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2025 Food Justice Gathering:
SOFSA’s Food Justice Gathering is a day-long, annual convening of anyone who eats, grows, loves or works with food in Syracuse, Onondaga County, and Onondaga Nation. The Gathering aims to highlight the amazing work that has been done and is being done by individuals, communities, and organizations throughout the region.
Each Food Justice Gathering is jam packed with speakers, panels, activities, and community resources. We’ll keep updating this page as sessions are finalized, but read on to get a sense of what you can expect this year.
9a: OPENING CEREMONY
Grab a coffee and breakfast and settle in to hear the opening remarks. Our keynote and special guests will set the tone for the day.
Keynote: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Civic address: Syeisha Byrd
Music: Mary Nickson
10.45a: MORNING SESSIONS
3 concurrent sessions will be available to guests.
1. Reimagining Governance: Centering Community Voices for Equity and Impact
Hear directly from our community connectors, who will be talking about the opportunities presented by alternative organizational governance models. Struggling to get community engagement? Need to breathe new life into your operations? This session might be for you!
2. Food Sovereignty Storytelling Session
Hear from different growers throughout the county working to imbue dignitiy and sustainability into their operations. More info to come.
3. Culturally relevant dishes: demonstration and tasting.
This workshop will showcase how to prepare two different culturally relevant dishes with local produce.
12.30p: LUNCH & NETWORKING
Food catered by Toss and Fire
Programming includes an address by the Agriculture Commissioner of NYS, a storytelling session by food justice fund grantees, and facillitated working group networking time.
3p: AFTERNOON SESSIONS
1. Urban Ag-tivation
A panel of urban agriculture leaders in other cities will speak to the role an office of urban agriculture can play in urban planning and resourcing for local growing.
2. Artmaking for wellness
Disrupt conventional narratives of health and fitness that are tied to thinness. Using art as a tool, participants will explore their own relationship to their body, health, and how our relationship to food can impact our wellbeing.
3. Nutrition and Lead mitigation
Learn how food can be a critical part of your lead protection plan.
TABLING AND OTHER
We’ll have a full tabling lineup of community resources and organizations.
An interactive gallery will be available as a quieter, reflective space.
Opportunity to make art and postcards calling for action on important issues.
Get Involved:
Are you interested in creating a workshop or panel for the event, or volunteering day-of? Reach out to Micah at micah@syrfoodalliance.org.
Past Food Justice Gatherings
The 2024 Food Justice Gathering was held at Plymouth Congregational Church, and included a celebration for our first 5 years as an organization. Check out the pictures below, or read this blog post, to get a sense of the day.
