When I started to think about what to write about this week, I realized it would be July 4th when I posted my blog, and it seemed that somehow I should come up with something that reflected freedom. There are always wonderful people and places I could write about, and because I only write about people and places I really think are wonderful the idea of freedom in a way could be a part of any story, but then it came to me that the Love & Plenty project has just moved into a new phase, and that an update of that would be a wonderful way to celebrate the 4th of July.
A few months ago I heard that the Open Ideo team was asking for submissions to something called the Food Systems Game Changers Lab. They had an open call for ideas from people around the world that asked what we would do to change the food system to make it healthier, more sustainable, stronger and more resilient and equitable. It seemed to me that Love & Plenty was a perfect fit for this question, and I had been wanting to submit it a version of it as a proposal to this same organization in 2019 before I had come up with the name and begun to refine the idea during the health and economic crisis that began in 2020 when the restaurants were shut down. At the time when I first wanted to submit the idea, they had been asking for projects that were already put together and had partners and all the pieces of the puzzle ready to go. I had reached out to several people, but though there was interest, I couldn't find the partners to commit to more than discussion. After the health and economic crisis began, the organization put out other open calls, but each one needed partners and professional for profit and not-for-profit businesses and advisors already in place. And then I read about this new challenge, and they said we could just have an idea, and when I began the application, I realized that all of the writing I'd been doing, all of the conversations I'd had, and all of the work I had done up to this point could be applied and collected to tell the story for the proposal. It took a great deal of time and thought to write it, and when I'd submitted it and I read some lovely comments by a group who had read it, I was thrilled. The judges are all such impressive people in their fields and the opportunity is a very special one. The day I received the acceptance I hugged myself and was so excited because this project means so much to me and it was validation that the idea is something that others whose opinions I respect see value in. We've just started our weekly calls and begun to develop our working relationships in our cohort. Hearing about the other people and organizations and ideas and the collective knowledge and experience and passion for helping address the issues of food insecurity, nutrition and health and education, and equity within the food systems of the world is life changing in itself. It's an honor to be a part of Cohort 21 and to have this experience of connecting with others around the world to make a difference and begin to make change for the better.
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