Agenda 12-14-21; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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10 1 Slide #4 j i Tr Iquitable Food Oriented Development •R io development o■■ loop<3r�+aa4 MMand agriculture to create economic opportunities, neighbor hoods,and explicitly to build communitypride, r power by • with historically marginalized • 2 3 4 Ashley Heger said economic and community development is not a zero sum game. She 5 said everyone needs to practical yet value driven in the approach to these needs. 6 Commissioner Fowler said it seems like the needs are for cold storage and shared 7 meeting space. She referred to asset mapping, food assessment, and best practices, and 8 asked if this research has already been completed. She said she interested in seeing this 9 information. 10 Ashley Heger said the asset mapping has not yet happened, but there will be a report in 11 the spring on food assessment. She said she would like to have a work session with the BOCC 12 is the spring. 13 Ashley Heger said the food council has hired community consultants with local expertise 14 to perform the food assessment, which is a best practice. She said those with lived experience 15 are at the center of the work. She said the assessment is going to document best practices and 16 the Council will report back to the BOCC. She said the Council plans to host a community 17 rooted economic development training for elected officials. 18 Commissioner Bedford said one of the interesting facts in the budget was food needs for 19 seniors increased during the pandemic. She said she thinks that hidden hunger was uncovered 20 during the pandemic, and she asked Ashley Heger if that would be part of the study. 21 Ashley Heger said this is not currently in the budget for the food assessment, but that if 22 more funds were available the Council would expand the scope. She said the Council will look 23 at the impact of county investment in food access. She said she will talk with partners that work 24 with seniors, and would bring the topic back to the assessment team. 25 Commissioner Bedford clarified that the scope will depend on who the Council has 26 recruited as consultants. 27 Ashley Heger said the focus of the assessment is building relationships with those 28 impacted by systemic racism, with the notion that if the most oppressive situations are 29 addressed, then other issues will be as well. 30 Chair Price said when she worked with farmers in the deep south she found great 31 success by having a `farmers first' approach. She said farmers received the same respect as 32 the university level researchers. She said everyone taught each other. 33 Mike Ortosky said it is about the lived experience and making sure that relationships are 34 built in the community. He said continually growing the commitment to inclusion is an ongoing 35 part of this effort. He said it is challenging, but everyone is committed to it.