 EVENT
Compassion, Peace and Justice (CPJ) Training Day on March 23 in D.C.
Register Now for CPJ Training Day
Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) starts that evening and goes through Lobby Day on the 26th. Registration for EAD is separate. You don’t want to miss these excellent events! |
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 NEW RESOURCE
Food Movements Unite!
Food Movements Unite! is a challenging and ultimately hopeful book written by people who are working to enlarge and unite food justice movements in the United States and around the world. Part of the book’s premise is that the globalized and industrialized food system is unjust, unsustainable and fundamentally broken.
Order the book here and download this new companion Bible study today! |
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ANNOUNCEMENT
"Calling all Food Justice Fellows!" — Class of 2012 applications due by April Fools' Day
 Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) is accepting applications for Food Justice Fellows until April 1. The program helps connect Presbyterians and others to the agrarian roots of the Bible, inspiring and equipping people, congregations and communities to fight hunger and poverty by rebuilding local food economies and advocating for food sovereignty in the United States and overseas. Food Justice Fellows are based around the United States. Learn more and download an application form on the Food and Faith Blog. |
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UPDATES
Rural Coalition and partners applaud USDA’s commitment to resolve discrimination claims by Latino and women producers
According to the Congressional Research Service report, Garcia v. Vilsak: A Policy and Legal Analysis of a USDA Discrimination Case:
Allegations of unlawful discrimination against minority farmers in the management of USDA programs have been long-standing and well-documented at USDA, which was one of the last federal agencies to racially integrate and one of the last to include women and minorities in leadership roles.
The two cases in question, Garcia v. Vilsak and Love v. Vilsak, address discrimination for the period between 1981 and 2000 and were both denied class status by the courts. In the interest of justice, the Obama Administration created a $1.33 billion fund to resolve claims. The claims settlement process is scheduled for court review in February.
The maximum amount for compensation is now up to $250,000 for each Hispanic or woman farmer who can show that USDA denied them a loan or loan servicing for discriminatory reasons. This is in keeping with the Black and Native American farmers’ settlements through the Pigford II and Keepseagle class action suits. The resolutions for Garcia and Love also provide funds to pay the taxes on awards and for forgiveness of certain existing USDA loans.
The joint press release issued by the Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural and the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association states, “Although there exists a deep sentiment of disappointment within our coalition that the courts denied class certification in both the Garcia and Love cases, our coalition has worked tirelessly to advocate an acceptable and fair resolution that assures equality, justice and dignity for Latino and Women producers. We applaud today’s announcement by the USDA.
Savi Horne, executive director of the Land Loss Prevention Project and long time advocate for claimants of the Pigford and Keepseagle case, was encouraged that, “Secretary Vilsack and President Obama, have fulfilled their commitment to pursue settlement of all discrimination lawsuits.” However, she noted that, “we must continue to work to resolve the statute of limitation barriers that prevent the full resolution of the program discrimination complaints at USDA and the Title VI complaints at USDA and other agencies.” |
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In search of food justice
 Race / Etnicity, Multidisciplinary Global Contexts (Vol. 5, No. 1), is a scholarly journal produced by the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Ohio State University. The current issue examines food justice from a grassroots perspective. Co-edited by David Ostendorf, founder of the Center for New Community, and Charlotte Williams, an organizer with the same organization, the journal’s 12 articles are authored mostly by organizers and activists, including Presbyterian Hunger Program grantee contributors Nelson Carrasquillo, El Comité de Apoyo a Los Trabajadores (Farmworker Support Committee), on the growth of the U.S. agricultural sector, from slavery to organizing workers for fair wages; Edward Pennick, with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, on judicial practices that have impacted African American farmers since the Civil War and continue today; and Joann Lo from the Food Chain Workers Alliance and several contributors on the exploitation of workers throughout the food chain. This must read compendium explores structural racism in the food system, how it is reinforced through policy, and how it serves those in power in the United States and throughout the globe. |
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 Give to the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering
Since 1949 Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) to share God’s love with those in need. Your generous gifts assist those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry, and help build strong communities. Watch the OGHS video, learn more and give generously. |
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| Please consider making a gift to the Presbyterian Hunger Fund. Together we can end hunger! |
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