes aimed at reaching our intended impact.
The four strategies include:
- Accessing
- Growing, Harvesting & Securing
- Logistics, Distribution & Storage
- Preparing & Eating
Our Intended Community Impact
Within ten years, 80 per cent of food insecure households in Niagara will have access to affordable, healthy, culturally appropriate food, at the right time and in the right place.
What We’re Working On
The Niagara Food Security Network members are involved in a collective impact project to address food insecurity and food justice in the Niagara region. The 10 Year plan is focused on improving food security by collaboratively working with all of the food system players. Over the next year, we aim to conduct work related to food security in the areas of:
- Knowledge Sharing
- Community Partnerships and Engagement
- Pathways to Food
- Strengthen Food Literacy, Education and Knowledge
- Research and Data
- Develop Shared Measurement Strategies
- Strengthen Collaboration Among Food Security Providers
- Develop and Implement Pilot Projects to Improve Food Security
- Explore Culturally Appropriate Food Opportunities
- Advocacy
To learn more about the projects of the Network or the four Strategy Action Teams, please contact Amanda Ali at [email protected] or another Planning Team member (contact information) below.
How We Got Here
The Niagara Food Security Network was formed in 2020 to work on key recommendations coming out of the Niagara Food Forum (2019), hosted by United Way Niagara to engage the food security sector players. In late 2020, a series of conversations were conducted to gather the voices of individuals who are experiencing food insecurity and living in the Niagara region. Read the Lived Experience Engagement Report.
In 2020, the Network applied to Innoweave to conduct a two-year Food Security Collective Impact Project with the support of expert coaches from Social Impact Advisors. The Network has completed Phase One and is currently involved in Phase Two of the two-year project. Phase One focused on the development of the Theory of Change, our Intended Outcomes and Impact and co-creating strategies with community and the Network members. Phase One included engaging with key informants to develop a collective impact model for the collective to address food insecurity.
Phase Two will continue from Fall 2022 to mid 2023 and focus on developing the activities to achieve the goals and intended impact. Mid to late 2023 will see the Network identify and implement food security pilot projects aimed at improving food security.
Network Planning Team Members and Contact Information
We invite you to connect with one of the Planning Team members if you have any questions, want to learn more or to get involved.
Amanda Ali, United Way Niagara
Callie Anderson, Niagara Region
Carolyn Askeland, Community Support Services of Niagara
Christine Pritchard, Niagara Chapter Native Women Inc.
Erin Riseing, Niagara Community Garden Network
Jayden Gilbert, Community Member
Kavalpreet Grewal, Niagara Region
Michael Mondloch, St. Barnabas Anglican Church
Theresa Murphy, Feeding Fort Erie & Strong Fort Erie Neighbourhoods
Become a Member or Get Involved
The Niagara Food Security Network membership is open to all of Niagara’s residents, community groups, networks, non-profit agencies, charitable organizations, faith groups, individuals with lived experience, political representatives and others working to address food security. Membership involves working to create more opportunities to access nutritious food for those who need it, and ensuring they have the information they need to maintain healthier lives. Members may include representatives from the many food systems in Niagara (Niagara Connects, Food Systems in Niagara Map 2016) such as, but not limited to:
- Environment
- Growing and Harvesting
- Processing and Packaging
- Distribution and Storage
- Access
- Agritourism
- Preparing and Eating
- Waste and Disposal
Members are always welcome. Membership and volunteers are encouraged from all sectors, and is open to any provincial, federal, regional or other agencies, networks, etc. that may play a role in achieving food security in Niagara.
To join the network or learn more about the role you play in addressing food security in Niagara, please contact Chandra Hardeen at [email protected] or another Planning Team member above.