Leading Change: Equity

Diversity Statement

NWIFC emphasizes collaboration and support of community-driven programs and projects. We acknowledge that we are operating in an unequal food system, and seek to deliberately disrupt the status quo to cultivate an equitable one. We work at the nexus of a diverse region of rural, urban, and peri-urban communities, with a strong sense of place and community identity. We have a long history of partnerships with BIPOC-led organizations and initiatives within our region and work to meet the expressed needs of these communities by filling critical gaps. The cornerstone of our work is the vision of an equitable, just, and resilient regional food system.

As we continue to weave a more equitable food and farming network throughout our state, we value relationships with stakeholders and organizations that are also committed to cultivating equity and anti racist frameworks. We seek to support and amplify the voices of historically underrepresented farmers, BIPOC farmers, and the communities of eaters that they serve. We are intentionally working to diversify the leadership of food systems work in our state and are committed to continuing to show up, listen, and do the work because we understand that racial justice and equity are not boxes to be checked or an achievement to be attained, they are instead a way of living and working. 

A thriving food system is only possible through justice. We must recognize that inequity in our food system is closely bound with inequity in our society as a whole. We cannot take for granted the persistent internal and external awareness it takes to reject and replace centuries of racist, sexist and bigoted policies. We are nowhere near the finish line of equity. Being an advocate begs us to get dirty. To look in the mirror when it’s painful. To open our ears when it’s hard. To accept hard truths and learn. And to work on our own stamina and mindfulness to stay in the fight for food justice for all. 

Pursuing Racial Equity

The NWI Food Council commits to centering anti-racism, racial equity, and inclusion in our programs, operations, and culture. Indigenous, Black, and Brown communities have been violently displaced, enslaved, and disenfranchised to build the foundation of modern farming, fishing, and food systems. Many of these same communities continue to face interpersonal and systemic discrimination resulting in cycles of land loss, exclusion and economic and health disparities. As an organization striving to enact systems change, we recognize the role that race and racism play in the modern food system and are therefore making a public commitment to dismantling racism through our work.

The NWI Food Council commits to being part of this change. As such, we will:

  • Be accountable to communities of color. We commit to partnering with and being accountable to frontline communities and grassroots organizations led by people of color working for justice in the food system.

  • Defer to local knowledge and expertise. We recognize and respect the grounded understanding and knowledge that is held within local communities, especially communities of color. We commit to honor that and to approach collaboration from a space of humility.

  • Tell the full story. We must correct and expand the narratives and representations of agriculture that are at the foundation of our work, and acknowledge the diverse histories and relationships to agriculture that many people of color have. We will lift up the voices and needs of farmers and ranchers of color in our internal and public communications. 

  • Recognize and promote leadership in communities of color. We recognize the powerful leadership and work that farmers, gardeners, advocates and food justice organizers of color contribute towards a resilient food system and community self-actualization.

  • Act now for justice. We will work in solidarity as a coalition to win political and structural change to make farm and ranch careers possible for more young people of color. We commit to being transparent as we set meaningful goals for this mission, and to being resourceful to and supportive of historically marginalized farmers and their communities.

The journey towards our collective liberation has no endpoint. We are learning. We will make mistakes. As we grow, we need the honest feedback of our community to enact this vision. Please contact us with your questions, ideas, and input.

Current Equity Work

  • Developing a statewide steering committee of BIPOC food system stakeholders to develop and drive the direction of the NWI Food Council’s newly created BIPOC Value Chain Professional position

  • Incorporating anti-racism training, reflection and discussion for the Executive Board 

  • Collaborating with Indiana University and Michigan State University to develop equity metrics for food systems work to better understand and tell the story of those who are supposed to benefit from food system developments and changes across Indiana communities

  • Advocating at the local and state level to include BIPOC and historically disadvantaged farmer voices during  the development and implementation of the Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement programs

  • Pursuing funding and partnerships to expand technical assistance for SNAP & WIC at farmers markets in NW Indiana

  • Supporting urban farmer mentorship and youth programs

  • Conducting listening sessions for various programs, including listening sessions with WIC families, Latino/a migrant farm workers, and BIPOC farmers. All information learned at listening sessions has been directly incorporated into program to better serve the needs of various communities

Future Equity Initiatives:

  • Offering anti-racism training and tools for key partners of the NWI Food Council

  • Strengthening internal policies, handbooks and work culture to be rooted in anti-racism and equity

  • Collaborating and supporting reparations programs that to support BIPOC farmers