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Center for food systems and community transformation

We work at the nexus of food, agriculture, and society to explore and catalyze the conditions for a more just and sustainable food system so that all may thrive.

Image credit: Upper left, Kim Niewolny. Upper right and lower, Melissa Ripepi.

photo compilation of field, squash, and people shelling corn

                       

What We Do

We strive to offer and support opportunities for learning that help us to support our food system and build better communities.

Our learning circles are designed to be a participatory structure for group reflection, dialogue, and planning based on selected scholarship and emergent topics.

Our Center is  home to a number of state and regional programs supporting food systems-based community development at the nexus of food, agriculure, and society.

The Center supports a number of projects related to and in support of regional food systems and community transformation. 

Center fellows bring the aims of the Center to their communities as leaders, educators, and advocates for equity, justice, and health in our food and farming systems.

Resource Pages

              

Upcoming Events

  • Article Item
    Center Open House , article

    Celebrate the opening of our new office and conference space. Meet our team, fellows, and community members. All are welcome to join us for lunch and conversation.

  • Article Item
    Nina Mukerjee Furstenau Graduate Student Learning Circle , article

    Join us for this conversation with Nina Mukerjee Furstenau to explore food through themes of history, culture, and community. Nina Mukerjee Furstenau is a celebrated journalist, author, and editor of the FoodStory book series. She was a Fulbright Global research scholar, is on the board of directors for Media for Change, and has won the MFK Fisher Book Award, the Grand Prize Award for Culture/Culinary Writing from Les Dames d'Escoffier International, and a Kansas Notable Book award.

  • Article Item
    Dr. Ralph Hall & Dr. Jessica Agnew present Addressing Food, Housing, and Well-being at Virginia Tech: Results from the 2021 Survey , article

    Over the past decade, the impact of poor access to food on student wellbeing and academic performance has become a growing concern at institutions of higher education across the U.S. This presentation will explore the results from the 2021 food access survey at Virginia Tech. The survey was sent to 35,337 undergraduate and graduate students on all university campuses and built on a prior food access study completed in 2019, with additional questions covering student wellbeing and housing security. A total of 2,116 complete responses were received, for a 6% response rate. This presentation will explore the important socio demographic correlates of food insecurity and interpret these findings through the lens of 176 written comments provided by students. Recommendations for further enhancing student awareness and access to food, housing, and mental health services will be discussed.

  • Article Item
    Center Fellow Speaker Series Winter/Spring 2023 Lineup , article

    Details and registration links for our Winter/Spring 2023 Center Fellows Speaker Series

Press