In mid-January, our Farm to School team participated in a week-long workshop titled Rooting Out Racism, which focused on racism in the food system. Service to Justice led the workshop, and about 50 other food system workers (many from Vermont) participated. Organized by the Vermont Farm to School Network and the Farm-Based Education Network, Rooting Out Racism went beyond anti-bias training by challenging participants to examine their behaviors, mindsets, and actions. The work also went beyond the individual as we began to craft strategies for creating change in our organizations, networks, and teams. 

The question that most stuck with us during and after the workshop was:  

The pandemic has taught us that we can change systems immediately if we think the problem is big enough. Is the problem of structural racism big enough?

With the excuse of “the problem is just too big” thrown out the window, Rooting Out Racism helped us approach these issues with a renewed sense of what’s possible in mind.

We are still digesting everything that we learned, reflecting on how we can use this information to help our school-based Farm to School teams engage with food and racial justice in their organizations while also thinking internally about the next steps for Food Connects. 

To begin, a few of our key takeaways were:

• History: It is vital to understand the history of racism, sexism, and classism in our country and to see the ways that these different types of oppression intersect. The workshop reminded us of the importance of reevaluating the history lessons taught in our schools, especially those about the food system or the pastoral state identity adopted by many Vermonters. The history that we learn as young people creates our shared identities, shapes our perception of the past, and sets a marker of common ground for emerging conversations. It’s also fertile ground for reshaping how our local schools begin to address racial justice. 

• White Supremacy Culture: The workshop highlighted The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture, and they have been cropping up in our work beyond the training. It’s easy to see slivers of each in our work. We are actively thinking about how we can be more aware of our cultural inclinations towards things like perfectionism and paternalism. We strive to develop a culture of appreciation and transparency, including involving people who are affected by decisions in the decision-making.

• Creativity and Imagination: This workshop encouraged us to explore the power of creativity as a tool for reimagining the future and healing from the past. Notably, the workshop facilitators encouraged us to suspend all of our “why nots” when dreaming. This new mindset turned out to be a powerful approach, and there’s beauty in its simplicity. We look forward to bringing more creativity to our work as a powerful tool for change.

• Reparations and Revesting Power: We began discussions with our colleagues of two powerful recommendations from BIPOC land and food justice leaders—give land back to indigenous and black communities and honor that frontline communities know what they need for liberation. We were grateful for the opportunity to begin thinking about what reparations might look like within our organizations, and we want to spend more time thinking about this. We’re also encouraged by the growing calls to re-center conversations around those most affected, whether that be when talking about charitable food or school-based programs. We see the emphasis on community collaborations fundamental to Farm to School programs as a natural jumping-off point for more meaningful partnerships with community members. 

There’s still much more for us to unpack as a team, and we’re excited to bring these new understandings back to our teams. By championing food justice through Farm to School, we believe that programs will become more inclusive, more representative, and a crucial part of every school’s curriculum and community culture.