Dear CMFPC Friends,
2016 was a stellar year for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council.
As I look back on all that we have done together to build a sustainable, equitable, and healthy local food system, I could not be more proud.
All that we have accomplished was made possible because of the tireless work of our very active board of directors, the invaluable advice and connections of the Experts’ Panel, and the countless community members who supported us by attending our events, becoming CMFPC members, or simply sharing our message and stories online.
2016 began with the release of the 2015 State of the Plate Community Food Assessment. As our board members and researcher met with community leaders, elected officials, and interested citizens, we were moved by the overwhelmingly positive response to our work. We know that no one else in the Charlotte area is looking at food insecurity across the county like we are and we are happy to have widespread support to use this data to make lasting changes.
2016 also saw us expand our FoodCorps program from one service member to two service members serving full time in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
With the addition of a second service member, we expanded our reach to even more students and their families through nutrition and cooking classes, innovative STEM curriculum, and school gardens. Our FoodCorps service members were also part of a local team working to expand the farm to school programming in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools with the first Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified garden on a CMS campus. This GAP certification will open more doors for fresh, locally grown foods to be served to our students in their school cafeterias.
As we set our goals for 2017, we will continue to focus on enhancing the health of our residents, strengthening local economies and market opportunities, and reducing hunger and food insecurity. We will continue to look to build more partnerships within the food and hunger community here in Charlotte, and we plan to grow our member base of concerned, involved citizens passionate about local food and the health of our community.
Please take a look at what we have accomplished in 2016 and ask yourself how you can fit into the work of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council in 2017! I look forward to working with all of you!
Sincerely,
Erin Brighton
CMFPC Executive Director
2016 was a stellar year for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council.
As I look back on all that we have done together to build a sustainable, equitable, and healthy local food system, I could not be more proud.
All that we have accomplished was made possible because of the tireless work of our very active board of directors, the invaluable advice and connections of the Experts’ Panel, and the countless community members who supported us by attending our events, becoming CMFPC members, or simply sharing our message and stories online.
2016 began with the release of the 2015 State of the Plate Community Food Assessment. As our board members and researcher met with community leaders, elected officials, and interested citizens, we were moved by the overwhelmingly positive response to our work. We know that no one else in the Charlotte area is looking at food insecurity across the county like we are and we are happy to have widespread support to use this data to make lasting changes.
2016 also saw us expand our FoodCorps program from one service member to two service members serving full time in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
With the addition of a second service member, we expanded our reach to even more students and their families through nutrition and cooking classes, innovative STEM curriculum, and school gardens. Our FoodCorps service members were also part of a local team working to expand the farm to school programming in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools with the first Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified garden on a CMS campus. This GAP certification will open more doors for fresh, locally grown foods to be served to our students in their school cafeterias.
As we set our goals for 2017, we will continue to focus on enhancing the health of our residents, strengthening local economies and market opportunities, and reducing hunger and food insecurity. We will continue to look to build more partnerships within the food and hunger community here in Charlotte, and we plan to grow our member base of concerned, involved citizens passionate about local food and the health of our community.
Please take a look at what we have accomplished in 2016 and ask yourself how you can fit into the work of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council in 2017! I look forward to working with all of you!
Sincerely,
Erin Brighton
CMFPC Executive Director
