Organizing
Explore Our Work On:
Networks for Collective Action
Atlantic Advocacy Network
In 2024, we continued our work as Atlantic Region lead for the Poverty Action Unit. This initiative by Community Food Centres Canada brings together organizations across the region to advocate for systemic change.
It was a busy year! We held four region-wide meetings and supported training initiatives for organizations new to advocacy work. Our Coordinator travelled all over the Maritimes to meet network partners. We helped organizations in each province host community meetings with their MPs to discuss income solutions to food insecurity. We hosted one of these meetings in St. John’s with MP Seamus O’Regan. For International Human Rights Day, we supported the Atlantic Network in a nationwide letter-to-the-editor writing campaign on the right to food.
Laurel’s Maritimes travel included some excellent hikes and views.
Basic Income NL and Basic Income Atlantic
For the last four years, we have been the host organization for Basic Income NL. This is a growing network of community organizations across sectors that all agree basic income is a priority. In 2024, we added new organizations to the network and coordinated our advocacy messaging. We also spoke with MPs, MHAs, and civil servants to keep basic income on the radar screen in N.L.
At the regional level, Food First NL also provided staff support to Basic Income Atlantic. As a core planning committee member, our staff supported organizing work and led regular regional calls. A highlight of our fall was connecting with everyone in person at the Basic Income Forum in Halifax.
Laurel (Food First NL) speaking on a panel at the Basic Income Forum in Halifax.
Food Security Working Group
In 2024, the Food Security Working Group continued monthly meetings to bring together people working on food security in communities and in government. This group, which started as an emergency response to the pandemic, has now met over 100 times. The focus of the meetings shifted to more “big-picture” issues in 2024. Guest speakers from key national organizations joined the group to dive deeper into new data and evidence-driven solutions. We continue to welcome new members to the Working Group. Food organizations can contact us to be added to the list.
Atlantic Food Action Coalition
Even though Atlantic Canadian food systems have lots in common, our food organizations don't regularly connect. To help bring us together, Food First NL partnered with colleagues in each Atlantic province to launch the Atlantic Food Action Coalition (AFAC). In 2024, AFAC developed a secretariat agreement with the Centre for Local Prosperity to provide staff capacity. We organized a regional food systems conference (Dig In!) and brought people together for three days of network-building in Charlottetown. We look forward to seeing where AFAC goes in 2025.
Richard (Western NL Food Hub) presenting at the Dig In Conference.
Working With Food Programs on Rethinking Food Charity
Rethinking Food Charity’s second phase began in earnest in 2024. This meant less time researching and more time supporting food programs to make changes. Our support took a few different forms. We worked directly with food programs on projects to improve and add to their services. We shared research and sparked conversations about client-choice food bank models. We also connected with and learned from national and provincial organizations.
In addition to supporting food programs, we focused on amplifying People with Lived and Living Experience’s voices. Their expertise in food insecurity and food charity is key to transformation. We partnered with LLEAG and CBC’s The Signal on lived experience panel shows. We’re excited to build on this work in 2025.
2024 Project Highlights
Working with the MUN St. John’s Campus Food Bank on a community survey about food insecurity experiences and receiving more than 300 responses.
Hosting a lunch-and-learn with Food Banks Canada to present their National Poverty Report Card and discuss their new food program standards.
Connecting and collaborating with Canadian organizations and researchers at the “Food Insecurity: Let’s Move Beyond Charity” roundtable in Montréal.
Partnering with LLEAG and CBC for two lived experience panel conversations.
Talking to faculty and students at the launch of the MUN St. John’s Campus Food Bank survey.
Expressing Our Gratitude
Alison Bennett-James, who began Rethinking Food Charity and laid the foundations for its latest phase.
Lived and Living Experience Advisory Group (LLEAG) Members, for their unwavering courage, strength, and enthusiasm in sharing their stories.
Adam Walsh and the team at CBC’s The Signal, for partnering with us to amplify voices of lived experience during cost-of-living panel shows.
The Hub for the Study of Local Governance, for their dedication and unwavering support in developing and promoting the Campus Community survey.
Food Banks Canada’s CEO, Kirstin Beardsley, answering questions during our joint lunch-and-learn.
Learn More
Article from the “Food Insecurity: Let’s Move Beyond Charity” roundtable (The Conversation)
Article about our MUN Campus Food Bank Survey (The Muse)
Food Systems Communications
2024 was a busy year for the communications team at Food First NL. If we want to advance the right to food for everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador, we need to organize. Organizing starts with ensuring everyone has the reliable, accessible information they need.
That's why we made it a priority to keep the conversation going. We posted more than 1200 times across our social media platforms to share opportunities, resources, and program updates. We also joined Bluesky and stepped away from Twitter, a strategic move based on impact and rooted in our values.
Our staff responded to 70+ media requests about our programs and advocacy. And, of course, our monthly newsletter kept our community in the loop with updates about our work and what's happening around the province. It's all part of our effort to organize for change and highlight the fantastic work happening in communities across N.L.