Third Year of Grants to Nonprofit Organizations Promoting and Democratizing Access to Climate-Friendly Foods
Bethesda, MD – August 15, 2022: Social entrepreneurs Seth Goldman and Julie Farkas announced today the selection of 39 national and community-based changemaking organizations as grant recipients for the 2022 cycle of the Eat the ChangeTM Impact grant program.
“We are thrilled to support this year’s Changemakers. Our community-based partners are creating positive, lasting change by developing healthier, stronger people and a healthier planet,” said Julie Farkas
Eat the Change Impact, the philanthropic partner of the planet-based snack company, Eat the Change, launched the program in March 2020 and has awarded $1.25 million over three years to national and community-based nonprofits working to promote and expand access to climate-friendly foods.
“These Changemakers are helping to democratize planet-friendly foods by educating their communities and creating more resilient, equitable, and just food systems,” added Seth Goldman
This year, the program received approximately 75 applications from 27 states across the nation. The grants ranged in size from $10,000 to $25,000. Final selections were made based on each proposal’s alignment with the following four core values: Eating with Intention, Fact-Based Science, Democratizing Access, and Innovation.
One of the new grant recipients is La Plazita Institute – a community-based grant recipient that focuses on addressing food justice, healing, and juvenile justice using the philosophy “La Cultura Cura” (culture cures). The New Mexico-based organization provides organically grown vegetables to the surrounding community and detention centers, while also revitalizing traditional medicinal knowledge. Executive Director Albino Garcia Jr. and Pathways Navigator Sylvia Garcia summarized La Plazita Institute’s distinct mission with a question: "What's more revolutionary then putting nutritional, locally grown food into the mouths of incarcerated children?"
Another recipient is the Black Veg Society – a three-year grant recipient educating the public, particularly BIPOC communities, on the benefits of the plant-based diet and holistic living. Naijha Wright-Brown, Executive Director of the Black Veg Society, explained how the organization is encouraging more climate-friendly eating: “The Black Veg Society is meeting people where they are on this journey towards holistic living, veganism, and plant-based lifestyles. We love partnering with churches, schools, businesses, and other non-profit organizations that share similar missions. We always look forward to new, exciting, and innovative collaborations that will get communities one step closer to ‘eating the change that we all wish to see.’”
Here is the full list of recipients: (in alphabetical order)
- A Table in the Wilderness; Oklahoma City, OK – Educating individuals and families on the physical, spiritual, and environmental benefits of a plant-based lifestyle ($10,000)
- AfriThrive; Maryland – Advancing food justice and empowering African immigrant communities to control how they grow, distribute, access, and eat culturally appropriate and healthy foods ($15,000)
- Animal Protection of New Mexico; New Mexico – Advocating for animals by effecting systematic change and strengthening communities; grant will support the Promoting Plant-Based Eating Program, which provides locally grown plant-based foods to communities experiencing food insecurity in rural New Mexico ($10,000)
- Better Food Foundation; National – Promoting plant-based diets and plant-forward food policies to build a healthy, equitable, humane, and environmentally sustainable food system; grant will support DefaultVeg, which aims to shift institutional and cultural food norms by making plant-based foods the default in institutional dining ($10,000)
- Bhakti Center; New York, NY – A cultural arts center rooted in the principles of Bhakti tradition; grant will support Bhakti Center, in conjunction with partner Chilis on Wheels, increase accessibility of plant-based meals, fight food insecurity, and spread awareness on the importance of a plant-based diet ($10,000)
- Black Vegetarian Society of Maryland; Baltimore, MD – Educating the public, particularly BIPOC communities, on the benefits of holistic living, veganism, and the plant-based diet ($20,000)
- Building Bridges Across the River; Washington, DC – Providing residents East of the Anacostia River access to the best-in-class facilities, programs, and partnerships in arts and culture, economic opportunity, education, recreation, health, and well-being; grant will support Building Bridges Farm bring fresh foods into surrounding neighborhoods and provide urban agriculture education ($10,000)
- Center for World Indigenous Studies; National – Advancing racial equity through the documentation of indigenous records and research; grant supports the creation of a documentary on traditional medicinal plants and foods in the Pacific Northwest and how they are being used to alter climate change ($15,000)
- Charles Koiner Conservancy for Urban Farming; Silver Springs, MD – Protecting and managing urban farms in the DC metro area that inspire the next generation of sustainable food innovators ($15,000)
- Climate Collaborative; National – Inspiring and supporting action on climate change within the natural products industry through education and advocacy; funds will support collaborative industry initiatives to reduce food waste by transforming the food supply chain to minimize climate impacts ($10,000)
- Common Good City Farm; Washington, DC – Providing nutritious food and engaging residents to create a vibrant, informed, and well-nourished community through urban farming ($10,000)
- Crop Swap LA; Los Angeles, CA – Growing and harvesting food on unused spaces to create reliable and sustainable hyperlocal food production that builds climate resistance ($10,000)
- Crossroads Community Food Network; Takoma Park, MD – Providing culturally appropriate education to expand food system knowledge and fresh produce consumption ($10,000)
- DC Greens; Washington, DC – Advancing food justice and health equity through food education, access, and policy; grant will support The Well, a new agricultural and community wellness center in Ward 8’s Oxon Run Park ($25,000)
- Eat REAL; California – Supporting school nutrition though cafeteria menu changes and healthy, sustainable food systems education in K-12 schools with the Eat REAL Certification program ($10,000)
- Educated Choices Program; National – Educating and empowering students and communities with the knowledge to make informed and responsible food choices; grant will support new educational presentation on food waste and food systems ($10,000)
- IDEAS For Us on behalf of Fleet Farming; Orlando, FL – Supporting urban agriculture and local food systems by empowering youth in food deserts to turn lawns into farms by bicycle ($15,000)
- Earth Island Institute on behalf of Food Shift; Alameda, CA – Developing practical, sustainable solutions to reduce food waste and provide plant-forward foods for individuals facing food insecurity ($15,000)
- Growing Gardens; Portland, OR – using the experience of growing food in schools, backyards, and correctional facilities to cultivate healthy, equitable communities ($10,000)
- Grow Dat Youth Farm; New Orleans, LA – Nurturing a diverse group of young leaders through the meaningful work of growing healthy food ($15,000)
- Harlem Grown; Harlem, NY – Inspiring youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition ($15,000)
- Hawaii Institute of Pacific Agriculture; Kapaau, HI – Educating students to expand nutritional awareness and increase youth interest in regenerative agriculture; grant will support the Kohala Food Hub ($15,000)
- Hazon; National – Fostering leadership in the Jewish Community for climate action; funds will support the Jewish Youth Climate Movement, a nationwide program giving teens a voice on climate and social justice issues ($15,000)
- IMPACT Silver Spring; Silver Spring, MD – Advancing racial equity, justice, and liberation by working for change in Montgomery County; grant will support community garden program which works to increase food security, strengthen community ties, and promote individual and collective health ($10,000)
- Keep Growing Detroit; Detroit, MI – Educating urban gardeners about climate-smart growing, eating, and cooking practices ($10,000)
- La Plazita Institute; Albuquerque, New Mexico – using a comprehensive, holistic, and cultural approach around the philosophy of "La Cultura Cura" to address food justice, healing, and juvenile justice ($10,000).
- La Semilla Food Center; Anthony, NM – Fostering a healthy, self-reliant, fair, and sustainable food system in the Paso del Norte Region; grant will support the creation of educational resources for youth and community programming and a mural that center local, ancestral knowledge from foodways practitioners in the region ($10,000)
- Community Partners on behalf of Los Angeles Food Policy Council; Los Angeles, CA – Hosting culturally-relevant, plant-based cooking demonstrations with local chefs of color; grant supports Community Chefs LA, a community engagement series that features Angelenos’ food stories and plant-based recipes ($15,000)
- Malama Kaua`i; Kauai, HI – Increasing local food production and access to climate-friendly food across Kauai, the most remote island in Hawaii ($10,000)
- PlantPure Communities; National – Empowering individuals to build healthy, kind, and sustainable communities by leveraging scientific knowledge and a global grassroots Pod Network to encourage a population shift to a plant-based diet ($10,000)
- Plant Futures; National – Accelerating the transition to a plant-centric food system by ensuring students become ethical leaders, system thinkers, and effective advocates for a plant-centric future; grant supports challenge lab course that facilitates collaboration between students and young professionals to solve pressing issues in the plant-based food and agriculture sector ($10,000)
- Plantrician Project; National – Empowering health care providers with plant-based nutrition education, tools, and resources ($10,000)
- Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs on behalf of Sowing Seeds of Change; West Long Beach, CA – Creating a healthier, more equitable food system through urban agriculture education and job training that supports foster youth and young adults with developmental disabilities ($10,000)
- SUPRSEED; South Central Los Angeles, CA – Developing a subsidized organic grocery and community space to expand the availability of fresh vegan foods ($25,000)
- Upcycled Food Foundation; National – Preventing food waste by growing the upcycled food economy ($15,000)
- Urban Roots MN; St. Paul, MN – Cultivating youth leadership and development through nature, healthy food, and community ($15,000)
- The Pollination Project on behalf of Vegan Hacktivists; National – Promoting plant-based eating and advocating for animals by providing technological support to organizations with similar goals ($10,000)
- A Well-Fed World on behalf of Vegan Ingenuity; National – Empowering 10 Million Black Women to go vegan to live longer, healthier lives ($15,000)
- Wholesome Wave; National – Fighting nutrition insecurity across the US by developing programs, platforms, and seed funding to help a network of community-based organizations increase access to healthy, affordable food; grant will support nutrition education for pregnant patients in Wholesome Rx at Hartford Healthcare’s Women’s Ambulatory Health Services ($15,000)
For more information about Eat the Changeᵀᴹ Impact, please visit www.eatthechange.org
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