Entering into a Community-University Collaboration: Reflections from the Whole Community Project

E Jemila Sequeira

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2018.08a.014

Abstract

First paragraph: When asked to tell the story of how and why I was invited and decided to join the Food Dignity research project, I found myself traveling back over a long road full of unexpected turns, bumps, discoveries, and delights. And as I began to reflect over the five years spent implementing that project in Tompkins County, New York, I was once more awed by the countless stories to be told and knew that, at best, I could offer merely a glimpse of the wonderful and challenging experiences that were ultimately instrumental in learning valuable lessons for cultivating sustainable food systems. In sharing the process and results of being part of such a unique opportunity, I hope to both inspire and challenge readers to explore the possibilities that can exist when the sustainability of our food systems places a high value on everyone experiencing “dignity” in their relationship to food—whether as a consumer, entrepreneur, farmer, composter, or activist.... See the press release for this article.

Highlights

As I began to reflect over the five years spent implementing that project in Tompkins County, New York, I was once more awed by the countless stories to be told and knew that, at best, I could offer merely a glimpse of the wonderful and challenging experiences that were instrumental in learning valuable lessons for cultivating sustainable food systems
Jemila Sequeira, former director of Whole Community Project in Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tompkins County, Ithaca, New York USA; mattersofdignity@gmail.com farmer, composter, or activist. The name for this project, Food Dignity, came about during one of the many conversations I had with Dr Christine Porter in the early days of the project’s development work
I was terrified of having to navigate through a federal U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant and having to work within a powerfully academic environment

Summary

Introduction

As I began to reflect over the five years spent implementing that project in Tompkins County, New York, I was once more awed by the countless stories to be told and knew that, at best, I could offer merely a glimpse of the wonderful and challenging experiences that were instrumental in learning valuable lessons for cultivating sustainable food systems. The name for this project, Food Dignity, came about during one of the many conversations I had with Dr Christine Porter in the early days of the project’s development work.

Results

Conclusion