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Wednesday, June 12th 2024

The Armory At Sage College

(130 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208) & Virtual

Co-Presented By Our Hunger Prevention Champions:

Sarah Salem

Hudson Valley Food Systems Coalition

Salem, a dynamic network leader and accomplished freelance food systems strategy consultant, is a visionary driving regional food security and equitable food systems development. Specializing in food systems thinking, Salem collaborates with individuals, organizations, and coalitions to fortify regional food landscapes. As the founder of the Hudson Valley Food Systems Coalition, Salem brought together over 100 stakeholders, skillfully guiding them in forming a transdisciplinary coalition for impactful cross-sector work.


With a robust background encompassing policy, development, farming, start-ups, finance, and community organizing, Salem's transdisciplinary approach demonstrates a commitment to cultivating thriving communities. Leveraging extensive leadership and facilitation experience, Salem has played pivotal roles in various stakeholder groups, contributing to the development and advocacy of effective food system policies. As a skilled facilitator, Salem has orchestrated participatory convenings, fostering collaboration and innovation within the food systems realm.

Salem's academic foundation includes a BS in Management Studies from Marist College, providing a strategic lens to complement their practical experiences. A dedicated Hudson Valley native, Salem is passionately committed to creating vibrant, sustainable communities for all residents of the Greater Hudson Valley.

Speaking In:

The Food Sovereignty Fund: investing in shared abundance

Originating in a year’s worth of community conversations and resource sharing, Glynwood’s Food Sovereignty Fund has been contracting small-scale farmers from historically marginalized backgrounds to supply fresh, nutrient-dense, culturally significant food to frontline food access programs since 2020. To date, more than 230,000 pounds of vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, and poultry have been distributed, and in 2023 approximately 15,000 households received food through the program. In 2024, the Food Sovereignty Fund will support and facilitate partnerships between approximately forty farms and food access programs. Critical elements of the program that will be discussed are the process for contracting farms and reporting deliveries, building and operating refrigerated “mini-hubs” for aggregation and distribution of food, and implementing language justice practices with the program cohort. This panel features the experts on the ground (farmers, organizers, food pantry managers) who designed and implement this program. It will also preview the forthcoming Food Sovereignty Fund toolkit that summarizes challenges, lessons learned, and suggested best practices for others to adopt and replicate this program in their communities.

2:00 p.m.

Armory Main Stage

Food Summit Logo.654d34695a6687.69645606.png

Wednesday, June 12th 2024

The Armory At Sage College

(130 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208) & Virtual

Co-Presented By Our Hunger Prevention Champions:

Our Supporters:

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