Applications for the Community Food Systems Fellowship (USA) are now open.

Through these opportunities, the Fellowship hopes to strengthen community engagement and caregiver/family leadership, advance strengths-based narratives, and foster collaborative leadership that expands community-identified solutions and cross-sector partnerships. The fellowship is suitable for people who are committed to:

• We are working to develop resilient and equitable local food systems.
• Community leadership, participation, and leadership of caregivers and families.
• Food Justice, Nutritional Justice, Racial Equity, and Social Transformation
• Developing technologies to measure the impact and success of local food systems
• Develop collaborative leadership skills

The organization highlights community-based food systems and actively works to inform and advance community leadership on local food systems. They are committed to supporting self-determination in communities of color and the advancement of diverse community leaders. They encourage applications from prospective fellows who are committed to justice and equity and working to improve local food systems to advance the well-being of children, families, and communities. These are stakeholders who represent diverse voices across the food system, such as agriculture, labor and food chain workers, food services, public health, environmental justice, economics and entrepreneurship, education, early care and education, immigration, arts, and culture. ) to apply. .

subject

• Examples of topics discussed in past social gatherings and sessions include, but are not limited to:
  • Foundation Program Topics:
    • Participatory approach to research, situational ethics and consent, data planning, collection and analysis methods.
    • Data storytelling for social change
  • Additional topics identified based on the interests of colleagues include:
    • Local Food System Equity Assessment Tool
    • Community Engagement Strategy
    • Healing-centered strategy
    • Parent and Guardian Leadership
    • Collaborative Leadership and Sustainable Leadership Pathways
    • Digital media and narrative storytelling training

program structure

• Participation in the Community Food Systems Fellowship consists of two parts and includes the following requirements: While unforeseen circumstances arise, participating fellows ask that you continue to participate in all fellowship activities to the best of your ability to ensure a rich and collective learning experience for all fellows.
• Part 1: Intensive Peer Learning, Skill Building, and Co-Design – January – December 2025:
  • In-person Fellowship Program Start (2 Days): The official start of the Fellowship Program is tentatively scheduled for February 11-13, 2025, with a final date/time and location to be confirmed with finalists in December 2024. Fellows will have the opportunity to: You will meet and get to know other peers in your cohort and be introduced to program goals, structure, and learning opportunities. Fellows will also participate in the first of two Community Design Labs, which will focus on providing an introduction to community co-design and engaging in a co-design process to shape the fellowship experience.
  • Community Design Labs: Participate in two sets of Community Design Labs, in February 2025 and October 2025, to shape your fellowship experience and collaborate on key fellowship goals on collaborative group projects. The focus is on a facilitated co-design process that identifies areas of action and momentum. These interactive sessions will build on the collective roadmap developed by the 2022-24 Fellowship cohort to develop collaborative learning tools or resources to share with other leaders in the field. The meeting dates are as follows:
    • Design Lab 1: Direct Fellowship Program Launching in February 2025
    • Design Lab 2: Fellowship Fall Retreat ℅ 2025 National Community Leadership Summit, October 2025
  • Monthly Group Learning Sessions: Three-hour virtual learning sessions take place once a month and include an active peer-led component to support learning and build competency and knowledge on key topics. Sessions include ample breaks to support wellbeing and accessibility.
  • Bi-monthly individual check-ins: with a Vital Village Networks team member. These regular one-hour check-ins are scheduled for regular time blocks to be confirmed at the start of the fellowship.
  • In-person Fellow Retreat and National Convocation (3 days): Participate in a convening of community leaders and project presentations or sessions during the 2025 National Community Leadership Summit scheduled for October 2025 in Boston, MA. This convening will focus on key areas of community capacity building. Fellows will also participate in the second of two Community Design Labs focused on identifying areas of collective action and drivers for key fellowship goals to develop collective group projects.
  • Alumni Mentors and Peer Groups: Alumni are grouped based on common interests, geography, or focus and matched with alumni mentors. The group and alumni mentors are encouraged to meet quarterly to deepen their connections and learning with one another.
• Part 2: Self-directed project implementation with individual coaching/TA support – January – June 2026:
  • Individual coaching and technical assistance support: During the final six months of the fellowship program for implementation of innovation pilot grants and joint projects.
  • End of Fellowship Cross-Cohort Showcase: Fellows will present their final cohort’s joint projects and share reflections and learnings in a final session in June 2026 with alumni, partners, and other invited stakeholders.
• There will be optional opportunities for connection with fellowship alumni and other informal group gatherings that emerge based on the interests and capabilities of each fellowship’s alumni.

funds information

• Community Fellows will receive a stipend of $2,500 to honor their time participating in fellowship meetings and activities, including attending and presenting at Vital Village’s annual National Community Leadership Summit. Fellows may also apply for $2,500 in innovation pilot project funding, which will be distributed after the first 12 months of the fellowship program and after the proposal development and implementation planning period in the first half of the program.

result

• Through this 18-month program, participating Community Food System Fellows will:
  • Build meaningful relationships, foster connections, and co-create a space for peer learning with other food system leaders across the country.
  • Gain the knowledge, skills, and resources you need to tell the story of your impact on local food systems through narrative change and participatory storytelling.
  • Strengthen the ability to use healing-centered, trauma-informed, and resilience frameworks to advance local food systems work.
  • Build your capacity to leverage data to tell the story of your work and impact, including developing and implementing participatory research plans.
  • Build and strengthen engagement with local stakeholders, including parent and guardian leaders in the community.
  • Working together, our fellowship cohort will improve our roadmap for collective action to advance community-based food systems.

Eligibility Criteria

• All applications will be screened for eligibility prior to review.
  • Fellows must reside in the United States or one of its territories.
  • Fellows must have an established partnership with a non-profit organization, coalition, network, group, cooperative, corporation, or institution with a strategic focus on local food systems.

Application Requirements

• Applicants will advance to the final stages of the application process based on how clearly their application and letters of recommendation can explain the details of the categories outlined below.
  • Commitment to developing resilient and equitable local food systems
  • Commitment to community leadership, engagement, and leadership of caregivers and families.
  • Commitment to food justice, nutritional justice, racial equity, and social transformation.
  • A commitment to address racial, ethnic, geographic and economic inequities in your community or state.
  • Interested in developing technologies to measure the impact and success of local food systems
  • Interested in developing collaborative leadership skills
  • Ability to leverage Fellowship Cohort experience to build community capacity.
  • History of effective collaboration and partnerships with organizations, groups and cooperatives within local food.

For more information, please visit: Vital Village Network.