Roberts's lecture will help facilitate a conversation about policies and initiatives Detroit may wish to adopt to enable access to healthy food for all residents, given the recently established food policy council in Detroit, a process led by the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network.
Wayne Roberts manages the Toronto Food Policy Council, a citizen body of 30 food activists and experts, which developed Toronto's Food Charter and the Food and Hunger Action Plan. Roberts is the author of several books, including the No-Nonsense Guide to World Food (2008), Real Food for a Change (1999) and Get a Life (1995). In 2002, he received the Canadian Environment Award for his contributions to sustainable living. NOW magazine named Roberts one of Toronto's leading visionaries of the past 20 years. In 2008, he received the Canadian Eco-Hero Award presented by Planet in Focus.
Roberts also serves or has served on several national and international boards such as the Coalition for a Green Economy, the Community Food Security Coalition, and Food Secure Canada. He is on the board of Green Enterprise Toronto, an organization of local eco-businesses that's associated with the Business Alliance for a Local Living Economy across North America. He is regularly invited internationally to speak on strategies that combine food security, community empowerment, environmental improvement, social equity and job creation.
The Toronto Food Policy Council partners with business and community groups to develop policies and programs promoting food security. Their aim is a food system that fosters equitable food access, nutrition, community development and environmental health.
The lecture is co-sponsored by SEED Wayne, Detroit Food and Fitness Collaborative, Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, and the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems. A book signing will follow the lecture.
Visitor parking is recommended in Structure #1 at Cass and Palmer; please have $3.50 in exact change.
For questions regarding the lecture, please contact Kami Pothukuchi at k.pothukuchi@wayne.edu or Will Ahee at w.ahee@wayne.edu.
About SEED Wayne:
Wayne Roberts's lecture is brought to you, in part, by SEED Wayne, Sustainable Food Systems Education and Engagement in Detroit and Wayne State University. SEED Wayne's mission is to collaboratively build sustainable food systems on the campus of Wayne State University and in Detroit area neighborhoods.
SEED Wayne projects include the Warrior Demonstration Garden on campus, in which students grow herbs and vegetables primarily for inclusion in dining hall meals; the 4th Wednesday Farmers Market in which area market gardeners and farmers sell fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and prepared foods; Cafeteria Composting, in which kitchen wastes at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center and campus cafeterias are composted; a 4,000 sq. ft. passive solar greenhouse at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen for year-round production of vegetables for the soup kitchen; and Policy-making at the Soup Kitchen Table, in which guests of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen provide input in local planning and policy processes to increase access to healthy foods in the community.
SEED Wayne is made possible by the Ford Motor Company Fund.
For information on SEED Wayne, please browse: www.clas.wayne.edu/seedwayne