Centering Justice in Food Security

Jodi Koeman recently had an opportunity to visit The Table, an organization in Denver, Colo., that is part of the food justice and community growing project Koeman oversees in her work as Church With Community mobilizer for World Renew.

The food justice and community growing project is a grant program that enables organizations and congregations involved in a food project, ministry, or initiative to commit to increasing their awareness of food justice and developing connections with community members.

“This helps lead to more asset-based, community-driven, and justice-rooted engagement,” Koeman explained.

The Table is a unique urban farm and faith community working in neighborhoods across South Denver. Since 2012, The Table has sought to improve food access in communities by growing organic food on scattered urban farm plots and distributing the food to local partners. The organization received a small food justice and community growing grant to purchase a refrigerator, and now the team can store fresh produce for longer before distribution.

Next year, The Table hopes to expand one of their 5,000-square-foot food plots into an adjacent vacant lot. The team also hopes to reopen Table Public House, a community café and gathering space.

“Together, we are envisioning the future of their mission, developing leadership, practicing asset-based community development principles, and centering justice in food security,” Koeman said.

The Table is one of four organizations that are part of the food justice and community growing grant program. Silver Springs Christian Reformed Church in Silver Spring, Md., is developing a youth advisory council for its growing food pantry, and the Church of Refugia in Visalia, Calif., wants to revitalize a community garden and support the local Thursday night farmer’s market. In Michigan, the New Era Farmer’s Market—started by and located on the property of New Era CRC—implemented a canning lending library at the public libraries in its county.

“Food is essential to life. Food is nourishment and nutrition, yet it is also about comfort, culture, and connection,” Koeman concluded. “Food teaches us about growing relationships and deepening community, yet food also has been used to divide and deny access, and food insecurity and injustice persist throughout our communities. I’m grateful for the congregations I get to work alongside as they implement unique responses to food insecurity and advocate for food justice in their communities.”

Last spring Jodi Koeman facilitated a Food and Faith webinar series on the experience of leaders in the food systems field. To watch, go to worldrenew.net/events and fill out the form requesting access to the Food and Faith series. More webinars will come later this year. 

To learn more about ways to get involved in these types of food justice and community growing projects, email Koeman at jkoeman@worldrenew.net.