Convergence Work Groups
Workgroups are cross-sector collaborative projects that advance priorities identified by the Convergence network and which have energy to move them forward. They are organized to leverage resources and work proactively on complex issues impacting food access, climate change mitigation and shifting power in Maine’s food system to center BIPoC, youth, and others with lived experience of our system’s inequities.
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Processing Work Group
Contact: Alida
a.farrell@hccame.org
The Processing Work Group convenes monthly to identify processing-related interventions that generate high impact shifts towards getting more local, culturally nourishing food to institutional and other markets. Learn about and explore new projects and ideas, such as the Maine Marinara Collaborative (that have opened avenues for immigrant and other BIPOC farm produce to get into schools, hospitals, and Dept. of Corrections facilities) and tools, such as Forward Contracting.
Attend to keep up to date on upcoming processing-related grants and potential collaborations.
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Maine Food Policy & Advocacy Alliance
Contact: Annie
mainefoodconvergence@gmail.com
Maine Food Policy and Advocacy Alliance is a cross-sector collaboration working to center those most impacted by inequities and advance economic, food, and environmental policies which support and promote a more equitable, just, resilient, and thriving food system. Our Strategy is Education to Action. We work together to center the people with lived experience to advocate and mobilize around public policies to make real change in Maine.
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Shared Communications Work Group
Contact: Lauren
comm.mainefoodconvergence@gmail.com
The Shared Communications Work Group is in the development phase. Fall and Winter of 2023/24 will be focused on developing what the group’s scope will be with the help of a design team. After identifying that a shared communications group would support our statewide community during the 2023 Spring Convergence the idea was put into gear. Look for more updates in Spring of 2024.
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Food Policy Work Group
Contact: Amy Winston
Amy.Winston@ceimaine.org
The Maine Food Policy Work Group was formed in early 2019 by representatives from Maine Farm to Institution, FoodCorps Maine, Maine Network of Community Food Councils, CEI and others. The goal is to monitor Food Policy work, with a key focus on Maine Legislation, along with municipal and federal initiatives, in order to inform Maine's food system stakeholders and encourage advocacy for Good Food Policy. The Work Group is supported by the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation with funds coming through Maine Farm to Institution (MEFTI). Healthy Communities of the Capital Area is the home for MEFTI.
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Climate and Food Systems Work Group
Contact: Elise Hartill
eliseh@mycj.org
The food system plays a major role in our climate. There is an expressed need to organize so that climate becomes inextricably woven into the fabric of our food system policies, investments, and on-the-ground actions.
The first step towards this shift is to build relationships among those who are taking action in food & climate efforts. As we build these relationships, we will explore where we can leverage the most change and prepare to take collective action.