Welcome to the HEAL Food Alliance quarterly newsletter! To stay up to date on what’s happening in the food and farm justice movement, subscribe now »
As we soak up the final weeks of summer, we are reflecting on the super bloom of our alliance’s collective work – from building climate resilience in our communities to fighting for a more just and transformative Farm Bill!
ICYMI— did you notice the lavender?
Each HEAL newsletter will feature a medicinal plant as part of our Alliance’s ‘recipe’ for resistance and healing!
Farm Bill For Thriving Futures for us all!
Our alliance showed up big this summer for racial and worker justice in the 2023 Farm Bill –
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- Co-hosted a labor briefing with Senators Cory Booker (NJ) and Alex Padilla (CA), Representative Greg Casar (TX), the Farmworker Association of Florida, the Food Chain Workers Alliance, the Union of Concerned Scientists and UFCW. The briefing was the first time food and farmworkers had a voice in the farm bill process.
- Called 50 congressional offices to advocate for the Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act and the Justice for Black Farmers Act during our week of action.
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Procuring Food Justice!
Read our new report with Food Chain Workers Alliance, Procuring Food Justice: Grassroots Solutions for Reclaiming Our Public Supply Chains* on how values-based food purchasing is disrupting “‘the anonymity of the food system.’”
Fight for Rule 1071 and the CFPB!
The CFPB and section 1071 are vital to preventing discrimination against farmers of color.
That’s why HEAL joined over 67 organizations in signing a letter to Congress to support Section 1071 rule, which mandates reporting demographic data of small business loan borrowers. HEAL also joined a coalition to submit an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of the constitutionality of the CFPB’s funding structure.
“Reflections on our Final SoPL Session”🌱✨
Congrats to the 2023 HEAL School of Political Leadership cohort on their graduation! Check out cohort member Mina Seck’s reflection on their final session in DC.
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- Groups sue Florida over latest immigration law | Politico
- Calls for change after Florida farmworker, 29, dies in heat. ‘Is that what we deserve?’ | Miami Herald *Donate to support the family of farmworker Efrain Lopez Garcia
- Wildfire decimates Lahaina, once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom | NBC
- Why BIPOC Farmers Need More Protection From Climate Change | Civil Eats
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- Read No Meat Required: The Cultural History and Culinary Future of Plant-Based Eating by Alicia Kennedy 📖
- Jam to the Audio Potluck: Play As Portal playlist from the Food Culture Collective 🥘
- Listen to The Farm Bill Uprooted Podcast from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy 🌻
- Listen to the Help This Garden Grow podcast, which tells the story of Hazel Johnson, a visionary of the Environmental Justice movement 🌻
- Watch a screening of Rhythms of the Land documentary, produced by Farms to Grow, Inc.
- Connect at Build, Unlearn, Decolonize (BUD) conference this September in Durham, NC, hosted by CoFED 🌱
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Vegan Larb Salad with Mushrooms and Tofu 🥗
Maleeka Manurasada, HEAL’s National Organizer shares a refreshing vegan version of larb salad, a minced meat salad with lime, chili, mint, cilantro, and onions popular in Thailand and Laos.
“My fathers’ side of the family is Thai, so I grew up eating a lot of traditional Thai dishes – except for larb, because we were vegetarian. Since then, I’ve found restaurants that sub the meat for tofu, so I can finally enjoy this dish as an adult. But, better than ordering larb is making it! I love this recipe that uses mushrooms and tofu instead of meat. This recipe is hearty, fresh, and always transports me back to Thailand.”
Donate to the family of Florida Farmworker Efrain Lopez Garcia! Farmworker Association of Florida is raising funds for the family of 29 year old farmworker Efrain Lopez Garcia who recently passed from working in extreme heat.
2023 Heat and Smoke Relief Fund for Idaho’s Farmworkers! Support Idaho Organization of Resource Councils annual fundraiser to protect local farmworkers from heat stress and smoke.
Maui Strong Fund! is currently accepting donations to support communities affected by the wildfires in Maui. Check out the Maui Mutual Aid Resource Guide from the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action for more ways to support local communities in Lāhainā.
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- Cultivate Charlottesville: Grants, Evaluation, and Outreach Systems Director, Urban Agriculture Collective Farm Assistant, Urban Agriculture Collective Operations Manager
- Farmworker Association of Florida: Agroecology/Food Sovereignty/Community Garden Coordinator, Climate Justice Organizer, Food Justice Organizer, General Coordinator
- Kitchen Table Advisors: Farm Business Advisor Fellowship
- Healthcare Without Harm: Chief Program Officer, Communications Officer, MEL Officer
- Land Stewardship Project: Policy Organizer (SE Minnesota)
- La Semilla: Out of School Time Program Coordinator
- Pesticides Action Network North America: Communications Director, Executive Director
- Public Justice Food Project: Food Project Staff Attorney
- Soul Fire Farm: Senior Managing Director
- Union of Concerned Scientists: Controller, Director of People Operations, Energy Modeler, Foundations Coordinator, Science Network Organizing Manager, People & Culture Manager, Senior Accountant
- Urban Tilth: Activate Programs Manager, Fund Development Associate II, Orchard For All Gleaning Program Manager
- Warehouse Workers for Justice: Clean Air Organizing Manager, Development Director
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**[Lavender or lavendula is a flowering plant in the mint family that blooms from spring through late summer. Cultivated all over the world, lavender represents peace, tranquility and healing, and is used widely – in medicine, aromatherapy, food, for the body and in the home.