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Q&A with Julius Kolawole

AARI at the farmers market

Food Solutions New England is hosting the 6th in a series of Regional Food Summits in Bridgeport, CT on June 8–9, 2016.  

This two-day event will feature more than 180 delegates from the six New England states working across the food system. Planners, farmers and farm workers, chefs, funders, government officials, and students will come together for discussions on topics including food recovery, policy, healthy, food chain workers, and more. 

Food Solutions New England (FSNE) heard from Julius Kolawole, President of the African Alliance of Rhode Island, who will be attending the Summit, along with delegates he invited as part of our Ambassador program. 

AARI at the farmers market

FSNE: What inspired you to get involved in food?

Julius Kolawole (JK): An opportunity to raise the awareness on the challenges of food access and types of food delivery to many communities. 

FSNE: What is one small change every person can make in their daily lives to help advance A New England Food Vision? 

JK: Encourage everyone to grow their own food from container to backyard gardening. Remember “food as medicine.”

FSNE: What’s one issue within the food system you’d like to see completely solved for the next generation?

JK: Make the invisible visible – hidden rules and policies. Lending your voices and know where your food comes from. 

FSNE: What drives you every day to fight for the bettering of our food system?

JK: I have experienced what goes on in certain communities where bodegas are the only source for grocery. In some communities I have not seen a farmer’s market nor a commercial grocery store in 28 years or more.

 

To find out more about the New England Food Summit and view past Summit details, please click HERE. 

Want to see photos from last year’s Food Summit? Please click HERE. 

Sponsors for this year’s Food Summit in Bridgeport, CT include:   

Join the discussion using #FSNE16 on Facebook and twitter!