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The School for Food Justice, Faith, and Storytelling

Launched in January of 2021, the School for Food Justice, Faith and Storytelling brings together faith leaders across North Carolina to: 

  • Investigate the root causes of hunger and the injustices present in our food systems.
  • Uncover and challenge the dominant narratives about hunger and develop the skills and knowledge to tell true, personal, and compelling stories that transform the conversation on hunger in communities.
  • Plan to implement a new or adapt an existing ministry that works toward eliminating or reducing food insecurity in your community.

Our 2021 Cohort included more than 40 faith leaders committed to deepening their understanding of systemic injustices in the food system and how communities of faith can respond to these inequities.

If you did not register for the first 2023 Cohort which runs from January to April, stay tuned for more information about our Fall 2023 Cohort which will be virtual and open to faith leaders all across the country.

What is the need? Why this program? Why now?

The pandemic exposed more people in the U.S. to hunger, and it has also exposed the fragility of our industrialized food system. Faith communities have a unique role to play in this setting, as many churches have food pantries, community meals, and other food programs as part of their outreach ministries. The School for Food Justice, Faith, and Storytelling will bring together faith leaders to learn, grow, and sharpen their abilities to offer new and creative solutions to the issue of hunger within their communities.

What will participants gain from this program?

The School for Food Justice, Faith, and Storytelling brings together a cohort of faith leaders to:

  • Investigate the root causes of hunger and the injustices present in our food systems.
  • Uncover and challenge the dominant narratives about hunger and develop the skills and knowledge to tell true, personal, and compelling stories that transform the conversation on hunger in communities.
  • Plan to implement a new or adapt an existing ministry that works toward reducing food insecurity in your community.

Program Components

The four-month-long training program will take place from January to April of 2023, with sessions taking place bi-monthly. The School will feature two in-person, day-long retreats for the first and final session. RAFI-USA is committed to supporting all individuals with accessibility needs, and we will do our best to accommodate family and community needs for all participants.

Each virtual session will run for two hours maximum, while in-person retreats will run for the entire work day. All participants are expected to be able to commit to no more than one hour per session of additional “homework” (reading or viewing).

Curriculum

Sessions will cover (but are not limited to) the following topics:

  • The impact of racial inequities on hunger
  • How systemic and structural issues impact hunger
  • Innovative examples from the field that capture justice-centered approaches to reducing hunger
  • The injustices present in our food system around farmers of color and corporate consolidation
  • How faith leaders can examine harmful narratives around hunger and offer new narratives in their place

Questions?

Please reach out to David Allen, Come to the Table Project Manager, 984.214.2816, with any questions.

Blog posts on the School for Food Justice, Faith, and Storytelling 2021

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