Reimagining Food Systems. Redefining Justice.

Join us this June for a shared viewing of High on the Hog, a powerful series tracing African foodways through the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and their lasting impact on American cuisine, culture, and economy. As we watch, we’ll gather over a meal prepared with love honoring tradition, culture, and community. Rooted in our commitment to public health, this experience highlights how food connects to history, equity, and well-being, reminding us that access to nourishing, culturally meaningful food is essential for thriving communities.

In the face of shrinking federal support, a higher demand for private support and looming devastating cuts to SNAP, school meal programs and Medicaid, partners have mobilized quickly to advocate for mitigating State policies, to educate and equip residents and our partner organizations with tools to understand and navigate the impacts and to educate policymakers and funders on the intersectionality of the work. Through strong collaboration, shared leadership, and deep trust, Springfield EATS continues to adapt and respond to community needs while advancing long term food access policy, systems & environment solutions. 

Medical student Justin Nguyen (PURCH) and SFPC Epidemiologist Hellen Muma walk through how to use HIP benefits.

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As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the local food system, the SFPC is beginning to reimagine the possibilities of the former MCDI space considering how it might contribute to a future food hub that serves community needs with a draft case study presentation by 6 student teams from NYU's Stern School of Business.

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At the center of SFPC’s work is leadership development and pathway creation for community members who have been historically excluded from economic opportunity and civic decision-making. As well as with emerging professionals who may lack access to opportunities that center community health and leadership

In response to the pandemic, SFPC built 128 backyard gardens in 2020. That has become an ongiong project - we never stopped. To date we have put in 423 backyard gardens (including a church garden). We continue to support families in maintaining and expanding gardens. SFPC also built the original pilot school gardens in 5 elementary schools, and through our work on the School Wellness Policy, helped to institutionalize the Springfield Public Schools farm to school program which now has 35 school gardens, a STEM driven garden curriculum, a school garden coordinator, and teachers at each school stipended to lead the school gardens.  

In response to proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Springfield Food Policy Council and Square One have launched a joint education campaign to protect access to fresh food for families and support local farmers. The campaign includes a postcard initiative where children illustrate their favorite farm-grown foods to urge U.S. Senators to pass the Senate Reconciliation Bill, known as “The Big Beautiful Bill.” These cuts could severely impact SNAP recipients, Massachusetts' 7,000 farmers, and free school meals, affecting nearly 300,000 children statewide. Leaders warn that reduced support will increase hunger, strain families, and threaten the survival of small, underrepresented farmers who nourish local communities.

In partnership with Farm to Institution New England (FINE), SFPC has convened food providers from schools, colleges, hospitals, early care, food banks and pantries, and farmers to map out the infrastructure, processes and supply chains to see how to build more robust local food procurement in the region. The goal is to increase access to healthier foods for the commuinty and create a more stable food economy, and more wholesale opporutntieis for small local farms.  

The SFPC started the development of a community food assessment which aims to present what we have already “learned” about our local food system and to identify challenges and opportunities for building an integrated food system that ensures a healthy, local, sustainable food supply available to everyone regardless of income or zip code. Our focus is to help Springfield residents and city leaders understand what we have and what we need to do to enable our neighbors to access the food that they need for good health. The assessment will also inform strategies for alleviating hunger and/or the worry about having enough food to feed ourselves, our families and our neighbors.