The FSNE Network Vision
Food Solutions New England envisions a powerful food movement that democratically transforms New England’s food system so that it is sustainable, just, and resilient.
The FSNE Network Mission
Food Solutions New England is a regional, six-state network that unites the food system community around a shared set of values - democratic empowerment, racial equity and dignity for all, sustainability, and trust - and strengthens the movement’s ability to achieve New England Food Vision goals.
Our Network's Impacts
Over the next several years, Food Solutions New England will focus on four overlapping impact areas as our unique and essential contribution - complementary to those of all our network partners - for bringing our shared vision and values for food system transformation to fruition. In other words, we see these four impact areas as "the best use" of the FSNE network so that it supports the entire regional food system community in being more effective at their own unique approaches to this work.
Over the next 3-5 years, we will expand and strengthen the FSNE network to better connect and align allied stakeholder groups and sectors in common cause and continued movement-building for achieving the shared values and goals described in the New England Food Vision.
Examples of the activities we are undertaking include:
- Regional Summits, convenings, and events
- An annual Network Leadership Institute program and a supported alumni network
- Logistical support for working teams and committees to meet network goals
- Develop new partners and allies across sectors, networks, and initiatives such as continuing to build alliances across food, farming, fishing, and forestry sectors.
- Offering an FSNE Pledge so that network participants and supporters can explicitly align around shared values and vision
- Offering a network needs/health assessment to measure progress toward goals and operationalized values, such as racial equity
- Strengthening the administrative and logistical supports that make coordinating a robust regional network possible, both in terms of financial and other resources but also in terms of further aligning our structures and governance with our stated values
Over the next 3-5 years, FSNE will support individuals and organizations across the network to build skill and power in an effort to collectively increase racial equity, justice, and food justice in our region.
Activities to include:
- Network Leadership Institute continues to support the growth of diverse leaders and shift power in the food system
- 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge provides foundational teachings to individuals and organizations so that they can operationalize racial equity and justice in their work
- A six-state FSNE Ambassadors program will expand the network and build capacity around core values in all six New England states
- Aligned governance, structures, and processes will evolve to support living into our racial equity commitments in how we support and manage the network
- Ongoing values-aligned capacity-building for staff and team members will help us meet the emerging needs of our network participants
Over the next 3-5 years, FSNE will convene food system participants and policymakers to align around a set of public priorities that will support regional food system transformation in line with our network's shared vision and values and advocate for an intersectional, visionary policy approach in partnering networks.
Activities to include:
- Connecting staff and policymakers from organizations, businesses, and agencies across the six states who have a common interest in values-led policy coordination
- Convening food policy events for information-sharing, alignment, and shared action
- Liaising with complementary efforts, happening within and outside the FSNE network
- Developing issue briefs on critical food system topics for policymakers, voters, and others
- Supporting the creation of FSNE outreach tools related to food system policies and that support democratic engagement in creating our regional food future
Over the next 3-5 years, FSNE will be able to continue organizing and convening communicators from across the region to share resources, collaborate, and develop and implement collective narrative strategies.
Activities to include:
- Developing shared narratives, framing, and messaging to support values-aligned food system transformation
- Use our FSNE outreach and communications tools to amplify network efforts and support shifting attitudes and behaviors in our region
- Expand connectivity and collaboration among regional food system communications professionals, including narrative, framing, and communications capacity-building
- Provide quality communications support for all other FSNE network activities and impact areas
Join the Food Solutions New England Email List
Food Solutions New England is a regional network supported and coordinated by the University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute.
The FSNE network does not endorse or oppose specific candidates for elected office or proposed legislation. Instead, we seek to inform, educate and advocate for general policy ideas that align with the network’s stated values and vision for a just, sustainable and resilient regional food system. While FSNE receives support from the UNH Sustainability Institute, our activities do not reflect the positions of the University of New Hampshire, the University System of New Hampshire, or its Board of Trustees.
Food Solutions New England (FSNE), The Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire,
131 Main Street, Nesmith 107, Durham, NH 03824 USA | Phone: +1 603-862-8564
TTY 7-1-1 (Relay NH)
