Call for Workshops: Food Politics and Projects in the Heartland

Posted by on April 20, 2009

CALL FOR WORKSHOP AND PRESENTATION PROPOSALS
Thirteenth Annual Conference of the Community Food Security Coalition
“From Commodity to Community: Food Politics and Projects in the Heartland”
Des Moines, IA
October 10-13, 2009

Proposal Timeline: March 16 – April 30
No proposals will be accepted after this date.

The Community Food Security Coalition seeks proposals for workshop sessions at its annual conference in Des Moines, Iowa, October 10-13, 2009

Introduction
We’re making what we hope are a couple of positive changes for the 2009 conference.  These changes are in line with our commitment to make the workshop sessions as interactive as possible.  First, we will prioritize interactive sessions in the proposal review process. Second, we will not provide audiovisual equipment except in certain circumstances hoping this will keep the session more interactive.  If you feel you absolutely need audiovisual equipment you will need to show how this will make your workshop interactive.  As a side benefit, minimal use of audiovisual equipment should save attendees about $15 each in registration fees.

Workshop Topics
We are accepting proposals for workshops that fit under the following topics. Other workshop topics will also be considered.

•    Farm to Cafeteria
•    Food Access in Rural and Urban Communities
•    Food Politics and Projects in the Heartland
•    Food Systems and Public Health
•    Grassroots Perspectives
•    Labor and Immigration in Community Food Systems
•    Learning from Our Mistakes
•    Local Food System Projects and Networks
•    Race, Class, and Food Justice
•    The Changing Landscape of Food Policy from City to Nation
•    The Role of Community Food Systems in Economic Development and Recovery
•    Topics in International Food Security
•    Urban Agriculture Practice and Policy
•    Other

Session format
As you design your session, consider the following:
•    We will prioritize creative and interactive sessions that provide opportunities for significant audience participation, such as structured group activities, mapping or drawing, small group discussions, “think, pair, and share,” and dialogue circles.
•    We encourage sessions that lead to a specific outcome, that are linked to the activities of the Community Food Security Coalition, or that build the food security movement.
•    We encourage workshop organizers to include a diverse group of workshop leaders, such as youth and community members.
•    Introductory and advanced level workshops/presentations are also welcome.

Audience
Expect a very diverse audience in terms of occupation. They include anti-hunger activists, policy-makers, public health staff, farmers, emergency food providers, faith-based community representatives, environmentalists, community based organization activists, community residents, community gardeners, nutritionists, extension agents, sustainable agriculture activists, food system and food security organizational representatives, researchers/academics, students, funders, and others engaged in building a sustainable food system. Please try to use plain language and limit the use of acronyms and jargon to make your session accessible to all participants.

Session details
All sessions will be 90 minutes in length. Expect approximately 25-75 attendees per session.

Submission of proposals
We strongly prefer that you submit your proposals on-line. Please submit your workshop proposal http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228X4UYQHLB You can also access the link for this site through CFSC’s website at http://www.foodsecurity.org, or the conference website at http://www.communityfoodconference.org.

Hard copy proposals will be accepted by mail at 3830 SE Division, Portland, OR 97202. E-mailed or faxed proposals will not be accepted.

Audio-Visual
We will not be providing audio-visual equipment other than flip charts, unless you can adequately justify why you need it and how this equipment will help to make your session interactive. Please do so on the workshop proposal form.

Registration Fees
Workshop leaders (i.e. presenters or speakers) are entitled to a  $50 discount off their registration fees (excluding field trips and short courses). They may also apply for scholarship funds. Presenters that want to attend their workshop only can do so free of charge. All presenters must register for the conference regardless of whether they are paying or not. All presenters are responsible for their own travel and lodging costs. No exceptions will be made.

You’ll Hear Back From Us Soon
Submission of a proposal is not a guarantee of its acceptance.  All proposals will be reviewed by a planning committee. Notifications of your proposal’s status will be provided by May 15. Contact us if you don’t hear back by then.

For more information, please contact Andy Fisher at andy@foodsecurity.org

To download the workshop proposal submission form, visit: http://foodsecurity.org/2009Conf/DesMoinesWorkshopCFP.doc