getting active
in your school
The Good Food Purchasing Program is one of the most powerful ways to impact the food
system holistically and make big change—starting right now, right where you are.
Organizing yourself around the Good Food Purchasing Program is one way that you can get
politically active around your food system and have an impact that ripples out beyond your
school and into your community.
First things first:
is there already
an active
campaign in
your area?
Check out the campaigns page at goodfoodcities.org to see
if there’s a coalition in your city. If so, get in touch! Student
participation in these coalitions is welcome and needed.
Depending on your interests, there are plenty of options for how
you could bring important skills to the table from assisting with
campaign research to making sure the coalition is reaching out
not just to students, but also impacted communities, workers,
and producers.
If there isn’t already a campaign in your area, look into who
might be interested in starting one. A local food policy council?
Co-op? Workers center? Business council or chamber of
commerce? These are all great places to make connections
that could become the start of a coalition for good food, good
jobs, and a more equitable food system that’s reflected in your
school and beyond.
Is there
already a path
for students to
communicate
directly with
the food service
staff?
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Many schools have a School Food Advisory or committee where
students meet with food and nutrition services staff about
decisions they are making and how it lines up with student
needs and priorities. You could start an advisory council at your
school if one doesn’t already exist.