The mission of Come to the Table is to relieve hunger and strengthen just and sustainable agricultural in rural North Carolina. This is done by engaging and mobilizing people of faith, farmers, and communities. This years event was held in Durham on March 15 with 4 PJC youth attending.
During this event youth participated in the “Power on Your Plate: Deconstructing the Agricultural Food System and Empowering Workers” workshop presented by the NC Farmworkers Project and National Farmworker Ministry. During this workshop, youth along with other participants were encouraged to break down the agricultural food system. The audience was informed about how workers fit into the food system, challenges workers face, and ways to support and empower farmworkers.
Youth also attended the “Sharing our Experiences through Visual Storytelling” presented by Student Action with Farmworkers. During this interactive workshop, SAF used a portable mural and physical activities to spark discussion about farmworker issues in North Carolina. It provided youth with a way to share their story, experiences, and lessons through art.
Lastly, PJC Youth and other youth from the CEFS Food Youth Initiative collaborated to deliver a presentation on “Youth Voices in the Food System”. This opportunity was made possible in large thanks to the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) very own, Bevelyn Ukah. This workshop provided PJC youth and other food justice youth activists an opportunity to share their experiences, challenges, and unique opportunities in their advocacy, policy , and justice work.
Four youth groups who presented — Connote Family Life Center, Growing Change, Poder Juvenil Campesino (PJC), and Transplanting
Traditions; together make up the Food Youth Initiative (FYI). FYI is a network of youth already working in food justice across North Carolina.
For more information about Come to the Table visit: http://rafiusa.org/cttt/