Guest blog by Monica Nakielski, Associate Director at Anthesis
The current pandemic is bringing inequities into focus
A year of reflection during this pandemic has highlighted gaps in our system. They encompass weaknesses within health care and our food system, among many others. We have not yet provided equal access to food. We still experience challenges with enabling food justice to replace charity programs.
This pandemic has shined a light on widening wealth and economic health disparities. That impacts human health outcomes related to the environment and climate justice. My work on these topics leads me to the conclusion that systemic racism is the common thread.
Race, food, health, and the environment have connections
I am fortunate to take part in and learn from Food Solutions New England’s (FSNE) Racial Equity Challenge (REC), which is a 21-day racial equity habit-building challenge. This is my fifth year participating in the challenge. The REC provides enrichment opportunities that demonstrate the connection between racism and sustainability. This interconnectedness relates to our goals to source and implement more local, sustainable food. It plays a part in the broader food system.
It begins with the history of land ownership and land appropriation. Racism has created a division in who owns the land. Racism underpins how our food is grown. It is also a factor in the workers’ rights, wages, exposures to chemicals. It affects those growing our food.
In short, I believe that racism is a public health issue. Racism influences the production and distribution of our food systems. The environment is a public health issue. The concept of environmental justice exists because of racism. Health care is an issue of social and racial justice. These issues are all interconnected.
How can we lead change?
We each have a choice in who we select as collaborating partners, the purchases we make, and the support we give.
For example, three years ago, as head of sustainability and environmental programs, I introduced CSAs to my former company. It was one of the largest health systems in New England. The team asked each farm we vetted about the pay and benefits to their workers. We asked the farms if they employed a diverse workforce, including immigrants and refugees.
We also posed the standard environmental questions regarding the growing practices of each farm. We wanted to know about their use of conventional versus organic practices. These inquiries led to new definitions and goals for our food service management company, which allowed them to better support our corporate cafeterias.
Our company’s efforts to address questions on food and farm workers among the CSAs we supported quickly carried over into other aspects of our sustainability work. It cascaded down to our purchasing decisions: how we were sourcing products, choices for the energy required for our operations, and in many other strategic areas.
The importance of continued learning
As a society, we can only learn and grow on issues of social and environmental justice when we consistently seek to educate ourselves. We also need to decide to translate those teachings into action. The Racial Equity Challenge provides a structure and support system to do that. I have found the REC thought-provoking, informative and invaluable. These lessons have challenged ingrained stereotypes and perceptions. It has allowed me to grow personally and professionally.
Each year I can build upon previous learnings, and today I leverage those insights in my work as a health care leader supporting consulting clients. I use ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and sustainability strategies to put my learnings from the Racial Equity Challenge into practice. It is my avenue for working to create positive social and environmental change.
There is still much to learn, and much work needed. I hope you will join me in bringing greater awareness to the connected issues of food, race, health, and the environment. I hope you too will seek novel ways to create positive change in these critical areas.
