Community Food Projects Program
Fiscal Year 2007 Training Events/Opportunities
A total of seven organizations have been funded to provide training and technical
assistance (T&TA) to Community Food Projects (CFP) program grantees, applicants, and
other interested parties during fiscal year 2007. They are: American Community
Gardening Association (ACGA); Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet);
Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC); Growing Power; National Conference of
State Legislatures (NCSL); Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG);
and Tufts University.
A chronological listing of currently scheduled* T&TA events and opportunities in fiscal
year 2007 is provided below.
Title: Common Output Tracking Form Conference Call Trainings
Dates: Ongoing through November 10, 2006; times to be announced
Location: Your own phone!
Cost: Free to CFP Grantees
Description: Meet with CFSC Evaluation Program Manager, Jeanette Abi-Nader, to
learn how to complete the Common Output Tracking Form (COTF) as
part of your grantee annual report. The COTF helps USDAS staff track
outputs for CFP programs across the board and provides valuable
feedback on the impact of our work.
Contact: Contact Jeanette Abi-Nader for a meeting time at 434-973-4435 or
jeanette@foodsecurity.org
Title: Intensive Technical Assistance Available For Selected Southern Groups
Working On Community Food Systems
Dates: Fall 2006.
Location: On-site visits as needed.
Cost: No charge, but groups must apply and be selected.
Description: SSAWG will provide nine months of intensive technical assistance to five
community-based groups doing Community Food Systems work in the 13-
state Southern region of the U.S. (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC,
OK, SC, TN, TX, VA) to help local project leaders and their partners in
planning, developing, and securing funding for a more effective
community food project. Applicants must submit a letter of request, a
summary of their activities to date, plans for new activities or projects, and
other information.
Contact: Keith Richards, Community Food Program Manager, Southern SAWG,
P.O. Box 324, Elkins, AR 72727, Phone: 479-587-0888 or
keith@ssawg.org.
Title: ACGA Telecommunication Workshop on Fundraising
Dates: October 19, 2006 (Topics and dates subject to change; please check
www.communitygarden.org for confirmation).
Location: Toll-free call-in number; pre-register by emailing
betsyjohnson@communitygarden.org to receive call-in information.
Cost: CFP grantee or ACGA member
Description: A 90-minute workshop by conference call. Limited to 30 participants, the
call includes from one to three “experts” speaking on the topic, followed
by questions and answers and general discussion by all participants.
Background and follow-up materials provided.
Contact: Betsy Johnson at 877-275-2242 or betsyjohnson@communitygarden.org
or www.communitygarden.org.
Title: ACGA Growing Communities Workshop
Dates: October 27-28, 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Cost: $35 & sliding scale (free to CFP grantees)
Description: An intensive, hands-on training workshop based on the ACGA’s Growing
Community Curriculum. As a “train the trainers” session, attendees learn
the principles and practices of community organizing, and how to pass
these techniques on to others by conducting their own workshops on
leadership development, asset-based planning, fund-raising, board
development, coalition building, communication planning, & facilitation.
Contact: Betsy Johnson at 877-275-2242 or betsyjohnson@communitygarden.org.
Title: ACGA Growing Communities Workshop
Dates: November 10-11, 2006
Location: Duluth, MN
Cost: $35 & sliding scale (free to CFP grantees)
Description: An intensive, hands-on training workshop based on the ACGA’s Growing
Community Curriculum. As a “train the trainers” session, attendees learn
the principles and practices of community organizing, and how to pass
these techniques on to others by conducting their own workshops on
leadership development, asset-based planning, fund-raising, board
development, coalition building, communication planning, & facilitation.
Contact: Betsy Johnson at 877-275-2242 or betsyjohnson@communitygarden.org.
Title: ACGA Telecommunication Workshop on Community Garden Events
Dates: November 15, 2006 (Topics and dates subject to change; please check
www.communitygarden.org for confirmation).
Location: Toll-free call-in number; pre-register by emailing
betsyjohnson@communitygarden.org to receive call-in information.
Cost: CFP grantee or ACGA member
Description: A 90-minute workshop by conference call. Limited to 30 participants, the
call includes from one to three “experts” speaking on the topic, followed
by questions and answers and general discussion by all participants.
Background and follow-up materials provided.
Contact: Betsy Johnson at 877-275-2242 or betsyjohnson@communitygarden.org
or www.communitygarden.org
Title: Growing Your Community Food System from the Ground Up
Training Workshop
Dates: January 12-14, 2007
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Cost: $300; some scholarships available.
Description: Leaders from low-income communities will develop skills and learn to
plan, develop, operate, and sustain community food projects. Workshop
participants will be eligible to apply for comprehensive assistance after the
training that will include monthly technical and mentoring conference
calls, an annual leadership meeting, outreach visits, and on-going technical
assistance.
Contact: Growing Power staff at 414-527-1546 or will@growingpower.org.
Title: Advancing Community Food Security: Writing More Successful CFP
Grant Proposals
Dates: January 22-25, 2007 (22nd and 25th are travel days)
Location: Athens, OH
Cost: Selected participants' will pay for air transportation to and from
Columbus, OH, lodging expenses (estimated at $300.00), and other
incidentals. Training event fees and materials, meals, and local
transportation is covered by a USDA CFP grant.
Description: This training event is planned for selected organizations wanting to learn
how to develop an effective Community Food Project and how to improve
their organization's CFP grant proposal. The event will utilize ACEnet's
history of successful grant proposals to the CFP and other USDA
programs, as well as their experience in Community Food Security in rural
Ohio. Once the training is completed, ACEnet will continue to provide
one-on-one coaching and review of grant proposals for attendees.
Contact: Shannon Kushnick - 740-592-3854 or shannonk@acenetworks.org.
Title: Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (Southern SAWG)
16th Annual Conference
Dates: January 25-28, 2007
Location: Louisville, KY
Cost: $125 - $145; fee waivers are available.
Description: The conference features over 40 other educational sessions on sustainable
agriculture and policy, six sustainable farming field trips, eight intensive
farm enterprise short courses, an on-farm experienced organic vegetable
farmer exchange, and a trade show with sustainable agriculture exhibits.
A full track of eight Community Food sessions will be offered.
Contact: For a full schedule, registration form, and other information, visit the
Southern SAWG website at: http://www.ssawg.org/conference-.html.
Title: Growing Your Community Food System from the Ground Up
Training Workshop
Dates: February 16-18, 2007
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Cost: $300; some scholarships available.
Description: Leaders from low-income communities will develop skills and learn to
plan, develop, operate, and sustain community food projects. Workshop
participants will be eligible to apply for comprehensive assistance after the
training that will include monthly technical and mentoring conference
calls, an annual leadership meeting, outreach visits, and on-going technical
assistance.
Contact: Growing Power staff at 414-527-1546 or will@growingpower.org.
Title: A Field Guide to Evaluation Workshop
Dates: Monday, March 5, 2007 to Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA
Cost: CFP Grantee special rate of $45/person for up to two persons per
organization ($135/non-CFP grantees)
Description: A comprehensive workshop focused on outcome-based evaluation
strategies, tools, analysis and results designed expressly for Community
Food Project Grantees.
Contact: Jeanette Abi-Nader, jeanette@foodsecurity.org, 434-973-4435, or
http://www.foodsecurity.org/evaluation.html
Title: Building a Coalition Workshop
Dates: Thursday, March 8, 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA
Cost: To be determined.
Description: The Institute for Conservation Leadership will be hosting an informative
day-long workshop on building a community food project coalition
following the CFP Evaluation Training in New Orleans.
Contact: Barbara Rusmore, Institute for Conservation Leadership, 406-582-1838 or
http://www.icl.org/
Title: Growing Your Community Food System from the Ground Up
Training Workshop
Dates: March 16-18, 2007
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Cost: $300; some scholarships available.
Description: Leaders from low-income communities will develop skills and learn to
plan, develop, operate, and sustain community food projects. Workshop
participants will be eligible to apply for comprehensive assistance after the
training that will include monthly technical and mentoring conference
calls, an annual leadership meeting, outreach visits, and on-going technical
assistance.
Contact: Growing Power staff at 414-527-1546 or will@growingpower.org.
Title: Growing Your Community Food System from the Ground Up
Training Workshop
Dates: April 13-15, 2007
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Cost: $300; some scholarships available.
Description: Leaders from low-income communities will develop skills and learn to
plan, develop, operate, and sustain community food projects. Workshop
participants will be eligible to apply for comprehensive assistance after the
training that will include monthly technical and mentoring conference
calls, an annual leadership meeting, outreach visits, and on-going technical
assistance.
Contact: Growing Power staff at 414-527-1546 or will@growingpower.org.
Title: Growing Your Community Food System from the Ground Up
Training Workshop
Dates: May 18-20, 2007
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Cost: $300; some scholarships available.
Description: Leaders from low-income communities will develop skills and learn to
plan, develop, operate, and sustain community food projects. Workshop
participants will be eligible to apply for comprehensive assistance after the
training that will include monthly technical and mentoring conference
calls, an annual leadership meeting, outreach visits, and on-going technical
assistance.
Contact: Growing Power staff at 414-527-1546 or will@growingpower.org.
Title: ACGA 28th Annual Conference: Rooting for the Future
Dates: August 9-12, 2007
Location: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
Cost: $200 (special rates for students, presenters, greater Boston area attendees);
scholarships available for CFP grantees.
Description: 50+ Workshops, tours, guest speakers, special interest & networking
sessions on a wide range of topics related to community gardening, urban
horticulture, food security, and leadership development & organization
capacity-building.
Contact: Betsy Johnson at 877-275-2242 or betsyjohnson@communitygarden.org;
www.communitygarden.org
*Notes:
ACGA is planning additional workshops in Atlanta, GA, San Francisco, CA, and
Northern Virginia, but no dates have been set. Other locations may be arranged upon
request. The 2007 schedule of Telecommunication Workshops is also currently being
developed. Submit topic and speaker suggestions for telecommunication workshops or
requests for on-site workshops to: Betsy Johnson at 877-275-2242 or
betsyjohnson@communitygarden.org. Check www.communitygarden.org for additional
workshop listings.
Tufts University has not yet scheduled fiscal 2007 events.