Advocacy & Policy
Growing Hope is involved with advocating for healthy food access, vibrant & sustainable communities, positive neighborhood development, food and agriculture entrepreneurism, and health equity. Among these efforts:
- We participate in the Food System Economic Partnership Policy Committee
- We helped advocate for the passage of the Cottage Food Law, which former governor Jennifer Granholm signed into law at the Growing Hope Center in July 2010.
- We gathered community input and shared this and best practices in support of Urban Chicken and Urban Bee legislation in the City of Ypsilanti, passed in the last few years
- We participate in a leadership role in the Ypsilanti Health Coalition.
- Our director, Amanda Edmonds, is an appointee to the Michigan Food Policy Council
- We have in the past provided informational testimony to the Michigan Senate subcommittee on Childhood Obesity about best practices in school gardens
- We participated in focus groups, task forces, and a summit that created the Michigan Good Food Charter, and work to raise awareness among elected officials about it
- We advocate for healthier food stores and using healthy food as economic opportunity in our community
In August 2011 we worked with partners to develop a case statement for Healthy Food as Economic Development in Eastern Washtenaw. Scroll below to download that case statement and a presentation that summarizes. Sharon Sheldon from Washtenaw County Public Health was the key collaborator, and Deirdra Stockmann authored it.
On Tuesday, September 27 from 12-1:30 we are co-hosting a presentation by Cleveland City Councilperson Joe Cimperman about Healthy Food as Economic Development to learn about the programs and policies he's championed in his city, and glean further opportunities for this area. RSVPs required; you can rsvp here by September 24. You can download the flyer below.
