Press Releases Northwest Harvest Asks ‘What Does Food Mean to You?’ in Yearlong Community Conversation January 9, 2025 Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Email Meaning of Food Campaign Features Artist Collaborations, Innovative Digital Storytelling, and Community Participation SEATTLE, Wash. (January 9, 2025)—Today Northwest Harvest launched “The Meaning of Food,” a yearlong campaign that combines digital storytelling with community participation and commissioned artwork from twelve Washington Black, Indigenous, People of Color Communities (BIPOC) and marginalized identities to reshape public dialogue about hunger and food justice. The initiative aims to spark meaningful conversations that shift public understanding of food insecurity from an individual challenge to a systemic issue requiring collective action. Through monthly themes beginning with “Food Is Justice” this January, the initiative invites Washingtonians to consider essential questions about food’s role in our lives: What stories unfold around your dinner table? How does food connect you to your culture, your community, your sense of identity? “Every person has a connection to food—it represents culture, family, and the human ability to find joy despite the systemic inequities we face” says Leilani Williams, Chief Equity and People Officer, Northwest Harvest. “By sharing these stories, we illuminate the truth that ending hunger requires more than food. We must understand and address the complex social and economic forces determining who has access to healthy food and who goes without”. Community voices take center stage through social media conversations, video stories, and photo submissions, weaving together a living archive of Washington’s relationship with food. This collaborative approach helps make complex issues around food justice more accessible and relatable to wider audiences. With #ArtistsForFoodJustice, twelve local Black, Indigenous, and People of Color artists will create original artwork interpreting each month’s theme, premiering across Northwest Harvest’s digital channels on the first day of each month. “Art has always been a powerful catalyst for social change,” says Natasha Dworkin, Director of Communications. “Through #ArtistsForFoodJustice, we’re creating new entry points for understanding food insecurity while amplifying diverse voices in the movement for food justice.” Community story submission: Each month offers community members a chance to be part of this vital conversation, helping to build broader understanding of food justice while inspiring concrete actions toward a more equitable food system. Participants can visit northwestharvest.org/meaning-of-food to record and share video responses to these monthly prompts: January: Food Is Justice Building food justice means building a more equitable world for all. What does food justice look like to you? Share your reply: HERE February: Food Is Love Our love stories unfold in shared meals and family recipes. What’s your food love story? Share your reply: HERE March: Food Is Renewal Spring awakens the soil, the seeds, and our connection to life’s cycles. How does food renew you? Share your reply: HERE April: Food Is Medicine Ancient healing wisdom lives in every kitchen and garden. What foods make you feel most whole and vital? Share your reply: HERE May: Food Is Culture Each dish carries the stories of our heritage and identity. What foods tell your story? Share your reply: HERE June: Food Is Pride True nourishment means bringing our whole selves to the table. How do you celebrate yourself and others through food? Share your reply: HERE July: Food Is Power Access to healthy food empowers communities to thrive. How does food empower you and your community? Share your reply: HERE August: Food Is Political Who grows it, who gets it, who goes without – food justice is social justice. What change do you hunger for? Share your reply: HERE September: Food Is Solidarity Together we nourish stronger, more resilient communities. How do you build community through food? Share your reply: HERE October: Food Is Abundance Sharing our harvests opens hearts and strengthens bonds. What does abundance mean to you? Share your reply: HERE November: Food Is Gathering Traditional harvesting and shared meals connect us to land and each other. Where do you find food and fellowship? Share your reply: HERE December: Food Is Joy Food can bring moments of pure delight, from first bites to tried-and-true favorites. What foods have brought you the most joy? Share your reply: HERE Other ways to get involved: ‘The Meaning of Food’ offers multiple paths for participation. Additional ways to engage with the campaign and share stories can be found at northwestharvest.org/meaning-of-food. Discover other ways to share your food stories at www.northwestharvest.org/meaning-of-food Follow and engage @nwharvest on Instagram and @nwharvest on Facebook Use #MeaningOfFood across your social channels to help mainstream the narrative that hunger results from unfair systems and not individual choices or actions Media requests: Media interested in following this yearlong community dialogue or partnering on sustained coverage can contact Zomi Anderson at ZomiA@northwestharvest.org or 772-924-8555. High-resolution artwork and artist interviews available upon request. About Northwest Harvest Northwest Harvest is an anti-racist, anti-oppression organization committed to transforming an unjust food system into one that is more responsive and accountable to the communities most impacted by discrimination. In addition to distributing food to more than 350 partners throughout Washington state, Northwest Harvest aims to shift public opinion, as well as impact institutional policies and societal practices that perpetuate hunger, poverty, and disparities in our state. www.northwestharvest.org ###
